The Next Generation Flight Simulation has Arrived
A Review of EF2000
by Derek F. Tarvin
Few games can be considered ground-breaking, but developer Digital Image Design (DID), makers of TFX: Tactical Fighter Experiment, and publisher Ocean, have certainly achieved strides ahead of any modern fighter simulation with EF2000. With a new century almost upon us, a new breed of advanced aircraft is sure to emerge. One of these ultra-advanced fly-by-wire aircraft expected to dawn the next century marker is a joint project between the British, German, Spanish and Italian governments called Eurofighter 2000. This plane, the EF2000, is the platform that DID used to design and develop the most innovative modern flight simulation to date. This caliber of flight sim hasnÆt been seen on any computer system short of the Silicon Graphics workstations until now, and DID will squeeze every bit of power it can from your home PC. EF2000 offers advanced artificial intelligence (AI), breathtaking graphics, an impressive flight model, riveting sound, and even network play.
Until now, Falcon 3.0 by Spectrum Holobyte has been the platform of choice for modern flight jocks, because of its accurate flight model, interface and the capability to compete over a network against other human opponents. With the emergence date of Falcon 4.0 being fuzzy at best, EF2000 might catch on as the new simulation medium for the die hard dogfighting junkies out there. What EF2000 also does quite well is to provide enough automated systems and "jump right in" possibilities so that even novice pilots can enjoy the picturesque landscapes and the heat of battle as well. If mixing it up in a head-to-head furball with other flight sim fanatics is your game or just a quick incident engaging a couple of enemy MIGs is your fancy, EF2000 is sure to please.
EF2000 had a major overhaul patch as of May 1996, and it should be noted that all comments in this review reflect the full-version including the "mid-life upgrade" patch to version 2.02. The AI is stronger, flight models are even more accurate, dogfighting is better than ever, to only mention a few of the enhancements over its original release. DID has worked overtime to hammer out the bugs and fine tune EF2000 to meet the demands that gamers have voiced since the end of last year.
The game opens to a blanketed background of a highly-detailed schematic with pulsating music and the main selection screen, where four modes of gameplay can be chosen. The first is a Quick Combat mode, which throws you right into the action while keeping score for your kills. The second is a Simulator mode, which provides the equivalent of an EF2000 flight school to familiarize the pilot with flight components and integration into single missions. The third is a Campaign mode, which is algorithmically generated into a full-scale war scenario with a sequence of various missions fighting against the Russian offensive. If youÆve practiced enough on the computer AI, then the fourth mode offering Multi-Player possibilities over an IPX network for up to eight players should entice even the most demanding armchair flight jock.
Whichever mode you choose, your EF2000 aircraft will be facing a variety of Russian forces ranging from MiG-29s to destroyers armed to the teeth with weaponry to welcome your arrival. As you select your mode of combat, you will be given a briefing so you can choose between ground strikes, escort missions, or even intercepts with mixed opponent aircraft. Once you have chosen your options, the sights and sounds of EF2000 immediately immerse the player. The visual interface of the aircraft is full of depth. From within the cockpit, there are four main viewpoints: a front tactical display, and three different MFD (MultiFunction Display)screens. The front view can include a low-resolution portion of the MFDs to aid in combat. The internal cockpit is beautifully laid out and easy to access, assuring the least amount of hindrance in the heat of battle. Every MFD display can be quickly accessed via the keypad. However, since the detailed terrain and skyscape is so incredible, you'll probably spend little time staring at your cockpit.
The views from the cockpit are an example of the depth and refinement DID put into EF2000. When depressing an arrow key, views can gradually turn the pilot's head one click at a time in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. When looking at your three o'clock or nine o'clock perspectives, the canopy glass even has etched arrows, showing which direction is the front portion of the aircraft. The views outside the plane are even better. Almost any desired perspective is an option. There is even a "padlock" view, which follows your opponent, to implement the ASRAAM missile, which is targeted via the pilot's helmet. Fly-bys, ground and air target views, and a plethora of outside views of the player's aircraft, show off the rich detail in the textured-mapped terrain and of the EF2000 aircraft itself. Taking an outside view of your plane as you release a group of chaff and flares, then seeing a missile zip past you as you bank away is certainly a thrill. Taking a missile view and seeing the impact on an enemy MiG is even more satisfying.
One glimpse of the outside world in EF2000 and you'll surely keep playing just to see the splendor of the region including Finland, Norway, and Sweden. The terrain is full of snow-capped mountain ranges, cliff-laden coastlines, as well as all the roads with bridges, rivers with dams, and numerous signs of modern civilization. The detail is unlike anything else in the simulation genre except Flight Unlimited by Looking Glass Technologies. This heavy detail comes at a heavy price in computer power though and the lowly-equipped need not even bother with EF2000. The graphics can be run in a lower resolution, but the true simulation is best felt in SVGA mode. The weather effects show the meticulous attention to detail. Since this is Western Europe, cloud cover plagues the region. Stunning effects of flying above the cloud layer or suddenly seeing a mountain appear amidst the fog are common. Ground targets violently burn and billow with smoke when hit. Your own aircraft makes a great splash and explosion in the unfortunate event of "splash down." After damage is inflicted, a glimpse outside the plane will often show a portion of the wing missing, hopefully not taking ordinance with the missing piece. EF2000 also sports amazingly realistic airfields with a ton of colored lights, along with hangers and other buildings, which are a wonder to observe during night missions. Every which way you look, EF2000's graphics are top-notch.
EF2000 also engulfs the player in sound and music from the beginning. The game opens to some excellent background music, setting the tone for aerial combat. Since the FM synthesized music is annoying, you'll likely want to select the CD option for your own background music, unless you have a wavetable sound card. The digitized sound of your engines spinning up is an example of the incredible realism DID has created. The speech sounds are quite numerous, ranging from your wingman warning you of radar detection, to requesting a refueling tanker to intersect your position. The "Betty" system warns the pilot of incoming missiles and to "pull-up" when needed. A strong use of stereo effects tells the player which side a weapon was fired. Utilizing this feature will give you a good sense of where things are occurring. The sound in EF2000 is almost as good as its graphics.
EF2000 has a good flight model and sense of combat to prove its presence in this genre of games. Your aircraft shows signs of extra drag due to payload and you can't turn on a dime with afterburners on. Since the Eurofighter is a state-of-the-art aircraft, the onboard systems make flying the plane quite easy. To be the best, you'll have to master the orchestration of selecting missiles, commanding your wingmen intelligently, and using various radar information. Once detected by your Russian adversaries, who are often equipped with longer-range weapons, you might find yourself rolling and diving to avoid a few missile locks. Whether you take a direct assault or mask yourself from radar with terrain for a stealthy approach, your wingmen will be close-by awaiting your commands. They aren't just three extra decoy blips on radar for the enemy to waste armament on. Give the right commands and your accompanying air support will prove invaluable. Their only drawback is their tendency to waste too many missiles on the same target in long range engagement.
Be assured your opponents have excellent AI as well. This is not an arcade game where you can approach from any angle and open up on your enemy. They will take evasive maneuvers and expend chaff and flares when necessary. Even the ground contacts won't let you by without filling the skies around you with a lot of flak. You can either attempt to strafe them with your cannons or dumb bombs, or use your TIALD (Thermal Imaging And Laser Designation) system to guide your smart weapons. Though the EF2000 is an amazingly well-equipped and capable plane, you'll need every system and weapon at your disposal to outsmart the enemy.
Another of EF2000's most impressive elements is its campaign mode. This mode creates a full campaign with the entire region engaging in full-scale war, while you focus on specified missions within the war zone. Using DID's WARGEN campaign generator, campaigns can be re-formed again and again to bring a fresh set of missions to complete, making the possibilities limitless. There are many hundreds of planes and ships, as well as a ton of ground units interacting in outside missions. You can even choose to involve yourself in one of the unrelated missions and wreak havoc there. The activity is so interlocked, that after achieving your mission goal, you might see follow-up aircraft diving in to obliterate other enemy targets.
EF2000 has everything it needs to be the lead in the next generation of modern flight simulations. Since you can play over an IPX network with up to eight players, it is likely that the trophy held by Falcon 3.0 will be handed over to this much more capable successor that DID has given us. There's nothing more exciting than playing against other PC flight jocks, using a KALI network connection while taking in the beautiful scenery of the Norwegian coast line. To continue with the bells and whistles, EF2000 even has a dedicated webpage at www.ef2000.com, that houses a bundle of gaming information. There is a training school, pilot tournament ladders, and a thorough FAQ section.
EF2000's only shortcomings are its high system requirements and that it only runs in DOS mode. The system requirements are the expected price to be paid for such stunning graphics and game performance. You can expect the lack of Windows95 compliance to be corrected in a forthcoming add-on or upgrade to EF2000.The game preferences being set in a separate DOS utility outside the game is a minor irritation. Other than these few drawbacks, EF2000 is almost flawless.
You'll need a 100mhz Pentium with a decent video card to truly enjoy the SVGA mode of EF2000 at an acceptable frame rate. However, if upgrading your system is rewarded by games like EF2000 that show off your latest investment, let the high-requirement games roll in! This game is so groundbreaking that it's obvious why Ocean released EF2000 with a few glitches, which were later corrected with their "mid-life upgrade" patch. If this is an example of what the future holds for us flight jocks, the future is looking very bright.
Gamer's Zone Scorecard
| Product: |
EF2000 |
| Company: |
Publisher:
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| Cost: |
$69.95 |
System Requirements:
IBM PC Compatible, 486/66, MS-DOS 5.0 or higher, 2X
CD-ROM, 8MB RAM, 20MB HD space, SVGA video card.
Preferred: Pentium 100 for SVGA, fast VLB or PCI video card, 16MB RAM,
joystick.
Breakdown:
Fun Factor 5
Graphics 5
Sound 5
Interface 5
Replayability 5
Overall Score:
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