AV-8B Harrier Assault

Infobox VG
title = AV-8B Harrier Assault


developer = Simis
publisher = Domark
designer =
released = vgy|1992
genre = Combat flight simulator / Real-time strategy
modes = Single-player
platforms = Amiga, Atari ST, PC
media = Floppy disk, CD-ROM
requirements =
input = Keyboard, Joystick, Mouse

"AV-8B Harrier Assault" is a combat flight simulator/realtime strategy game developed by Simis and first published by Domark in 1992 [http://www.migman.com/ref/1990_combat/SVGAHarrier/SVGAHarrier.htm Migman's review of AV-8B Harrier Assault] ] .

etting and gameplay

The game is set in a fictional conflict between UN forces and the Indonisian army occupying East Timor. A battlegroup lead by USS Tarawa is diverted from a navy exercise along with its escorts and is ordered to aid the Rapid Deployment Force (RDF) marine units engage the Indonisian forces and occupy the island. The carrier group is equiped with a squadron of 16 AV-8B Harrier II jets, a number of CH-46 Sea Knight and CH-53 Sea Stallion helicopters stationed on Tarawa and the escort vessels and a brigade of armoured personnel carriers, tanks and support vehicles aiding the marines and the special forces units.

The game is a cross between a real time strategy game and a flight simulator. Players can literaly completely ignore one of the elements and either play a pure real-time strategy game controlling the forces as the battle plan progresses, or alternatively participate only in combat, flying the AV-8B Harrier missions. In practice however, tweaking the battle plan is essential as enemy re-enforcements or lost ground battles can affect the plan as a whole. Similarly, flying some missions is essential, e.g. intercepting C-130 planes carrying enemy reinforcements, something that the game's AI cannot handle properly. Otherwise, enemy forces may overwhelm their target and re-establish control of strategic locations.

The game starts in the Tarawa command center where a battle plan can be designed on the area maps. Player are given the choice of creating their own battle plans or loading the "Ocean Sabre" plan in the Tactical Amphibious Warfare Data System (TAWADS), containing navy/army deployments and operations spanning a five day period. The battle plan contains every movement of the navy, army and aerial unit planned for every stage of the operation and it needs to take into account all expected enemy strength at various points in the operation area (cities, villages, airports, fuel dumps, etc.). When the battle plan initiates the first combat flying mission becomes available, where the player can attack a number of targets on the island. As the game progresses new missions become available, ranging from bombing enemy bases and vehicles, reconnaissance, air superiority, interception and close air support of friendly units. The game ends when all enemy forces are destroyed and all strategic locations are occupied by friendly forces.

Flight Simulator

Harrier taking off from USS TarawaThe game's flight simulator is quite convincingly portraying the flying characteristics of an AV-8B Harrier II jet. The fighter plane can take-off horizontally or vertically (when payload permits) from the deck of the USS Tarawa and land vertically when the mission ends. Inside the cockpit, the HUD and MFD provide combat information of enemy units along with aircraft and mission data and the point of view can be rotated left, right and back. There are two external camera views, one following the plane and a stationary flyby camera view, which displays a view of the aircraft as it speeds past the camera.

A variety of weaponry is available to load before each mission, ranging from air-to-air AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles to air-to-ground GBU-12 Paveway II bombs, MK-20 Rockeye II cluster bombs, Hydra rockets, AGM-88 HARM and AGM-65 Maverick missiles. The fighter is also equiped with a GAU-12 Equalizer 25mm gatling cannon which can pack a devastating blow to almost all ground and air targets.

PC versions

The PC version of the game was originally released with VGA resolution (320x200) graphics. A subsequent release in the same year upscaled the graphics to SVGA resolution (640x200) [http://www.migman.com/ref/1990_combat/SVGAHarrier/SVGAHarrier.htm Super-VGA release] ] , creating the very first SVGA flight simulator. The game in the SVGA release was re-branded to "Super-VGA Harrier".

Controversy

The game was banned in Australia due to protests from the Catholic Teachers Federation, on the grounds that the game is offensive to East Timorese [http://www.the-underdogs.info/game.php?name=Super-VGA+Harrier Home of the Underdogs article on Super-VGA Harrier] ] .

References

External Links

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