WARBIRDS 
1-4 players, horizontal game 
by Atari Corp., for the Atari Lynx 
$34.95 
OVERVIEW:
Modern air combat is hardly as glamorous as it appears in the movie
theatres (or video games, for that matter). Modern radar and weapons
systems seek and destroy a target well before the pilot even sees his
enemy, and today's "dogfights" end in the blink of an eye. Not since
the days of the early 20th century have air combat involved pilots
flying close enough to salute each other before the kill.
This is the world of WARBIRDS, the new aerial combat game for the
Atari Lynx, and the first true flight simulator for any home video
game system currently available. Other flying games currently
available only give the illusion of flight -- While you can move
around the screen, you have no real control over where you go.
WARBIRDS, on the other hand, puts you in complete control of a World
War I biplane. You can fly over a barn, loop around, then strafe it
from another direction. You determine all of the plane's maneuvers,
and can turn, roll, dive, and climb any way you want.
GAMEPLAY:
So what are you doing here? Up to four pilots (including yourself) can
occupy the airspace over the lush green countryside. No matter how
many are present, your objective is the same -- destroy them all. Your
only weapon is a front- mounted machine gun, and your only defense are
your skills and the occassional cloudbank. "Scoring" consists of how
many planes you can shoot down before you yourself are killed, over a
series of missions. If you run out of ammunition, you must find, land,
and reload your guns, during which you are vulnerable to enemy
attacks.
Several game options are available. These include how much damage a
plane can take, whether collisions are fatal, how much ammunition is
present, and where your airplane starts. In a multiplayer game,
everyone can choose their own settings, providing a handicapping
feature between players of different skills.  In a single-player game,
six "missions" are available; however, the only difference is the
number of enemy planes, and whether they're amateur or professional
pilots.
As a simulator, WARBIRDS is filled with features not found on any
other video game. Your plane has instruments for airspeed, altitude,
direction, oil pressure, and ammo rounds remaining; all are important
in their own way.  The physical effects of stalling, high-speed dives,
and even the inertia from the rotating engine are duplicated
convincingly. Because WARBIRDS is a simulator with no fancy weapons,
success or failure is fully dependent on your own flying and hunting
skills. This realism cuts both ways, however -- biplanes were not
known for their speed, and players accustomed to the high speeds of
today's arcade games may find WARBIRDS boring. There is an "arcade"
option, which gives your plane a faster "jet" engine, which may
satisfy your need for speed.
GRAPHICS/SOUND:
The graphics on WARBIRDS are a mixed bag from good to great. The
opening title page is attractive, with biplanes and credits flying by
the player.  The actual combat scenes are done with a combination of
filled polygons (for hills and barns) and scaled sprites (clouds,
planes, flying bullets, smoking engines). Digitized pictures are shown
at the end of a fight, indicating your success or failure. Overall,
it's slightly above average for the Lynx's abilities.
Sounds are essentally basic and effective. The game uses several music
scores before and after flights. Actual combat is filled with the
noises of your engine (unless you turn it off), the rattle of gunfire,
and several sound effects indicating when you're hit, when your shots
hit, and when a plane has been downed.
SUMMARY:
WARBIRDS is designed and written by Robert Zdybel, a newcomer to Lynx
game design; He dedicates the game to his father, and it's a worthy
piece of gaming to be proud of. It's a game that's simple in concept
and fun to play. Throw in true simulator realism, a variety of
options, and the ability for four-player competition, and the sum is
greater than its parts.  For the video gamer looking for realistic
aerial action, WARBIRDS leaves eveything else behind.
 GAMEPLAY: 9.5 
 GRAPHICS: 8 
 SOUND  : 8 
 OVERALL : 9 
From: ST+ diskmag issue 22
... 667 - the neighbor of the Beast.
--- JetMail 0.99beta22
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