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The latest helicopter simulation to hit the C64 is Thunderchopper, based around the Hughes 530 MG Defender.

There are five missions to tackle, which involve the destruction of enemy forces, the rescue of stranded pilots and the escort of troops. The would-be pilot starts from a home base, and returns at any time to refuel and re-arm.

The helicopter's status is displayed on the control panel, with indicators showing altitude, rate of climb, horizontal speed, and fuel remaining. During flight, the pilot's destination is given as a three digit heading, which is tracked by an Automatic Direction Finder (ADF).

When a mission ends, the player is given a rating in accordance to how much ammunition has been used in destroying targets, how quickly men were rescued, and how much damage the helicopter sustained in the process.

First impressions are favourable, with extremely fast and effective filled-in 3D graphics giving a convincing feeling of flight. The action is very absorbing, but I never felt any feeling of urgency or excitement during play - something which is very evident in Gunship.

The five missions are quite diverse, and those who enjoy a precise and involved simulation should find Thunderchopper very entertaining. Personally, I'd go for Gunship or Chuck Yeager's AFT - they both offer far more depth and excitement.

This is an impressive first release from first-timers Action Soft (in this country at least). The action is smooth and realistic, especially when using a C128 - the program uses the C128's fast chip to good effect, and the five minute C64 demo only takes three minutes in 128 mode!

The graphics are very effective and compare favourably to the likes of Gunship. Unfortunately, there are only five missions which, once completed, might not provide any further interest. Still, Thunderchopper is a good combat game and a convincing flight simulator nonetheless.

Presentation 88%
Superb packaging and many useful options.

Graphics 82%
Fast, solid, 3D graphics, only let down by the poor detail on individual objects.

Sound 55%
The constant whine of the engine and some simple spot effects.

Hookability 80%
Surprisingly easy to get into.

Lastability 82%
Five different missions, each with three difficulty levels provide a substantial challenge.

Overall 38%
A polished, technically impressive flight simulator. Perhaps not as ostentatious as others, but just as effective.