Personal Computer News


Tornado Low Level

Author: Harriet Arnold
Publisher: Vortex
Machine: Spectrum 48K

 
Published in Personal Computer News #069

Zoom In To Danger

Zoom In To Danger

Take the hot seat in a Tornado in this low-key version of the fighter pilot favourite.

Objectives

Your mission is to take out six enemy bases by dipping over them for low-level passes. Not that they are sitting ducks since they are in tricky locations and you must watch out for buildings, trees, pylons and strange poles. And you are limited by time and fuel.

In Play

After briefing you examine the targets on a map, which can be viewed at any time. Wait for the tanks to fill up, taxi along the runway and take off.

Tornado Low Level

Your birds-eye view of the Tornado shows it to be flying over land so flat it must be Holland minus the windmills. The plane's shadow gives a 3D effect and changes its size and shape accurately to suggest height and direction.

You can climb, drop, turn, sweep and use the Tornado's swing-wing feature to fly at supersonic speed.

On the right of the main screen is a radar map, and instruments indicating the time, fuel and bases remaining, as well as an altimeter and the score. Flying dangerously low all the time earns extra points.

Tornado Low Level

The radar screen is essential since it displays a wider area than appears on the main screen, warning when you are approaching a target and whether you are on-course for a hit. Without this, the bases loom up and flash by before you've time to say "blue leader" - especially if you've swept back your wings.

The landscape is uninspired but the plane's nimbleness is impressive, with smooth movement up and down and through 360 degrees. There's a heartstopping moment every time the bomber swoops down to meet its shadow since you must go very low for a hit.

As the area in view is so small, it's difficult to line up, so part of the skill is judging where the enemy's installations will be. Also, you may find yourself in a tight corner where, for instance, you have to fly under overhead wires.

The test was simple, but I found it difficult to stay intact.

Verdict

Although piloting the Tornado required skill, I had no problem falling asleep at the controls. Tornado Low Level is just not exciting enough for addictive play, more a game for the single-minded.

Harriet Arnold

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