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F/A -18 Precision Strike Fighter

F/A -18 Precision Strike Fighter

List Price: $39.99
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Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: F/A-18
Review: Being a recent release, I expected a lot more from this game as far as graphics and joystick support goes. The clouds in the game appear to be volumetric and are excellent, but the ocean is just bad.... no waves or anything, just a static texture map to represent the ocean. I would have expected more comprehenisve Direct Input Support like in Combat Flight Simulator 2... but despite the claims of "USB Support" the game only supports a single input device instead of allowing multiple devices (as would be used for a USB forcefeedback joystick, USB rudder pedals, USB throttle etc... all connected together). The manual is good, but the lack of a proper keyboard map (as provided with Jane's F/A-18) makes the game very difficult to learn and not fun to play. The downloadable keyboard shortcuts on the xicat websight does not appear to be complete. Really the only thing good about the game is the realism of the avionics and radar systems. Unlike Jane's however, it does not allow you to use the mouse to manipulate the cockpit buttons and switches... this further makes the game harder to play.... it's like using WordPerfect 5.0 for DOS over again without a menubar, mouse or keyboard template.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Falls Short of Expectations
Review: Being a recent release, I expected a lot more from this game as far as graphics and joystick support goes. The clouds in the game appear to be volumetric and are excellent, but the ocean is just bad.... no waves or anything, just a static texture map to represent the ocean. I would have expected more comprehenisve Direct Input Support like in Combat Flight Simulator 2... but despite the claims of "USB Support" the game only supports a single input device instead of allowing multiple devices (as would be used for a USB forcefeedback joystick, USB rudder pedals, USB throttle etc... all connected together). The manual is good, but the lack of a proper keyboard map (as provided with Jane's F/A-18) makes the game very difficult to learn and not fun to play. The downloadable keyboard shortcuts on the xicat websight does not appear to be complete. Really the only thing good about the game is the realism of the avionics and radar systems. Unlike Jane's however, it does not allow you to use the mouse to manipulate the cockpit buttons and switches... this further makes the game harder to play.... it's like using WordPerfect 5.0 for DOS over again without a menubar, mouse or keyboard template.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Just a comparison
Review: Compared to F 22 air dominance fighter, this game wins on realtime logic/strategy, but looses on graphics. If you're intrested in nuking, this might be your cup of tea.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: FA-18 Precision Strike Fighter
Review: I bought this one (out of many flight sim choices) because it looked like a descendent of the FA-18 sim I played and loved on my Mac (sorry don't recall the company). I believe it is in fact an update of that excellent game.

What makes this sim a winner for me is the combination of realism and flyability. The plane is easier to handle than, say, the MS Flight Simulator series, but you will still need practice to pull off carrier operations and evasive maneuvers. The instrumentation is incredibly detailed and all the weapons and radar functions are there. The sheer number of keystrokes you need to memorize to pull off all of the aircraft functions are daunting at first, but I find they can be learned quickly. (A reference card for the keyboard commands would come in handy here, guys).

I can recommend this one to any flight sim buff unless you are a purist for the most demanding flight models, a la MS Combat Flight Simulator (frankly I get tired of struggling with coordinating my turns and fighting torque on that one).

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Way too hard to play
Review: I guess if your in the market for a true combat sim, this is for you. It's a 100 something page instruction booklet. I've been playing computer and video games all my life and I never got so frustrated after spending (...) bucks. If your not a SERIOUS flight sim gamer, you will end up like me. I wanted some cool missions, some cool weapons, and some flying fun. It will take the average person 3-5 hours to even START to be able to play this game with any level of success. I guess I should have stuck to playstations Top Gun or Air Combat.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: F/A-18
Review: I Love this game the mission editor is coll but you can only fly the F/A-18 the graphices on the F/A-18 is great but the graphics on the other planes are very bad!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Very challenging
Review: I too have played other flight sims but to date this is the most challenging and realistic. Also very addictive and adreline pushing. I have played for about 3 months and am still learning. That is what makes this worth getting. I am nowhere tired of playing the programmed missions and have not even tried online yet. This has alot to offer and will get updates or next version. You must have fast computer and good joystick, xicat offers many page manual that can be printed.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Very Impressive Graphics on the Box
Review: I'm an Avid PC Gamer and an Resident Expert on the F/A-18's Superior Rival - The F14 Tomcat. Despite this, I figured that I would give the F/A-18 Precisoin Strike Fighter Game a try. Well, my expectations were not met. The graphics and performance of the game itself was....marginal at best. I cannot and would not recommend this particular game to anyone who has not already made the big mistake of purchasing it in the first place. It is tedious in the mechanics of switching back and forth between the keyboard and joystick controls and (I don't care what anyone may say about how wonderful mulling through an exhaustive array of written verbage associated with the instruction manual is) the game is hardly worth the investment of time and energy. Sorry, but the payoff is just not there. Consider thyself warned. If you should decide to purchase this game anyway, you do so at your own peril and a lighter wallet or purse.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Target Locked!! And so is your computer.
Review: It has all the appeal of a flying game, but it locks your computer up and forces you to reboot! Try flying a mission, completing that mission, and successfully landing at home base only to lose everything to a unpredictable system lockup.

(...)P>The instruction manual doesn't have a keyboard shortcut section either, but if you dig around then it can be found on their website.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Fairly good
Review: Sure, the manual is long, but you have to expect that if the real thing costs in the tens of millions of US dollars. The training videos and classrom lessons provided help out, but you might need to take a lesson over and over a few times (i.e, landing, and the use of certian wepons). But maby not, if your a fast learner, or a vetran of fighter jets. The demo video is verry cool, proving the reason why this plane is used by the US Naval and Marine forces as well as the Air Forces of Many other countries. Try not to get into the habit of ejecting because you cant land on the USS Enterprise well enough. One has to know the uses of each weapon (as well as the weight limit of the plane, to allow it to get off that training funway in Hawaii!) and if you'll need extra fuel for long-range missions. Just look in the table of contents of the manual, and learn the methods you need. not a bad game


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