Tomahawk / game / commercial










From: Michael Current (aa700@cleveland.Freenet.Edu)

Date: 01/19/92-09:54:04 AM Z









From: aa700@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Michael Current)
Subject: Tomahawk / game / commercial
Date: Sun Jan 19 09:54:04 1992


Reprinted from Atari Explorer, Vol. 9, No. 6, November/December 1989
Copyright 1989 by Atari Explorer Publications Corp.
Reprinted by permission.

Software Survey


Tomahawk
--------

Review by George Hulseman

     Tomahawk is a helicopter simulation that combines the realism of a
flight simulator with the action of a shoot-em-up.  It is not a new
release, but one that is still available and definitely merits
consideration by 8-bit gamers.
     While the program lacks the complexity of SubLogic's popular Flight
Simulator, the graphics are very similar.  The horizon is represented by
a line across the middle of the screen.  Objects such as trees,
mountains, buildings, and assorted targets appear as three-dimensional
line drawings.  This graphics technique works well in creating a 3D
world in which to set the simulation, but the overall effect is
unimpressive to those who have become accustomed to the superior
graphics usually offered by Atari computers.
     Tomahawk offers four different missions, the first of which is
strictly for training; there are no enemy forces with which to contend.
In this mode, you have time to learn to control your AH-65A Apache
Advanced Attack Helicopter.
     Modeled on the real thing, your craft is equipped with three
separate weapons systems, including three-mile guided missiles and
rockets with a range of 4000 feet.  The instrument panel, which provides
all the information you need to complete your missions, occupies the
lower half of the screen.
     Tomahawk allows you to adjust weather conditions and level of
difficulty for each mission.  Once the mission begins, you control the
chopper with your joystick.
     In the combat missions, you must avoid attacks from both
helicopters and ground-based enemy installations.  If your craft
sustains more than three hits or four equipment failures, it will crash.
You can, however, have damage repaired if you can find and land at one
of the four friendly based located in each sector.
     In addition to dodging enemy fire, you must attempt to destroy the
sources of the attacks.  Although you can use one of eight on-board
laser-guided missiles to hit distant targets, you get more points if you
use rockets or a chain gun at closer range.  It is quite gratifying to
watch your targets explode, particularly if you can avoid being hit
yourself.
     Landing the chopper is perhaps the most difficult part of the game.
You must constantly adjust the torque of the engines by pressing the Q
and A keys to achieve the proper rate of descent.
     The pilot's handbook that comes with the program is quite
comprehensive and very detailed.  A quick reference guide is included to
help you learn the keyboard commands.
     The single tragic flaw of Tomahawk is the inability to save a game
in progress.  Missions three and four require significant amounts of
playing time to complete, and there is no provision to pick up where you
left off, except by pausing the game and leaving the computer on.
     By my reckoning, it would require about 24 hours of continuous play
to complete mission three, which requires you to clear 128 sectors, each
of which contains eight targets, for a total of 1024 targets.  This is
simply too much time to devote to any game in one sitting.
     My only other complaint about the game is that the drudgery of
clearing sector after sector of enemy targets can become monotonous.
     Overall, however, Tomahawk is an intriguing game and one that
deserves a spot is most 8-bit gamers' libraries.  As a flight simulator
alone, the program is a worthwhile buy.

        out of 10
EASE OF USE     5
PERFORMANCE     8
ERROR HANDLING  6
DOCUMENTATION   9

OVERALL RATING  8

System: 64K Atari 8-bit
Copy protection: Yes
Summary: A challenging flight simulator and air combat combination
Price: $29.95
Manufacturer:
  Software Toolworks
  19808 Nordhoff Pl.
  Chatsworth, CA 91311
  (818) 885-9000
-- 
 Michael Current, Cleveland Free-Net 8-bit Atari SIGOp   -->>  go atari8  <<--
   The Cleveland Free-Net Atari SIG is the Central Atari Information Network
      Internet: currentm@carleton.edu / UUCP: ...!umn-cs!ccnfld!currentm
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