Amiga

Wing Commander

Wing Commander is a game spoken of in hushed voices. A game revered the world over. A game that single-handedly brought thousands of PC and PC clones into people's homes. In fact, it can be said that Wing Commander did for the PC market what Mario did for Nintendo. Why? Because it is, without a doubt, one of the most impressive games ever released – visually in particular, and it was because of this that so many PC outlets just set a fast, high specification PC in their window, and let Wing Commander draw the crowds and, eventually, the profits as people decided that it was 'the' game to have. Commodore and Mindscape have made it the key release for their new machine, and who can blame them?

So, Wing Commander eh? Wing Commander - the game which got people buying big, powerful PCs. Wing Commander - the landmark in shoot-em-ups. Wing Commander - the game which saved all that tedious mucking about in hyperspace. Wing Commander - the… aww, you get the idea. The big problem when approaching a game like this is to separate the hype from the game beneath. It is all too easy to be taken in by the superlatives draped over its shiny, smoothy exterior, and it is also very easy to fall into the trap of adding to the hyperbole. What this takes is some kind of cold, detachment. But then, that is not what being a games fan and critic is about. Hell, I am not a number, I am a reviewer, and I will be enthusiastic or caustic if I want to. So there.

Die Urversion der 3D-Weltraumhatz gilt seit Jahr und Tag als Klassiker - und als echter Härtetest selbst für schnelle AT-Computer! Für eine Konvertierung auf die "Freundin" waren also meterhohe Technik-Hörden zu überwinden, weshalb sie lange Zeit als unwahrscheinlich galt und schließlich sogar ganz verworfen wurde. Erst zu Beginn des vergangenen Jahres besann man sich eines Besseren und wagte das Umsetzungs-Abenteuer, seither warteten die Raumpiloten im Amiga-Hangar ungeduldig auf die Ankunft des Flügelkommandanten. Jetzt ist er da, und weiß Gott, er macht seinen Vätern keine Schande. Wurden am PC noch 11 (Standard-) Disketten für das Game verbraten, so sind's beim Amiga gerade mal drei - ohne daß irgendetwas fehlt, was dieses Programm zum Kultspiel werden ließ! Selbst mit nur einer Floppy ist Wing Commander spielbar, bloß Diskettenwechsel bleiben dann halt nicht aus. Ein Zweitläufer ist also allemal empfehlenswert, und mit einer Festplatte düst sich's gar richtig komfortabel...

Ok, det har visserligen sju år på nacken. Men vad gör det, när det fortfarande är ett av historiens bästa spel?

Wing Commander is not just a flight simulation. It is an atmospheric, cinematic-type cocktail of shoot-em-up, flight simulation, role-playing and all-round good fun. The whole game has a real Star Wars feel to it, you really feel like you are in the middle of an epic blockbuster. The graphics are smooth and impressive, with an almost adventure cartoon feel to them. The synthesised symphonic sound is awesome and always sets the mood of the scene you are in – from martial-like movements when you are fighting to expectorant tinkering when you are waiting in the CO’s office for instructions.

So, Wing Commander eh? Wing Commander - the game which got people buying big, powerful PCs. Wing Commander - the landmark in shoot-em-ups. Wing Commander - the game which saved all that tedious mucking about in hyperspace. Wing Commander - the… aww, you get the idea. The big problem when approaching a game like this is to separate the hype from the game beneath. It is all too easy to be taken in by the superlatives draped over its shiny, smoothy exterior, and it is also very easy to fall into the trap of adding to the hyperbole. What this takes is some kind of cold, detachment. But then, that is not what being a games fan and critic is about. Hell, I am not a number, I am a reviewer, and I will be enthusiastic or caustic if I want to. So there.