Hind (computer game)

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Hind

Developer(s)	Digital Integration Ltd.
Publisher(s)	Digital Integration Ltd. in the UK, Interactive Magic in the US.
Release date(s)	1996 UK 1997 U.S.
Genre(s)	Flight Simulator
Mode(s)	Single player Two Player Head-to-Head Two Player Wingman Two Player Pilot/Gunner Multiplayer Deathmatch
Rating(s)	n/a
Platform(s)	DOS,Windows 9.x
Media	CDROM
System requirements	Minimum 486 @ 66 MHz DOS 5.0 8MB RAM PCI or VL Bus SVGA CDROM, Windows 95 486 @ 66 MHz 16 MB RAM SVGA CDROM
Input	Keyboard, Joystick and Mouse

Hind was a computer game released by Digital Integration Ltd in 1997 for DOS and Windows 95.

Hind is a combat flight simulator of the Soviet Mi-24 Hind helicopter. It runs in DOS and Windows when Intel Pentium microprocessor based PC systems were common. The game comes with a well written printed 99 page manual.

1 Menus in the simulation
2 Gameplay
3 Vehicle Inventory
4 Other Digital Integration Combat Flight Sims similar in play and layout to Hind

[edit] Menus in the simulation

On game start up a video plays then the player is presented with different menus. One of these is the Main Screen which has a quick start option, flight option, preferences (game preferences) option and a Pilot's Log option (The player can choose his pilot's name).The Flight Options menu has a training option(at the Saratov Soviet airbase), a Single Mission option, a campaign option, a network option (for network multiplayer) and a Two Player option. Another menu presented whether in Single Player or Campaign Mode is the World Map in which combat will take place in 3 areas(Kazakstan,Korea or Afghanistan).The training in the game is very extensive and teaches the use of weapon systems, navigation and helicopter avionics systems. In single player mode the player can choose which mission that he or she prefers to select in the 3 areas. In campaign mode the player can choose which 3 areas he wishes to enter in a tour of duty. The Campaign mode also plays video clips and has a briefing before any mission. In addition there is a Briefing Menu before the player goes into combat which has a Mission Description and then when the player selects the mission a detailed mission map (like a mission editor) is shown with the flight plan and the player can chose his desired ordnance, zoom in on the map, given a satellite view of the area or target and given meteorological data. The Briefing is also narrated by an English speaking Soviet accent speaker and this narration also takes place in the campaign mode. The Soviet narration has heavy Soviet era rhetoric and propaganda and enhances the gameplay of this simulation with better ambience and aura.

[edit] Gameplay

A joystick is preferred and a soundcard is desired in the simulation to fully enjoy this titles multimedia gameplay. The joystick calibration is a lot better than DI's earlier simulation Apache. The graphics are pretty good in the simulation with 640 by 480 pixel resolution and the detailing on each vehicle or ship is more than adequate. Hind is rated as a PC Gamer editors choice game with a high rating. There are quite a lot of vehicles and ships in this simulation which is similar to Digital Integrations earlier flight simulation Tornado (computer game) and Apache (computer game) in layout and gameplay. In addition the cities and airfields have a lot of detail with more included numerous buildings and facilities than D.I.'s Apache. Ground battles can be seen taking place when in combat. A.I. controlled Infantry is also added to this simulation whether enemy or friendly. Infantry can be carried aboard the Hind helicopter and is used in some missions. Terrain graphics have been much improved and well detailed Mountains and Hills are included. Some of the missions and campaigns in this simulation are fictional and hypothetical. However the Afghanistan campaign (and missions) are based on the 1980s Soviet-Afghanistan war with the Soviet forces combating the terrorist Islamic Mujahideen. The simulator plays an interesting Soviet sounding music theme when one is in the menus but not when one is in the simulation. It has good combat sound tracks of weapons being fired (from the helicopter and on the ground), explosions and combat crew talk when on a mission. There is a hotkey which pauses the simulation and takes the player into an electronic manual of the simulation. This can be very helpful if one forgets the key to activate a particular function in the game. The player can choose either to fly as the pilot or as the weapons system operator in his cockpit. There are many views in this simulation either from inside the helicopter, outside the helicopter, viewing from other friendly or enemy perspectives or a weapons view such as a missile homing in on its target.

[edit] Vehicle Inventory

Allies

Mi-24 Hind-E, Mi-17 Hip, MiG-29 Fulcrum, MiG-27 Flogger, An-12 Cub-A, SA-8 Romb SAM, SA-9 Gaskin SAM, ZSU-23 Shilka AAA, T62 Tank, BMP2 APC, BRDM2 APC, BRDM2 + Sagger, MT-LBU APC, MT-LBUS ECM, M37 82 mm Mortar, D30 Howitzer, MAZ543 SCUD, AK-47,Dsh K-38,RPG-7,SA-7 AAM, Romeo submarine, Osa missile boat, Mine Layer, Landing Craft, Oil Tanker, Cargo Ship Tug, Supply Barge, Long Track Radar, Fuel Bowser, Military Truck, UAZ469 Light Utility Vehicle, Train and Soviet Infantry.

Enemy

AH64D, AH64C, UH60,F15 Eagle, F16,F18,A10,C130,Mi-24,Mi-17,MiG-29,MiG-27,Su-25,An 12 Cub-A, AH1W Supercobra, Patriot SAM, M163 Vulcan AAA, SA-8,SA-9,ZSU-23,35mm Oerlikon GDF SPAAG, Tracked Rapier, M1A1 Abrams Tank, M113 APC, T62 Tank, BMP2 APC, BRDM2 APC, BRDM2 + Sagger, MT-LBU APC, MT-LBUS ECM, M29A1 81 mm mortar, MLRS AFV, M109 Howitzer, M37 82 mm mortar, D30 Howitzer, MAZ543 SCUD, M16 rifle, M2 heavy machine gun, M47 Dragon AT, Stinger AAM, AK-47,Dsh K-38 heavy machine gun, RPG-7,SA-7,M60 machine gun, TOW Anti Tank, LHA Tarawa assault ship, Perry Class Frigate, Oil Tanker, Cargo Ship, Tug, Supply Barge, Giraffe Mobile radar, Fuel bowser, Military Truck, HMMWV, Train, Long Track Radar, UAZ469 Light utility vehicle and other various enemy infantry.