Computer Gamer


Airwolf

Publisher: Entersoft
Machine: Enterprise

 
Published in Computer Gamer #10

Airwolf

Something odd here - a helicopter that you fly through a cave system! Still, if that chopper is the billion dollar Airwolf, then you must be Stringfellow Hawk, possessed of nerves of steel, amazing skills and a silly name. It's all in a day's work for a mega-hero - or at least a computer gamer.

Something else odd here, in that ths time the Enterprise conversion is from the Amstrad version, not the Spectrum. This has resulted in big, bright sprites and an amazingly noisy soundtrack, which overlays music with rotor blade racket and the crash of the cannon. Well up to arcade standards, this.

The oddest thing has to be Airwolf's handling though. No wonder it takes such skill to fly as hovering is impossible unless you constantly twitch the joystick up. This makes any sort of delicate manoeuvre within the caves extremely difficult and if you don't prang the crate in one against the floor it's awfully easy to wear away your rotors on the roof.

Difficulty is the keyword for this game and it's either its major failing or its saving grace, depending on your attitude, or more likely ability. I'll confess that it had me beaten almost immediately, but I have discovered that there's a special depth in that things you do in one screen will affect other locations, including ones you've already been through. Probably the Enterprise's most difficult yet and for addicts only.