Apache Air Assault

I've been struggling for years to find a decent flight sim to match my idea of entertainment. I was a big fan of Janes Longbow 2 back in the day. Flight sims have become slicker but I've always thought gameplay has taken a back seat to improved graphics. Sure Microsoft do fantastic flight sims and the controls and realism are fantastic. That said, taking off, flying thousands of miles whilst admiring the view and then landing, didn't really get my blood pumping.

So you would think I'm a big fan of the military flight sim? Well not really. The world war 2 flight sims are very repetitive (keep a plane in your sites and press fire!) The more modern sims rely too much on radar. In these games it's rare to actually engage an enemy that you have seen by simply looking out of your cockpit. Set on any reasonable level of difficualty, your enemy would have fired a volley of long range missiles at you, whilst you are merely a spec on the horizon. Effectively you are shooting at dots on a screen.

In short I think many flight sims are one dimensional, they don't actually give you enough to think about.

So on to Apache Air Assault by Activision. This game does a pretty good job of addressing all of my issues. Different levels of realism help first timer, but also give the more experienced player a convincing feel to flying a helicopter (yes I've been in a few helicopters.) That said it never gets you too involved with mastering actual helicopter physics as to risk spoiling the gameplay by punishing you if, for instance, you used to much engine torque. This is just as well because when the action starts there is too much else that you'll want to be concentrating on.

The battle arenas are very large, however you will never fly more than a minute before meeting the enemy. In fact early missions have enemies attacking your helecopter base, leaving you scrambling to take off and force them back. The maps also offer very different experiences. Fighting over the sea leaves you very exposed, with very small targets to hit in an effort to defend oil rigs and shipping, Flying in the snowy mountains gives you aweful weather to deal with and harder flying dynamics. The enemy and targets here are usually travelling at the bottom of very deep valleys, therefore flying at 140kmph, lining up a number of targets, whilst dodging oncoming fire and avoiding a crash into towering mountain peaks to your left and right, is a recipe for great fun.

Missions vary from taking out bases in the desert, blowing up bridges in the mountains, to protecting allied ground troops in the jungle. When covering ground troops, friendly fire is a real possibility if you are not careful or in full control of your aircraft. You will be using thermal imaging and your machine gun to clear a route for you comrades! Watching your soldiers press forward as you carve out a route is very convincing visually.

Enemys come in the form of ground troops with rifles and rocket launcher, troop convoys, tanks, helicopters, boats and SAM missile sites. To take out most of these enemys you will have to get very up close and personal, as well as use the correct type of weapon. Weapons are at a premium which mean that although firing powerful missiles at some targets is an early option, you will soon be using your rockets and machines guns to fend off all threats.

Your Helicopter is vunerable and with the way I fly, loosing one of the engines is a regular event. This leaves you limping back to the nearest repair base whilst being pursued. Radar and controls can also be knocked out by enemy fire adding to your problems.

There is a PS3 demo of this game which gives a nice flavour but doesn't quite show the true diversity. There is also multiplayer via web. I have tried this but so few people are on the servers it is hard to gauge how good it is. Most of the other pilots are just flying mindlessly around which is quite frustrating.

To get the best from this game I would get in a joystick. I have a Thrustmaster T.flight Hotas X. If you already have other flight sims which it would benefit, this is an easy investment to justify (it's also PC compatible.)

Is the game perfect? Nearly. Is it for every one? No. But if you have every enjoyed flying any type of flight sim it will be a worth while addition.

This game is made by the same company that brought us the rather excellent Il-2 Sturmovik.

As with most flight sims these days, patience and perseverance are key to succeeding with this type of game and while some people moan about the controls being difficult to master, this really is not an issue. I and I am sure many others, enjoy a good challenge, unlike certain players of over hyped, point and shoot F.P.S's.

The game creates a real sense that you are flying several tons of death delivering hi-tech machinery, but you never feel that you are truly invincible, as the Apache is vulnerable when placed in difficult combat situations. Luckily the helicopter is equipped with a great infra red camera which tracks the movements of the 30mm cannon. Hellfire missiles can take out rows of anti-air and ground units, too.

Two players can play as co-pilots controlling one Apache using two controllers. I haven't tried this, so I can't pass judgement!

Online missions are excellent and up to four players can form a squadron. The fun is maximised when mics are used. Apocalypse Now? Well kind of, with a bit of imagination!

I think this game deserves a wider audience, as it is thrilling and exciting to play. It's shame it has had hardly any publicity, much the same as Il-2. The Horror !!!

For all of those, like me, waiting for a flight sim, I think this is the closet we get. The flight model is great, even in begginer settings. Switch to realistic and the game realy shines. Online, co-op missions are fun and exciting.
One of the best surprises I had this year. Finally something that resembles as heli flight sim.
Remember Ace Combat and HAWX(?)? Forget them!!! This is the flight game for the PS3.