After colossal success in the first-person shooter genre with the Modern Warfare series, Activision is hoping for more success in the war flight sim space, with Apache: Air Assault. Apache: Air Assault is no regular flight sim though, it’s a missiles an’ all military helicopter blast ‘em up aiming to deliver the most realistic war-going flight experience, with help from a former real-life Apache pilot. Earlier on we were dropped straight into the cockpit for our first play. This way for our impressions so far.
Before our hands-on time with Apache: Air Assault we were under the impression that it was going to be another one of those nothing to write home about flight simulator types. But not so. With Apache: Air Assault, Activision and developer Gaijin Entertainment are hoping to stand out from the pack with a flight simulator that is both flight sim and all action war-offering combined.
Apache: Air Assault has 16 campaign missions, each with their own secondary objectives across three regions: Africa, Central America and the Middle East featuring the kind of deadly missions a real-life Apache pilot might undertake for real, in a story told through a series of mission briefings and in-game cutscenes.
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From annihilating enemy tanks with long range Hellfire missiles, to engaging your 30mm cannon on enemy insurgents from above, and blowing up boats at sea - Activision is convinced Apache: Air Assault has enough for both the ardent flight sim fan and gung-ho hardcore gamers that want to blow stuff up.
For evidence the developer and publishers pursuit of realism, Ed Macy a former real-life Apache pilot, and author of best-selling book – Apache, was on-hand to tell us why Apache: Air Assault is the closest most of us will ever come to getting in the cockpit.
“I build and design missions for the Boeing simulator. You can’t get the average person into an Apache [in a simulator or other] because it’s not possible,” the Macy told us, explaining that Apache: Air Assault is the real deal.
“It is modelled like the Apache, it does play like the Apache. Those people who love flight sims are going to enjoy this. It’s as near as you’re going to get.” On the graphics the former pilot said you’ll “know what it’s really like to get in an Apache. You’ll forget that you’re in your armchair.
“I think this is as close as you’re going to get to an Apache. That’s the only reason I came down here to support it.”
Activision were bigging it up as the first solely dedicated helicopter flight sim of its kind, but don’t call it a flight sim. Apache: Air Assault is non-stop action, affected by the mode you choose to play.
The Realistic Mode is for those that have flying game experience with slightly trickier controls and an increased chance of getting taken down. Then there is the Training Mode with easy controls for “those that just want to get into the cockpit”. And that’s on top of co-op and domination, which is designed for 2-4 players, where you attempt to capture and hold all landing zones.
We had a go on the training mode, diving into a training mission before embarking on a proper military mission. The visuals are clean and crisp as you’ll find in any Xbox 360 or PS3 title. Graphically that makes it arguably the best looking flight sim we’ve seen. The graphics certainly help when it comes to the missions, as red markers helpfully blink on-screen to indicate waypoints, mission objectives and enemies.
We played Apache: Air Assault on an Xbox 360. As you might expect, the left stick controls the rudder for direction, the right stick is dual purpose, letting you move the tail of your Apache up and down. You press the A button to lock onto a target, B to switch between views, Y to operate the thermal cam and the RB to fire missiles and right trigger to fire the Apache’s chain gun. Speaking of chain guns, those who fell in love with piloting Modern Warfare’s AC-130 will be delighted to know you can dip in and out of the Apache’s thermal imaging at will to reign down rapid fire on enemy infantry. It also means there’s even more scope for mission variety. For example we got to see one of the game’s final missions where you have to provide cover fire for friendly commandos about to besiege an enemy stronghold.
You can opt for the strategic approach carefully strafing around your targets, or going in all guns blazing and missiles tooting on occasion. Our game time had us taking out enemy tanks about to close in on our allies, locking onto them and firing a barrage of missiles in almost rapid succession. We then went in pursuit of an escaping convoy, flying in between hazardous mountain terrain before engaging it with the chaingun. If you miss your target you’ll have to perform another fly by, being careful not to brush the rocky terrain sandwiching you in. At times the terrain is as much a challenge as the enemy, but that’s all part of the fun, just don’t expect an easy ride in later levels. “There’s very aggressive AI designed to take you out”, we were told.
And when they do try to take you out, the damage happens as if were a real scenario. In Realistic Mode one enemy missile hit will be enough to take you down. And if not, you’ll notice proper damage to your rotors, making it tough for you to fly, you could lose your radar or an engine could catch fire and burn out. Depending on what mode you play, Apache: Air Assault is as approachable or bum-clenchingly difficult as you want it to be.
We arrived at the Apache: Air Assault demo thinking we were in for a samey flight sim. We were glad to be proven wrong. In catering for anorak fans of the humble flight sim and those “those that just want to get into the cockpit” and fire at things, Apache: Air Assault looks set to be the best titles of its type, albeit in a sparsely populated niche. Whether it features enough variety to cater for the latter remains to be seen, but for serious flight fans it’s already looking like a must-have.
Out 19 November | £TBC | Activision
