Review: Now is your chance to outdo Maverick and Goose.
Traditionally, flight simulators have only worked on personal computers. To fit in all of the features and tricks available to actual pilots, developers have required the flexibility of computer keyboards. Flight sims have not worked on video game consoles due to the limitations of the console’s controllers. Virtucraft Limited has found a way to use Nintendo’s Game Boy Advance to take control of the Navy’s F-14 Tomcat in the most realistic flight sim ever seen outside of a high performance PC.
The key behind making F-14 Tomcat work is the unique mapping of the GBA’s control buttons. The “B” button is used as a modifier button that effectively doubles the number of functions that can be controlled. For instance, the directional pad is used (as you would expect) to control the pitch and roll of your craft but if you hold down the “B” button it becomes your throttle control. While this technique is fairly effective it can also be somewhat confusing. This is because of the difficulty that is encountered in keeping the button functions straight during combat. Also, shifting from flight mode to throttle control mode can be a little bit awkward during a heated dogfight. Despite these two hurdles, mastering the control scheme allows you almost the same level of control found in such classics as F-15 Strike Eagle II.
The graphics and sound of F-14 Tomcat each have their ups and downs. As far as the graphics go, the cockpit is full of detail and is easily navigated, the close-up animations are reminiscent of top quality SNES games, and the AWACS map is easily readable. On the other hand, just about everything that goes on outside of the cockpit suffers because of the GBA’s small screen. Enemy fighters have to be right on top of you before you can actually see them and even then can still blend in with the water below. A perfectly lit playing area can help with this, but detail is still lost on the small screen. The audio of F-14 Tomcat, while being nice and clear, suffers from exhausting repetition.
In general, F-14 Tomcat plays well but is nothing to write home about. The addition of a cooperative multiplayer mode definitely plays in the game’s favor but the deathmatch mode just doesn’t have a quick enough pace to make it exciting. The use of passwords for documenting the games progress seems dated and should have been replaced with a battery back up. Despite these few flaws, F-14 Tomcat is still the best flight sim ever found on a home video game console.
