C&VG


F29 Retaliator

Categories: Review: Software
Publisher: Ocean
Machine: Amiga 500

 
Published in Computer & Video Games #98

F29 Retaliator

If you've ever wondered what it would be like to fly a fighter plane of the 21st century, here's your chance to find out in Ocean's F29 Retaliator. Set in the year 2010 and based on current and predicted advances in technology, F29 gives the player the opportunity to take a seat in the cockpit of either a Lockheed F22 Advanced Tactical Fighter or a Grumman F29 Multi-Role Fighter and fly 90 different battle scenarios.

The title screen is where it all begins. First the player inputs his name into the pilot's log and selects one of five ranks, effectiely selecting the difficulty level. As with all good flight simulations, the pilot's performance is saved from game to game, and the pilot remains active until killed in action, or retired.

After that you can choose which aircraft and which scenario to fly. There are four basic war zones: Arizona, a test range where you're given the change to try your luck in a true hostile environment simulation without the danger of actually getting blown up, the Middle East, the Pacific Ocean and Europe, the toughest of all battlezones. A fifth option, and one which really helped me hone my battle skills is Zulu Alert, an aerial combat practice option where you start in the air, have unlimited ammo and a whole squadron of enemy aircraft to bring down. It's basically an all-action shoot-'em-up and is great fun, even if you don't score any points!

F29 Retaliator

Once you've chosen a scenario and armed your plane, you can fly a mission. The choice is dependent on your rank and how many missions you've already flown. Since promotion is up to the player (you can change rank any time) it's possible to go straight into a very tough mission, but I wouldn't advise it - I was shot down within minutes!

As your pilot progresses through the war, extra secret missions become available - and the outcome can win or lose the war!

Sounds good? It is! F29 is astounding just to look at, with the fastest, smoothest, most detailed and realistic 3D graphics seen on the Amiga! There are simply hundreds of ground features - cities, complete with skyscrapers for you to fly around, roads, railways, tank platoons, oil refineries, factories, churches, missile bases... the list goes on. And the cockpit interior graphics are tremendous, giving a thoroughly convincing impression of being there.

F29 Retaliator

But it's the sheer depth that makes F29 the best combat/flight simulation I've seen. The wealth of missions is incredible. From the test range where the player has the opportunity to practise every angle of battle combat - taking out planes, tanks, trains and military and industrial installations, to complex real-war scenarios involving all sorts of multi-intercept, bombing, reconnaissance and aerial support duties - and that's only the beginning! There are over ninety varied and interesting missions in all, giving enormous lasting appeal.

F29 Retaliator is the absolute apex in flight simulations, and sets the standard by which others will be judged. Fly it and believe it.

Amiga

Featuring the most realistic 3D graphics seen on the Amiga and 90 different missions that offer literally months of stimulating air combat, F29 Retaliator is simply the best flight simulator yet.