Reviewed
07.29.1999
Publisher
Konami
Developer
Konami
Format
GD
Origin
Import/Domestic
Available
Jul
26, 1999 (Japan)
Sep
9, 1999 (USA)
Exclusive
Yes
Difficulty
Adjustable
Dimensions
3D
View
1st/3rd
Person
Genre
Flight/Shooter
Players
1
Player
Options
Backup
8+6
Mission
Stick
Requires
n/a
Importable
99% |
INTRO:
> Konami was never known for flight games in my mind so I was a tad skeptical
when I heard of Airforce Delta (AD), which started out being called "Flight
Shooting". Unlike Aero Dancing (aka Aero Wings), AD focuses on military
confrontation of the bullet and missile kind. You're given various
targets in a briefing, then you must go out and destroy them to advance.
Once you've successfully completed a mission you're given credits which
you can use to buy a new aircraft or replace one lost in combat.
> Many of the options and most of the game screens are in English.
I haven't found a sticking point for import fans -- plus, this is a shooter.
Need I say more?
GRAPHICS:
> I think the graphics look better in AD than in Aero Dancing, so that
means they're exceptional. The 3D worlds are convincing, animate
smoothly, and look good at all altitudes. A few levels have some
fog, but most have an excellent sight distance so I don't really know if
it was done on purpose. The aircraft look like photographs from every
angle! Amazing! When you fire a missile, the smoke trail looks
pretty good, but disappears quickly. The explosions are decent, but
can't touch the likes of Expendable.
> There are all sorts of areas in which missions take place. Some
are sea side, canyon, high altitude with mountains and cityscapes.
The ground looks very natural and you rarely see much flat area.
The enemies range from fighter aircraft to bombers to tankers to a myriad
of ground targets like SAMs.
CONTROL:
> The controls are a nice mixture of arcade and simulation. Whew!
When you select Expert control, you can use change target, map, thrust
up/down, missile, gun, view change and left/right rudder -- very good.
My only complaint is that take-offs and landings are absent (darnit).
It doesn't matter to me, but red-outs and black-outs aren't included either.
> You have free roaming ability in each mission, but there is an invisible
square boundary (very large) that you have to stay in. Flight is
realistic as you can do any maneuver that's possible in the real thing.
You get unlimited bullets, but missiles are limited. Anyway, very
good gameplay and no bombs to worry about.
SOUND:
> The music is decent, but nothing to get excited over. There is
an option to turn it down or off during gameplay -- thanks Konami.
> The sound effects are very good, especially the stereo jet engine noises.
You know exactly which side a jet is coming from just by listening to the
engine whoosh by. The rest of the effects are good and include guns,
missiles, explosions and enemy hits on your jet.
FUN:
> There are plenty of enemy aircraft and ground targets to deal with.
Plus, the enemy will come up behind you and pummel your jet with bullets
and missiles if you let him. Konami also included a ton of aircraft
which you can buy. Some of my favorites are the F-117, F-22, Tornado,
F-14, Mirage 2000, MiG-29 and MiG-25. If you like flying, then you'll
probably have a lot of fun with AD.
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