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747
FLIGHT SIMULATOR
Docsoft,
£7.95 cass
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This vector-based flight sim from Docsoft puts you in
the pilot seat of a Boeing 747 Jumbo Jet. Upon loading
you are presented with a nice pictorial view of the
instrument panel plus a pilot's eye view of the outside
world. As soon as its loaded, the game automatically
auto runs and puts you straight into the game. Rather
a silly feature really, as it doesn't let you settle
yourself down before you start.
You'll find yourself flying towards the huge words 'DR
SOFT' in vector 3D. The informative message 'Caution:
Tall characters around' appears. It rather puts you
straight in at the deep end as you have to avoid them.
If you fancy being a bit flash, you can always fly your
jumbo through the O in SOFT (although surely 747s were
not designed as aerobatic planes). Once this hazard
is passed you will need to increase your speed to avoid
stalling.
You
can, if you don't want to tackle the dreaded Dr Soft
letters, press the E key, which allows you to enter
different scenarios, all different airports. You can
then fly around them and, if you're brave enough, try
landing.
Reasonable
control is given over your plane; there's the normal
plane joystick operation (via the joystick) plus power,
brake and flap control from the keyboard. There are
several different scenarios to choose from, all modelled
closely on the real world. The first screen with the
large letters is there for getting used to the controls
and how the plane will respond to them. Next screen
is a take off and landing practice. Taking off is relatively
simple but landing is harder as there are hoops to fly
through that give the correct descent pattern for landing.
The different scenarios get harder and harder, each
one needing new skills to be developed.
Docsoft
say buildings are represented in 3D at some airports,
although we didn't manage to find any. Also included
are complex navigational elements that must be used
when flying to the destination airport.
The
bonus that makes this flight sim worthwhile is the documentation.
It provides reasonable understanding of radio navigation
and aeroplane handling. The graphics are vector but
the display is updated every third of a second, hardly
Elite standard! Instruments are easily and quickly
read because of the neat layout. The plane sometimes
gets a trifle sluggish but the response is usually up
to respectable standards for a 747.
Docsoft's
747 should be enjoyed by beginners wishing to
delve into flight simulation and should also provide
enough challenge to keep the hardened simulator pilot
happy.
Graphics
58%
Interaction 60%
Authenticity 67%
Overall 64%
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