58 lines
3.1 KiB
Plaintext
58 lines
3.1 KiB
Plaintext
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SKYCHASE
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Excuse me for a second...I'm trying to get my pulse down to something vaguely
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approaching normal. You see, I've just played another few rounds of SKYCHASE,
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easily the fastest jet combat game this computer jet-jockey has ever
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encountered. (This review is based on the IBM-PC version of the game.)
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SKYCHASE is a one- or two-player simulation designed for speed and accurate jet
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performance. Although this means the graphics consist of three-dimensional grid
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patterns rather than detailed images of jet fighters, the game is nothing short
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of intense. And with eight customizable planes, six missions, and five enemy
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computer pilots to choose from, Maxis definitely did not skimp on options.
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First, select your jet from a list that includes a McDonnell Douglas F-18
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Hornet, a Grumman F-14 Tomcat, the F-19 Stealth Fighter, and five others --
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including a deceptively named "Paper Plane" that turns out to be the most
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advanced of the lot.
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Next, customize your plane: radar or heat-seeking missiles, number of bullets,
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amount of fuel, tolerance to G-forces, etc. Note that some options are only
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adjustable when playing against another human. There are six increasingly
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difficult missions, and five computer "pilots" of varying skill to fight
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against. Now that you've girded your loins (so to speak), set forth and do
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battle!
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Whether you play against the computer or a human opponent, the screen is
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essentially split in half. Feel free to risk a bit of dizziness by looking not
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only out of your cockpit, but out of your enemy's cockpit, as well. (This way,
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at least you'll know for sure when he has you in his sights.) Alternatively, you
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may "hide" the enemy window.
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There are three smaller squares indicating the jet's heading, pitch, and roll.
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A larger square features an instrument panel with all of the expected read-outs,
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including G-force. (If this value rises above nine Gs, the cockpit window goes
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dark, simulating your "blackout.") You also have a computerized "Heads Up
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Display" to help you aim the missiles.
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The IBM-PC version of SKYCHASE includes two 5-1/4" diskettes and one 3-1/2"
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diskette. Broderbund relies on the manual copy-protection scheme, so the program
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can be installed on your hard drive easily. It supports Hercules Monochrome,
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CGA, MCGA, EGA, and VGA graphics modes. You can play from the keyboard, or from
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either analog or switch-type joysticks.
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Despite the number of features, it's relatively simple to become airborne in
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SKYCHASE, but this doesn't mean it's an easy game to master. The game itself
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moves at lightning speed, while the planes are amazingly responsive to even the
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slightest tug at the joystick. Learning to accurately control the movement of
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the jet fighter is no small feat, and it'll probably take you more than a few
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rounds to score your first hit. However, SKYCHASE is the kind of first-class
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simulation that'll keep you coming back until you can defeat the computer _and_
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humiliate all of your friends.
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SKYCHASE is published by Maxis and distributed by Broderbund Software.
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*****DOWNLOADED FROM P-80 SYSTEMS (304) 744-2253
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