OH into the wide blue yonder..
HAVE you ever daydreamed that you're the pilot of a World War
II Spitfire, barnstorming bridges, straffing buildings, and generally
scaring the wits out of yourself?
Do you still get a lump in your throat when you see the nth
rerun of Reach for the Sky?
If so, Acornsoft's Aviator package is the one for you.
Seated in the cockpit of what must be the most accurate and
complete flight simulator yet produced for the BBC Micro, you
can fulfil your heart's desire without ever leaving your armchair.
Included in the package is a 25 page manual, a large map and
a keyboard plan.
The controls are well thought out and the manual is explicit
and to the point, containing enough information to make you feel
like a real pilot.
On loading the screen presents a 3D view of the runway, with
the plane ready for take off. One quick consultation with the
manual and you're in the air.
Not that I managed to stay there very long at first, but with
practice you soon get the hang of it.
The screen display is in Mode 5 black and white, so the instruments
aren't too well defined. But as the program takes up so much memory
it's hard to see how this could be improved.
Apart from this minor moan, the rest of the graphics are superb.
Onlookers - and you'd better be prepared for lots of them - groaned
with anguish as the simulator barrel-rolled at the hands of this
maniac reviewer.
Not only did the engine tone fall and instrumentation flay wildly
about, but the landscape, bridges and so on all turned realistically
- as did my stomach!
Having regained some semblance of control I headed west across
the river to the next test of my skill — flying under the bridge.
With a scream of "Geronimo" I set the Spitfire into
a 250mph dive from 4.000 ft straight for the bridge.
Needless to say that attempt failed miserably. However. I did
manage it eventually.
Some way to the south west of the airstrip lies the sleepy little
hamlet of Acornsville.
Surrounded by open fields and beautiful rolling countryside,
it's the ideal place to practice your aerobatics - if your nerves
are up to it.
And you'll want to practice -in the main program, points are
scored for performing tricky manoeuvres such as flying under bridges,
flying between buildings and landing.
For the more ambitious, double points are awarded for completing
the flying manoeuvres upside down! (The plane, that is.)
If all of this wasn't enough. Acornsoft have included a games
theme in which you try to save the occupants of Acornsville from
marauding intruders from outer space.
Rather odd in a Spitfire, that, but still, it's the game that
counts.
Just to spice things up a little, the game is played in real
time. So I would advise you to learn to fly the thing before you
attempt this final challenge.
Sadly, space just does not allow me to elucidate further on
my exploits with this truly excellent simulator.
Suffice it to say that Aviator is a very exciting game to play,
and should give hours of pleasure to all budding pilots.
Marcus Adams
