It seem like only yesterday that DiD gave us EF2000, F-22 ADV and TAW. However, their roots date back to 1991, when DiD released F-29 Retaliator, one of the first attempts to model the F-22 and X-29 fighters.
Like most game released during the height of the Cold War, the aircraft model is based on speculation. The F-22, never seen at that time, was modeled like the artists' impressions on books about (then) future fighters. The F-29 looks more realistic, because the X-29, a technological demonstrator on which it is based, is widely known at that time. The game takes you to 4 theaters of operations: Nevada, Europe, Pacific and the Middle East. You have a fixed number of missions to choose from from each theater. You fly air-to-air and air-to-ground missions in these fairly interesting (and challenging) scenarios.
Graphically, Retaliator was advanced for its time. It clearly showed the looks we will see in its sequel, TFX, with excellent graphics that depict cities, bridges, and even moving vehicles. The flight modeling is simple. The array of weaponry is quite bewildering, including the speculative AIM-9X backward-firing Sidewinder. My biggest complaint for this game is the ridiculously small play area. The size of the map is perhaps comparable to the one in Falcon 1.0. In light of the super-cruise capable F-22, the size of the map quickly feels cramped.
This is especially true because even F-19 Fighter, released 2 years before, already give us the whole Central Europe as our playground. Still, Retaliator is one of the better action-sim game for its time. This game delivered what its designer wanted to do: fast-paced, hi-tech action. Good enough to pick up when you feel nostalgic for the good old days of gaming during the Cold War.
Review By HOTUD
Comments and reviews
My suspicion is that to land normally you have to enter the code when the game loads, it's a trick of copy protection that no one thinks about it, that's why they didn't break the game. It lets you load the game, it just can't land the player and crashes. Tricky method! Though again, this is just a hunch, I haven't tested it yet...
FYI, this game was also released in Spain, although it was not translated. I bought it in "El Corte Inglés" of Colon Street in Valencia. Worked perfectly in a IBM PS/1....
in that age, the fliht simulators were... okay, let's say your rivals were mere 4 pixels; this had at least 3D models of the enemies (very low polygon number, but huge more than its rivals)
This game brings back wonderful memories. I couldn't wait to play again with it in the IT room of the school.
This game was revolutionary, because it is very very old, but full 3d, smooth gameplay and very nice physics. Unlike many more modern flying games of that era. Also the missions were quite detailed and realistic. It has the feel you really are flying a plane.
And it has 360 kB !!! Can you believe that?
I think it was the first flight sim I played multiplayer, over modem
I spent many hours ignoring my wife playing this sim. It's a lot of fun!
Yeah! This is one of the best memories from 486 era :D
Actually landing it's quite easy...
1) get roughly in line with the airport and get to 4/3000 feet;
2) reduce power to 50% (minus sign);
3) switch to F6 for the view from the back of the airplane;
4) gradually reduce speed (B key) to ~300 knts/h and reduce altitude;
5) when almost on the runway press B, lower the landing gear and land.
(Sometimes it seems that the landing gear is already down but it is not true…I think it is a bug)
I loved this game. I spent lots of hours with it. Awesome.
Its was a nice game of 70's
This game was great except for one thing: it was the most difficult flight sim to land in the then-history of flight sims. Even with a lot of practice and a good joystick. most gamers used the trainer to advance in the game having completed every mission objective other than to land.
Nice thing about this one was the fact that you could blow up *EVERYTHING* that was on the ground, and with an unlimited ammo and fuel option, this made for great stress release :)
my 8th grade shop teacher had this game installed on the classroom computer, and we'd play it after class every day! I totally forgot this game existed and can't wait to play it!
This is a great flight simulator i've been looking for it for so much. Thanks
No comment nor review for this game at the moment.