Review by: Terry Belsey Name: Air Warrior 2 Publisher: Interactive Magic and Kesmai Corporation Format: CD Available: Now Requires: For Off-line Game O/S: DOS 7.0 (Win95) Processor: Pentium 60MHZ or faster RAM: 16Mb+ Graphics: SVGA (DirectX compatible) HD: At least 50MB free space. CD-ROM: 4X+ Soundcard: Soundblaster compatible card. Others: AW2 CD required during play. Recommended Optional Equipment Pentium 90MHz CPU + Dedicated Game port Throttle & Rudder Controls Multifunction Joystick, such as Thrustmaster FCS, CH Pro, Sidewinder etc. For On-line Multi-player 100% Hayes Compatible 9600 kbps or faster modem Internet Account and PPP or Slip connection. Tested on: O/S: WIN95 Processor: Pentium 133 RAM: 32MB Graphics: Matrox Millenium 4MB CD-ROM: 8X speed Soundcard: Soundblaster16 Controls: Keyboard + CH Combat Joystick + CH Pro Throttle, CH Pro Rudder pedals. Soundcard: SoundBlaster 16 Modem: Hayes 28800 Accura

Air Warrior 2

The Air Warrior series 1 in it's original versions is a multi-player Air Combat Simulator, and has been available for many years as a dos game, played over a modem to a host computer via a shell account. Although it had an "off-line" practice mode, this was a fairly simple affair, and was provided so that players could gain some familiarity with the controls before taking to the virtual sky in air combat in multi-player mode. The type of aircraft offered were mainly all the classic propeller driven combat planes mainly from the WW2 era, a few from WW1 and Jet aircraft used in the Korean War, and AW2 continues this traditional approach of "seat of the pants" flying in the new version. Nothing too technical in the cockpit, just pure flying skill.

Unlike most stand-alone computer games, when "on-line" you are in combat with dozens of real people, and what got me hooked was that you know somewhere else in the world there is another player glaring at their screen, saying "S***!" as their aircraft is blown to smithereens by yours truly. Not computer generated opponents, but real people, who you can also communicate with, make friends with, fly together as buddies, crew a bomber together, or form squadrons of like-minded people to challenge other groups to combat in a virtual sky. Air Warrior over the past few years has formed a real "community" of players, many who know each other well.

With the introduction to home computers of the GUI in Windows 3 and Windows 95, and the huge rise in PC`s connected to the Internet via direct PPP or Slip interfaces, Kesmai Corporation started programming an update to the old dos versions of AW. To take advantage of the new technology they introduced an interim version called Air Warrior for Windows, whilst continuing work on a completely new version which used the latest techniques in DirectX, a new graphical interface, and easy on-line access via the user's own internet connection.

The interim version (referred to now as AW4W) has no "off-line" play as such, and is used only as an "on-line" multi player game. It has proved popular, especially on the America Online service where literally hundreds play every night, though it has some limitations as it can be rather slow on frame rate for lower specified machines as it uses Microsoft's WinG games coding.

Air Warrior version 2 (AW2) has finally arrived, offering both an "On-line" mode, and a new offline game for home users who do not wish to compete with other people and pay for online time.

The Game

This new version of Air Warrior, is in fact three games in one package. AW2 is both a stand-alone game, and also offers the means to play either head to head with just one other player, either via modem, over a network or via the internet, and a multi-player game to meet in air combat 100's of players from all over the world on a host computer. It also contains the simpler multi player version AW4W which has no off-line gaming, but takes up far less hard disk space.

The game comes in a sturdy box, resplendent with aircraft pictures as one would expect, and inside is an excellent printed manual 140 pages long. The CD contains 538MBs of data, which includes both installation versions for Air Warrior 2 and AW4W, an install routine for adding DirectX3 to your graphics card if not already installed, Indeo MMX enhanced driver installation, and Acrobat Version 3 for reading a hard disk installed manual in pdf format, which is all one could wish for.

Also included is a mission editor for writing your own missions off-line and planning missions on-line, and both AOL and Compuserve trial accounts with free time, including the necessary software to get you into combat in the multi player mode. There are four short demo's provided for other Interactive Magic games and the main introduction in avi format, the rest being pure data files or cockpit art files. No movie padding here!

On my machine the installation went smoothly. I chose the default installation which includes DirectX3, though personally I recommend that for some graphics cards it is best to retain your own card manufacturer's latest DirectX graphics drivers as they may be more optimised than Microsoft's "official" versions. I did in retrospect, go back and install a newer version of the Matrox Millennium drivers recently issued with updated DirectX3 drivers. AW2 ran faultlessly with either.

There are options provided during installation where you can choose to run the "in combat" graphics in either 640, 800 or 1024 SVGA resolutions, or if you have enough hard disk space all 3 may be installed on a "custom" installation. I opted for both the 640 & 800 resolution cockpit graphics, and also chose the "Ace" option (Full Realism) for trying out the off-line game. <Gulp!> 160MBs were gobbled up on my disk! You can change this once the game is installed at any time. You can retain your normal screen resolution mode, (I use 1024X768 hicolour), in all the "in between" flying parts, and when actually in combat, automatically switch in the cockpit art resolution you have chosen. The lower resolution also speeds up the frame rate in lower specified CPU's and graphics cards, although using DirectX3 has improved this aspect of the game over the "older" AW4W version. I was getting a respectable 40+ frames per second in 800X600 resolution with all sound and other custom options enabled.

The introduction on starting the game is stunning, which incidently runs directly off the CD. After it had finished (you can skip the intro), I arrived at the "Main Airfield" where one runs the setup for sounds, joysticks, throttles, and rudders pedals (if any), by clicking on the "Setup Hangar"

A range of joysticks are catered for, and I had no problems setting up my joystick, with the additional benefit of having a programmable throttle. I would recommend playing AW2 with a joystick with a throttle wheel or throttle of some description. I noticed Force Feedback sticks are also catered for. Cool!

Also at the "Main Airfield" are options to view the replays of films you can make while flying (good for finding out where you went wrong), the setup for head to head modem play (not tested as yet) and network gaming, selection of screen preferences, sounds, and other settings for cockpit views. Normal view, wide view and full screen view may be switched, or optimised. Useful information can be had by pressing the help buttons when setting up controls if in doubt.

I must admit that my immediate impression were that AW2 was not much different from AW4W and although the graphics are pin sharp and - Yikes! What the... The SOUNDS!...

AW2 contains all the incidental sounds one associates with a busy hangar, briefing room, or officers mess. Planes roar by on circuit, telephones ring, typewriters clatter, papers rustle, and in the hangar the sound of hammers beating out panels, the metallic sound of a dropped wrench, and the muffled curse of the benighted mechanic. They are all in there! Great recordings too. When flying this "sound atmosphere" is most impressive, all your inputs, the wind rushing by, the sound of guns, the crump of bombs hitting, the frightening crack of anti-aircraft fire, all most realistic and even "dated" to the right era in time. It's terrific! Dos Air Warrior was never like this! For an old Air Warrior, I was impressed before I even boarded an aircraft for a test flight.

The "Off-line" Game

Off-line you can choose either instant action and draw a random mission, choose a training mission, or join a whole campaign that slowly gets more difficult as you progress. Different countries can be selected by clicking on the central planning table. All this is done by easy point and click on the mission or campaign boards. In total, 300 pre-planned missions are available.

The range of aircraft available is impressive, and this has been increased considerably over the older versions. Different "marks" of the same aircraft are available depending on the campaign era you choose. The old favourites are there with additions, and many new types, including the Hurricane, Stuka, Me110, different marks of Spitfire, Focke, Me109, and many new carrier-borne aircraft for the Pacific Campaigns too numerous to list (over 35 different types of aircraft).

The generated enemy aircraft are extremely realistic and difficult to shoot down in this new version, especially as the missions get more complicated, and if it wasn't for the fact that they are relatively poor shots, "Aces" would have their work cut out to successfully survive and complete a mission with full realism turned on. I often didn't, but one can either replay or save the missions to try again later. Each aircraft has it's own flying characteristics and performance differences that closely follow the real aircrafts performance, and within the time scale of this review it was impossible to fly them all. Best to pick a favourite "era" or "campaign" and slowly progress.

Trying to shake off these computer opponents, many in new types of plane such as the Me110, is quite humbling for a supposedly old hand like me. They are extremely good!

The terrain is considerably improved. There are trees, hills and mountains, farms, villages or small towns, and even sheep grazing, and although this is not as important as the actual combat, it adds to the interest. The area of the terrain generated for the European missions is Europe and Great Britain, and a printed map is provided, with all the familiar airfield names such as Manston and Biggin Hill here.

While flying you have access to a "map" mode via key F10, which shows your proposed route and way points, but you have no on board radar (this is WW2) and the Mk.1 eyeball is your main tool for spotting the enemy. You are however advised on your "radio" from your Sector HQ, if any unidentified aircraft are within your range, much like what actually happened in WW2.

In combat you can switch to full view, wide view, or full screen view, and the only criticism I have is that the full screen view does not include height, speed and other necessary information. However, I'm used to "Normal" view in the previous versions and found the "wide view" quite useful, when I remembered to switch it in when in combat.

If you are leading a Flight or Section you can issue rudimentary commands via the radio (keyboard) such as "form up" or "attack" otherwise your flight or wingmen form up on you. Wingmen will also spot unidentified aircraft and advise you of possible enemy threats.

The visual acquisition of enemy and friendly aircraft is gradual and they slowly emerge with full detail unlike all the older versions including AW4W where aircraft detail is not acquired till quite close range. Aircraft at long range are dots which gradually form into a plane shape as you close on their position. Even the props can be seen turning at quite long range, and all this is helpful in determining the "attitude" and direction of the enemy. Kesmai have done an excellent job of programming here.

All skills are catered for, and you can start in Novice, Veteran or Ace mode, and Kesmai have produced in conjunction with the publisher Interactive Magic a flight sim that should appeal to all. If you want an enjoyable flight sim where combat and individual flying skill is your prime consideration, then Kesmai have "done the business".

Although one can discuss the different flying characteristics on that "other" multi player game (Warbirds), it's the off-line game that the new AW2 has that makes it a best buy and a "must" for classic flight sim fans.

"On-line" Multi player

In this, the first issue of AW2, the host for playing Multi player with the full box version is at present on the Kesmai server, which can be accessed via Compuserve or Delphi, or directly via your own ISP connection. At present it is free, while host settings are tweaked, and any remaining bugs for "on-line" play are tracked down by Kesmai. To this end they have already issued a small patch for "on-line" play, which also includes a dynamic link library file that monitors your connection to the host, so that Kesmai can gather more information on possible connection problems over the Internet. This can be obtained from Interactive Magic's ftp site and is easily installed. Support details are all in the box.

My first foray into the skies was without any great difficulty, having already set up a "Launch Page" in my Internet Browser from Kesmai`s web site at http://www.kesmai.com to access the host. My first flights went well, though most other players were flying in the "relaxed" theatres, and few in the more difficult "full realism" theatres, which was disappointing for me. I noticed no problems at all, and flights went smoothly, and I managed to get a few "kills" on other players.

The terrain in on-line play is the usual large terrain divided into 3 countries, A.B and C Land. Unlike previous versions all the airfields have names not numbers, accessed from your map or radar key. The terrain details are similar to the offline game, with more detail (including the sheep <g>). The radar shows your flying name on the radar (5 letters, not numbers as in the dos versions), and radar works within your own country and neutral territories. Outside this the old eyeball is required to spot near enemies. Most commands for changing planes, or joining other crew members in a bomber etc. are now all mouse point and click operations, as one would expect in a Win95 game.

You can communicate with other players via your "radio" by typing your messages on your keyboard while in flight. Various radio "channels" are available so that you can talk to all players, or only those in your own country, or just your buddies. Bomber crews are also provided with a completely separate intercom channel now. When not flying, you can talk in the briefing rooms, or even select a "private" group.

A couple of days later, I had great difficulty in maintaining a good host connection, because if the connection is poor, the host generates a warning message, and disables your guns. If your connection improves the guns are reinstated. If the connection is really poor the host will drop you back into your Country Headquarters with a warning that your connection is too slow, without actually dumping you out of the host completely, enabling you to log off, and try again. As my "ping" times to the host were "fair" I was a bit upset that this kept happening, as it is difficult to undertake a mission without "guns". Kesmai were aware of this, and very wisely e-mailed those who reported the problem, via the provided mail access on the launch page, with possible reasons and suggestions for improving what could be your own machines problem running the game, and have made some changes to the host server that improved the situation, (they are still monitoring to get the best settings) enabling me to take to the skies again.

Providing these teething problems are resolved, the numbers playing multi player will increase dramatically, and there are already up to a hundred players flying in the "relaxed" theatres.

The host will soon start charging for connections via the existing providers, i.e Compuserve, Delphi & Earthlink, and possibly AOL too. The latter (AOL) at present only offers the simpler AW4W via it's own multi-player host. This is massive and it is not unusual to find upwards of 600 people flying spread over the various theatres provided. When the online AW2 game comes out of it's free play period, anyone can log into say Delphi.com for example via their own local Internet Service Provider, and play Air Warrior 2, as long as a special account is set up with Delphi. This is at a reduced rate compared to using Delphi as your own ISP. Details for connecting to the multi player hosts are in the manual, and in additional leaflets supplied in the box.

Summary

As an "off-line" stand-alone combat simulation, without all the technical frills of modern aircraft, I think Kesmai have met all of the criteria for maintaining interest, and provided a game with real "atmosphere" that should produce a lot of new fans. The printed manual, together with Acrobat file manual on disk, are all extremely comprehensive and remind me of the terrific manuals one used to get with Microprose games. Documentation is really excellent, and the game itself is as good as it can be. A classic flight sim game. Top marks and a must buy!

As an "on-line" game, it has redressed most of it's previous criticisms, and providing the connection niggles are resolved, it should give it's rival Warbirds excellent competition in the "on-line" stakes, with the added advantage of having a Mission Planner, and it's off-line game to practice with.

It should again prove to be popular. But for the small niggles about the "on-line" aspect it would have met all of my expectations and scored the very top marks. But I must be fair and downgrade it slightly just because of these, which hopefully will be resolved soon.

Terry Belsey for Game-Over!