One of Avalon Hill's earliest games for the PC, B-1 Nuclear Bomber is a simplistic wargame that lets you fly a B-1 bomber on a mission over the Soviet Union.
You must fly through stiff Russian defenses to the target city, bomb if and return home. Your computer controls the soviet MIG fighters and SAM's, and you must rely on electronic counter measures and self-defense missiles. Similar to other games of the era, B-1 Nuclear Bomber was coded entirely in BASIC. But unlike classic BASIC games such as Dan Bunten's amazing Cartel$ & Cutthroat$ that push the envelope of the language, B-1 Nuclear Bomber is one of the worst of the bunch.
As M. Evan Brooks observes in his synopsis, its play mechanics are embarrassing in the contemporary market; in fact, its play mechanics were embarrassing when it was initially released. A virtual X-Y axis game of nuclear "bombs bursting in air". Worth a look only if you are a nostalgic wargaming fan.
Review By HOTUD
Comments and reviews
One of my first computer games. Loved it at the time! Looked this up after posting something about B1s on Facebook... here's what I said:
One my first computer games was a text-based flight simulator (yes, text) from Avalon Hill, called "B-1 Nuclear Bomber," for my Apple ][ (5-digit serial number!) in late 70s/early 80s... I still recall that Tallin was the first Soviet radar station I'd usually detect as I came in low over the Baltic... in 2009, while doing workups with 3d CAG heading to Afghanistan we did some training in Finland... and while in Helsinki i saw that you could take a boat to Tallin. And so, while in Finland in 2009, I was thinking fondly of my many (simulated... textually) runs through the area on my way to penetrate Soviet airspace and survive the SAMs and Foxbats long enough to deliver a nuke to my primary target... good times, good times.
It's been 30 years since i played this game. Back in the day it was amazing.
cool
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