Four new games to "fly"

Flight Journal, Jun 2002 by Marks, Bob

* IL-2 Sturmovik * Fighter Ace 3

Top Gun: Combat Zones * Search & Rescue 3

Some flight sims are meant for fun-really. That's difficult to remember when you are flying cross-country in Flight Sim 2002 or shooting an instrument landing approach in Elite (a professional-grade flight sim), but the primary function of any computer game is entertainment-escapism; giggles. Luckily, quite a few new sims out there fit this bill perfectly. With no pretense of teaching, or any other social value, the virtual pilot is encouraged to simply enjoy playing with airplanes. Like any other type of game, these simulations are aimed at various audiences: some wish only to test their hand/eve coordination, while others crave a more technical challenge. The world of flight sims is big enough for all, so let's check out some of the newer ways to pass the time on your computer and PlayStation 2.

IL-2 Sturmovik

Developer: IC:Maddox Games

Publisher: Ubi Soft

Recommended system: PIII 600 or better, 256MB RAM, 32-bit 3D accelerator with 32MB RAM or better. Available: now www.il2sturmovik.Com

In development for almost two years, Ubi Soft's IL-2 Sturmovik has proved well worth the wait. Russian code-- masters 1C:Maddox Games unleashed the most deeply detailed, realistic WW II combat flight sim ever onto a willing public late last year. Though the title refers to the famously rugged Ilyushin attack aircraft, IL-2 Sturmovik offers the virtual pilot a huge choice of aircraft to fly, many of which have seldom been modeled before. These exquisitely rendered Soviet and

German aircraft and their many sub-variants is a treat for any aircraft history buff. The graphics are amazing, and system resource-eating settings are extremely adjustable to be run on the widest variety of computers. This "scalability" is also applicable to the physics within IL-2.

With the ingredients of realism such as flight characteristics, weather effects, weapon efficacy and other factors on adjustable sliders, IL-2 Sturmovik can be played as an arcade shoot-'em-up or as a very serious flight sim and anywhere in between. With the difficulty levels turned all the way up, IL-2 Sturmovik is sure to challenge even the most experienced and jaded simulator pilot. But whichever degree of forgiveness you dial in, it's the attention to detail that will amaze you. From the water spray flying off your spinning wheels as your flight of P-39s rotates off the grass strip to the internal-structure-revealing battle damage, the visuals are jaw-dropping. Sight is only one of the senses assailed in IL-2, as the theater-grade three-dimensional sound effects and realistic radio chatter demonstrate the codemasters' ears for authenticity. So what if IL-2 has had an extended gestation period? The paradigm-- breaking quality that Ubi Soft and 1C:Maddox Games have imparted makes it obvious that IL-2 Sturmovik is less a retail software product than a labor of love. Make no mistake; this is one of the best combat flight sims ever, and it definitely deserves space on any virtual pilot's hard drive.

AT A GLANCE

Highs: cutting edge graphics and physics; very scalable difficulty; huge choice of historically-- accurate aircraft and solid multiplayer support make for the best WW II combat flight sim ever. Lows: higher-end system (primarily video card) requirements, included campaigns limit game play somewhat (alleviated by several third-party freeware programs).

Bottom Line: looking for a combat flight sim that is accessible and challenging to both novices and veterans? Look no further than this masterpiece.

Four new games to "fly"

Fighter Ace 3

Developer: VR1

Publisher: VR1

Recommended System: PIII 600 or better, 128MB RAM, 32-bit 3D accelerator with 3 MB RAM or better.

Release date. March 2002 http://fighterace.vr1.com

The Fighter Ace franchise has been around for quite a long time as far as computer games go. Long a premier title on MSN Gaming Zone's pay-to-- play website, the title has been acquired by original developer VR1, as it strikes off on its own. With a free download and at $9.95 U.S. per month, VR1 offers virtual pilots the opportunity to mount an impressive smorgasbord of aircraft. This veritable carnival midway of WW II-era aircraft, with attractions both infamous and obscure, includes obvious favorites such as the Mustang and Spitfire as well as lesser known choices such as the Soviet Pe-2.

The gorgeous renderings of these aircraft are very well done and are as authentic and beautiful as any you'll find on the shelf of your friendly neighborhood software store. The non-Redmond launch version, Fighter Ace 3, (FA3) does much to shed the "arcade" feel of the previous two versions by offering a choice of fully unforgiving physics and more relaxed models of flight and fight. VR1 has gone the extra mile (or click, depending on your insignia) to create challenging arenas, some of which are based on historical theaters (Battle of Britain, Pacific Islands and Kursk); others are generic scenery. The combat in these arenas is either free-for-all death matches or cooperative territorial battles that require teamwork and strategic action.