F-22 Lightning III by Al Giovetti

 

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By Al Giovetti
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Genre:combat flight simulator
Release:May 11, 1999
Developer: Novalogic
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Dan Bennett, Dorothy Peters, and Tom Hedges
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F-22 Lightning III

History

The F-22 is one of the most remarkable planes in aviation history. The F-22 can dogfight well with thrust vectoring, control a number of targets, supports AWACS and Sattelite control, and can sustain supersonic flight in a specialized and unique cruise mode.

Company Line

F-22 LIGHTNING TM 3 ON FINAL APPROACH TO STORES

NovaLogic's Voice-Over-NetTM Technology Debuts In New Air Combat Sim

CALABASAS, CA (May 11, 1999) NovaLogic announced today that F-22 Lightning 3 has mastered and will appear in software stores in North America in mid-May.

F-22 Lighting II® was the world's best-selling combat flight simulation in 1996 and 1997, and F-22 Lightning 3 has the goods to continue the trend. In addition to the gorgeous graphics and exhilarating gameplay sim fans associate with NovaLogic games, F-22 Lightning 3 will introduce entirely new features in more than 50 action-packed missions including tactical nuclear weapons, a dynamic weather system, and instant communication via Voice-Over-Net technology.

The integration of Voice-Over-Net technology into F-22 Lightning 3 makes it the first retail flight sim on the market to give players the ability to instantly talk to each other during heated battle. NovaLogic's proprietary technology raises the gameplay experience to a new level of realism by giving players the ability to talk to each other like real F-22 pilots. Players battling it out on NovaWorldTM, the company's large-scale online gaming service, can save precious seconds by instantly talking to each other instead of taking the time to type a message. Voice-Over-Net makes it easier for players to quickly and easily coordinate attacks or help their wingmen out of tight spots. This will come in handy in a variety of fierce NovaWorld game scenarios, including air-to-air deathmatch and base-vs.-base team combat with more than 120 other human pilots embroiled in one battle arena. The game also includes more than 40 cooperative, 16-player missions.

"Team-oriented multiplayer games are replacing the old-fashioned deathmatch in the hearts of most online gamers," said NovaLogic CEO John Garcia. "Anyone who's seen a team of gamers in the same room take on a team of Internet-based gamers knows what a huge advantage voice contact can be. Voice-Over-Net levels the playing field by giving Internet players the same kind of instant communication."

The ability to deploy nuclear weapons makes the F-22 Lightning 3 player a formidable force in the virtual air war. For example, a mission may require players to use the B-61 Tactical Thermonuclear Bomb to destroy a strategic ICBM launch facility. This nuclear weapon has the ability to unleash radioactive devastation over a 20-square-mile chunk of the battlefield.

F-22 Lightning 3 uniquely integrates Lockheed Martin design specs with the most intuitive interface available. Experienced players have the option of rising to the challenge of flying the fighter themselves, while air combat novices can turn to the easy-to-use Auto-Options, which include auto-landing, auto-takeoff, auto-following, and auto-targeting modes. Improved situational awareness comes courtesy of an all-new Head-Up Display (HUD) based on the latest tactical HUD configuration.

The game will also introduce a dynamic weather environment – players will fly in and out of changing areas of concentrated rain, snow, hail, and high winds. F-22 Lightning 3 supports the full spectrum of 3D graphics accelerators via 3Dfx GlideTM and Direct3DTM . Force-feedback controllers are also supported.

Key Features of F-22 Lightning 3 include:

  1. THE NUCLEAR OPTION - Unleash over 20 square miles of radioactive devastation with the B-61 Tactical Thermonuclear Bomb
  2. DYNAMIC WEATHER SYSTEMS - Fly in and out of changing areas of concentrated rain, snow, hail, and wind
  3. NEW HEAD-UP DISPLAY - Improved situational awareness through the latest HUD configuration OVER 50 NEW MISSIONS - Capture a renegade 747, destroy an ICBM launch facility, and escort the mysterious B-2 Stealth Bomber
  4. AUTO-OPTIONS - Fly it yourself or let the world's most advanced fighter do it for you: Auto-landing, Auto-takeoff, Auto-following & Auto-targeting
  5. VOICE-OVER-NET - Talk to your wingman and coordinate your attacks with the push of a button, just like real pilots do
  6. FREE INTERNET MULTIPLAYER GAMING VIA NOVAWORLD - Dogfight with over 120 other human pilots simultaneously in a variety of fierce head-to-head and cooperative scenarios

Founded in 1985, NovaLogic, Inc. is a leading developer and publisher of interactive entertainment software for the PC. NovaLogic released F-16 Multirole FighterTM and MiG-29 FulcrumTM in September 1998, which introduced players to NovaWorld's Integrated Battle Space TM (IBS), the first online arena where more than 120 players can compete with multiple products. NovaLogic's headquarters are located in Calabasas, CA with a branch office in London, England.

Editors note: This news release along with other product information, screen shots and demos are available at www.novalogic.com.

Game Play

Novalogic has in the past been criticized for sacrificing realism for game play. While this indictment may seem damning many may prefer good game play to the grognard's view of realism at the expense of playability. We believe the acusations that Novalogic games are arcade and not simulators are untrue. We have always enjoyed the games playability, graphics, and entertaining mission plots.

Missing are thrust vectoring and LANTIEN views which were in the Digital Image Design's F-22 Total Air War. Thrust vectoring as used in the real plane and Total Air War allow the engine to send thust out at an angle not direcly in line with the fusilage allowing the plane to turn its gun and nose into the aircraft that it is dog fighting with. Thust vectoring allows the pilot to increase the angle of attack over conventionally engined jet fighters and get the kill with guns or missile tone.

The number of automatic options allows the casual game player to witness the true goings on at a military airfield without the hassle of keeping the plane on the runway. We were impressed.

Use of nuclear devices should be controlled. Most game players get a real rush out of blowing things up. Imagine what it is like taking out a simulated city with a Tactical Nuclear Device. I could never do this in the real world nor would I want to.

Plot

Fifty missions are supported in the single player and cooperative play mode. The campaigns are set in Nevada (for training), Sudan, Algeria, Syria, Russia, Indonesia, and the Phillippines.

Graphics

Novalogics graphics are the only ones that maintain long distance clarity in games like this one expanding your point of view along with the distance at which you can see details.

The extremely interesing atmospheric effects such as wind, rain, hail, and lightning are very realistic. Fog seems to predominate in many game areas marring visability. The Texture Distance slider, a game option, will help to allow slower machines to keep the frame rate high and eliminate some of the fog.

Animation

Voice Actors

Lots of pilot chatter helps with the realism.

Music Score

Sound Effects

Flying in the rain is really a thrill. I have always enjoyed sitting on a screen porch with a tin roof above during a spring rain. This simulation portrays the combination of rain hitting the windshield, engine noise, and the beep of the electronics beautifully.

Utilities

Force feedback technology is supported with this version of the game. Wind is implemented through the force feedback stick. Major Doug Call (USAF Retired) who is an ex-red flag instructor has informed us that the use of force feedback in a fighter joystick. The stick in a real plane does not kick back since it is a fly by wire situation. Documentation is very brief when compared to other products of this type. Also expected but not found was an key overlay card.

Multi-player Features

Very special VON, voice over net, technology that allows players to talk to one another while playing the game in cooperative mode. Seen before in games like Mechwarrior 2 being able to talk to your teammates in real time can make the difference between winning and loosing the game.

Another real advantage is the free online gaming site which supports up to 128 players in simultaneous play. Novanet is a free service to registered purchasers of the game product.

Cheats, Hints, Walkthrough

  1. Check out our cheats page

Journalists

  1. Tom Dillon, Happy Puppy Review, 10/10
  2. Thomas Hoff, www.gamefirst.com Review, 4/5
  3. Steve Chen, Pure Gaming Network Review, 85.6%

I am somewhat offended by what some journalists feel is game play at the expense of realism. We need more journalists playing games and talking to developers and less of them lining up at the bar in the press room discussing how to crucify game developers. Enough said.

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References

  1. Novalogic F-22 Lightning III Site
  2. Novalogic summary
  3. Preview: Gamecenter
  4. FAQ: F-22 Lightning III
  5. F-22 Lightning 3 Demo #1 Download at Hotgames.com Available in Europe 20 August '99
  6. Happy Puppy Review
  7. Demo Now Available!
  8. www.gamefirst.com Review
  9. Pure Gaming Network Review
  10. New Screen Shots Added
  11. Next Generation Preview

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