F/A-18 Interceptor
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| F/A-18 Interceptor | |
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| Developer(s) | Intellisoft |
| Publisher(s) | Electronic Arts |
| Designer(s) | Bob Dinnerman |
| Release date(s) | 1988 |
| Genre(s) | Flight sim |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
| Rating(s) | N/A |
| Platform(s) | Amiga |
F/A-18 Interceptor is a combat flight simulator released for the Amiga in 1988. It is widely known for its use of 3D graphics and arcade-style gameplay. The game's music is inspired by the movie Top Gun.
The player mainly flies the F/A-18 Hornet, but the F-16 Fighting Falcon is also available for aerobatics, free flight and the first mission.
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[edit] Location
The game is set in the San Francisco Bay Area. Notable landmarks include the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge and Alcatraz Island. The Electronic Arts headquarters in San Mateo are also depicted.
The player can also take off and land from the following airfields:
- San Francisco International Airport
- Oakland International Airport
- San Jose International Airport
- USS Enterprise, anchored approximately 20 miles offshore.
[edit] Modes of Play
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- Free flight
- Aerobatics
- Combat missions
[edit] Weapons
Only air-to-air weapons are available, and are limited to:
- AIM-9 Sidewinder missile
- AIM-120 AMRAAM missile
- M61 Vulcan gatling gun (500 rounds)
Chaff and flares are available for defense against enemy missiles.
[edit] Missions
There are six missions, all ostensibly based around a Cold War scenario. The first takes place on September 1, 1994. The player must complete a successful carrier landing in order to qualify for the missions.
[edit] Visual Confirmation Mission
An unidentified aircraft has been spotted heading towards San Francisco. The goal is to take off, obtain visual confirmation, and return to base. The briefing states "Do not fire unless fired upon".
Usually the aircraft is one or two MiG-29s, but occasionally turns out to be a Boeing 707.
[edit] Emergency Defense Operation
A hostile aircraft is threatening Air Force One. The player must ensure that the President reaches San Francisco safely, shooting down the enemy MiG if necessary.
[edit] Intercept Stolen Aircraft
Two F-16s with secret ECM equipment have been stolen by defecting pilots. Two MiGs are providing air support. The player must attempt to force them to return, but if they refuse, the F-16s must be destroyed.
[edit] Search and Rescue Operation
An F/A-18 has been shot down, and the pilot has bailed out near the Farillon Islands. In order to survive he needs a rescue pod dropped from the player's aircraft (by pressing Shift+F). Two or three hostile enemy aircraft are in the area.
[edit] Intercept Incoming Cruise Missile
A cruise missile is heading towards San Francisco and must be destroyed. The difficulty here is the missile's high speed, low altitude (200 feet) and short time available until impact.
[edit] Carrier Sub Mission
Hostilities have broken out, and a submersible aircraft carrier is in the area. Multiple enemy aircraft and the carrier must all be destroyed.
[edit] Trivia
- When selecting a location to start a free flight, pressing the [0] key starts the player on uninhabited ground far away from the main game area. This is in fact supposed to be Edwards Air Force Base, a location that was not actually implemented in the final game.
- The final mission has become the subject of debate among gamers because it is apparently impossible to sink the enemy carrier sub. Programmer Bob Dinnerman states that it is possible, but that the carrier does not actually blow up if it is deemed destroyed.
- If the player decides not to take off and spends too long taxiing around, then eventually the landing gear will collapse leaving the plane stranded on the ground.
