PC

  News 
  Reviews
  Previews
  Hardware
  Interviews
  All Features

Areas

  3DS
  Android
  iPad
  iPhone
  Mac
  PC
  PlayStation 3
  PlayStation 4
  Switch
  Vita
  Wii U
  Xbox 360
  Xbox One
  Media
  Archives
  Search
  Contests

 

B-17 Gunner: Air War Over Germany

Score: 70%
ESRB: Teen
Publisher: Infogrames
Developer: Wizard Works/Sunstorm Interactive
Media: CD/1
Players: 1
Genre: Arcade/ Miscellaneous

Graphics & Sound:

When you first open the box and install B-17 Gunner: Air War Over Germany, you think that it will be a simple and easy arcade game. If you do think that, you are only partially right. The game is simply designed and easy to understand, but it is in no way easy. My first few tries flying a mission, I didn't shoot a single German Luftwaffe plane. The graphics are realistically rendered, but it isn't like you would notice with the speed the planes whiz by you at top speeds. I was impressed with the rendering of the targets during the Bomb Run through the scopes. However, one complaint I had is that when you release your bombs, it kept looking like I missed the target. Once the mission was completed, come to find out that I hit what I thought I missed. The sound is very authentic with combat sounds, screaming bombs, engines, and intercom chatter. If you don't mind losing one game, try shooting down one of your fellow B-17's, and just listen to the chatter!

Gameplay:

Once again, B-17 Gunner: Air War Over Germany is an action-packed arcade style game. It is based on the real WWII experiences of the American 8th Air Force, and more specifically, the men of the 390th Bombardment Group, which was reported as having the best accuracy.

You will be flying 25 missions, the same number of missions flown by American crews before they were rotated home. Each mission consists of three phases, the mission briefing, manning gun positions, and the bomb run. During each of the missions, the game will not stray from that model. At the mission briefing, your main goal will be to memorize the target for the bomb run so you will know what to hit. During the main part of the game, the manning gun positions, you will have nine different positions to switch between. This is the only part of the game that is best suspends believability. No gunner could run between that many positions, but it does add to the challenge. Your game will automatically switch to the targeting scope when you get in range of your target, so don't worry about trying to remember where it is during the dogfights.

B-17 Gunner: Air War Over Germany unfortunately does not lend itself to replayability after you have finished your 25 missions, but you can go back and refly the missions to improve.


Difficulty:

In B-17 Gunner, the difficulty increases during each of the 25 missions, but I think that the most challenging aspect of the game is manning the nine different gun positions. If you're at the right position and a plane flies by towards the left side of your plane, it is difficult to change your gun position and keep your bearings. This will take a little skill, even on the earlier and easier missions.

Game Mechanics:

B-17 Gunner: Air War Over Germany is controlled easily by your mouse which you will use to aim. You will use your left mouse button to fire and your right mouse button to change your gun positions. The right mouse button will change your gun position in a certain order, so it might be easier to remember the positions' number on the keyboard so that you can switch to the desired position. All in all, B-17 Gunner: Air War Over Germany is a simple arcade game that can get old too quickly.

-Wickserv, GameVortex Communications
AKA Eric Wickwire

Minimum System Requirements:



Pentium II 300MHz, Windows 95/98, 650MB free hard disk space, 64MB RAM, 4X CD-ROM drive, 8MB 2X AGP enabled or 12MB PCI, DirectX 3D accelerated video card and DirectX -compatible soundcard
 

Test System:



GX-450xl running Windows 98, 256 RAM, Creative Sound Blaster 64CPCI with Boston Acoustic Digital Media Theatre, STB Velocity 4400 with RIVA TNT chip, DirectX 7, 32 Mb RAM, 6X24 DVD-ROM.

Windows Zapper Windows Carnivores Ice Age

 
Game Vortex :: PSIllustrated