Agile Warrior F-111X article by Al Giovetti

 

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By Al Giovetti
Price:$50
Genre:action (not flight sim)
Release:
Developer: Black Ops Entertainment
Lead Artist:
Programmer:
Producer:
Publisher: Virgin Interactive Entertainment
Phone: 714-833-8710
Website: www.vie.com
Requirements:Pentium, 60 MHz, 16 MB RAM, 44 MB hard disk space, 2X CD ROM, SVGA Graphics with 1 MB video RAM, Windows 95


Agile Warrior F-111X

History

This game appeared first as a console game on the Sony PlayStation. Console games ported to the PC have very little success with some notable execeptions.

Company Line

Game Play

Each mission starts with a full motion video (FMV) of your commander laying out the mission objectives, then you get a mission map which is devoid of any useful information, and the final pre mission screen has you selecting your ordinance which was also useless.

Once in the mission, the enemy show up right away and proceeds to try to blast you to oblivion. There is ne egress and ingress, no long waits to get to the target site. Just like the two missions in US Navy Fighters when the enemy is waiting for you right after you come off the cat. The missions include settings in French Guyana, Burma, Middle East, and the former Soviet states in northern Russia.

The four buttons on a four button joystick are used to fire guns, fire selected weapon, speed up and slow down. There is no throttle support. Target lock in this game is automatic with no buttons for this function. Ground based and air challenges both exist to toast your plane.

You can load your plane up with as many as 20 sidewinders, napalm, rockets, and bullets. The control is poor with jerky response. There is no ground collision detection, which should be in a Difficulty matrix where you can turn it on or off as desired, but is not. Powerups float in the air in console fashion, while there is no facility to return to base, land, and load weapons which is more popular on the PC. Fuel powerups are few and far between causing your mission to end illogically.

Plot

Graphics

The graphics are highly detailed with wisps of clouds, large leafy trees, and textured sand or snow. The graphics use DirectX3 to deliver some of the most beutiful visuals in this type of game, which are completely non-realistic. Th visuals are supported by ATI Rage, Rendition Verite, 3Dfx Voosoo, NEC PowerVR and Matrox Mystique. A fast Pentium is needed for smooth visuals.

Animation

There are colorful explosions and full motion video briefings from the commander. The animation is slowed down and choppy on slow machines. The video introductions can be skipped, which is the sign of a well informed and astute design team.

Voice Actors

Music Score

Sound Effects

The sound effects are good, but could hardly be compared to the raw sound seen in such classics as Advanced Tactical Fighters.

Utilities

Multi-player Features

This is a single player game and it suffers for it. Any arcade type game should have multiplayer options to increase game play

Cheats, Hints, Walkthrough

Shoot parachuting enemy pilots for powerups.

Journalists

Jeff says, "Agile Warrior is Doom with wings, nonstop action with great 3D visuals. It is a showcase for the latest 3D video boards, but if you're not into arcade shooters, it does not offer much else." Especially, if you are a flight sim fan, steer clear of this one.

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References

Jeffrey Tschiltsch, Computer & Net Player, volume 3, number 10, March, 1997, 70%.
Adam Douglas, PC Gamer, volume 4, number 5, May, 1997, 40%.

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