HIND: The Russian Combat Helicopter Simulation

There is a wide arsenal of weapons at your disposal such as guns, rockets, bombs and... well, bigger bombs. Multi player mode is also very good with the ability to link up with Apache (another good helicopter combat game). The good points are that the game is very realistic, fun to play, and it runs very well. The bad points are that, at times, it can be a little hard. Not reading the manual doesn't help either.

Även för den som redan har Apache Longbow är Hind intressant för att den visar skillnaden mellan amerikansk och rysk teknologi och konstruktionsfilosofi mycket bra. Dessutom innehåller CD-skivan ett antal patchar till Apache Longbow så att den kan köras under Windows 95 och så att Apache Longbow och Hind kan köras tillsammans i nätverk. Jag har testat Hind på en 486/66 MHz och trots att laddningstiderna blirmycket långa; sex minuter bara för att ladda in programmet, fungerar det bra. Vad man definitivt bör ha är en flyganpassad analog joystick och ett gasreglage, gärna också rotorpedaler, annars blir utbytet tyvärr ganska begränsat.

All in all, the guys at Digital Integration and I-Magic have set the mark for the genre yet again. Can't wait to see what this team will do when they've decided to tackle the full scale of 3D visuals, too!

Det fedeste ved Hind er, at spillet kan linkes med Apache Longbow, hvilket giver nogle helt utrolige kampe! Selv om Hind er meget sværere at flyve, har den et langt større potentiale - hvis du kan finde ud af det! Apachen er meget nemmere at flyve, og man har langt flere tekniske hjælpemidler i cockpittet. Sådan er det ikke længere - her har du ikke engang en MDF til at kalde oplysninger frem på.

If you're into helicopters, you'll probably buy this anyway. But rest assured, you're making a smart move. If you aren't into helicopters, this probably won't get you into them. In fact, if this is your first helicopter sim, stick it on arcade mode until you get used to it, or think about getting Apache instead. It's far too difficult to be fun instantly, and even with a fair amount of experience, it's hardly a laugh a minute. But it's very satisfying when everything comes together, although bloody hard work.

Hind offers everything from easy to realistic flight models, head-to-head play, single missions, campaigns, sharp graphics that won't strain your system, and good opponents. It's a winner in every sense of the word.

When Apache hit last year, it broke a long, long drought of helicopter sims. Digital Integration and Interactive Magic created a sim with clean yet detailed polygon graphics, difficulties ranging from arcade to realistic, and plenty of missions and mission types. It was a terrific piece of work, and now it has been followed up by an entirely new kind of simulation built on the same core technology.

Overall, this game is not for the weak hearted amateur. The realism of Hind gives it an edge over similar games, though the graphics could have been given more attention. If flight simulation turns on your afterburners, then you should give this game a peek, comrade.

Overall, this game is not for the weak hearted amateur. The realism of Hind gives it an edge over similar games, though the graphics could have been given more attention. If flight simulation turns on your afterburners, then you should give this game a peek, comrade.

Mir gefällt Digital Integrations Programm besser als der vom fliegerischen Aspekt realistischer veranlagte AH-64D Longbow von Origin. Zugegeben, die Unterschiede zu Apache Longbow halten sich in Grenzen, und manche Missionen gleichen sich stark. Das ist jedoch der Preis für die Kompatibilität der beiden Programme untereinander. Wer Atmospähre vor Präsentation setzt, fliegt mit Hind genau richtig.

Mir gefällt deshalb Digital Integrations Programm besser als der vom fliegerischen Aspekt realistischer veranlagte "AH-64D Longbow" von Origin. Zugegeben, die Unterschiede zu "Apache Longbow" halten sich in Grenzen, und manche Missionen gleichen sich stark. Das ist jedoch der Preis für die Kompatibilität der beiden Programme untereinander. Wer Atmospähre vor Präsentation setzt, fliegt mit Hind genau richtig.

Mit Hind zeigt sich der Wert einer langsamen Evolution im Softwarebereich: das Spiel ist in jeder Hinsicht besser als das keinesfalls schlechte Apache Longbow. Vor allem die Enginge ist leistungsstärker als alles andere, was bisher in SVGA-Auflösung zu sehen war. Auch die Missionen sind nun angenehm schwierig, und die Gegnerintelligenz ist ebenfalls brauchbar. Nur - und das muß man allen Hubschraubersimulationen ankreiden - bestehen Landschaften nicht nur aus flaschen Hügeln, sondern auch aus Bergen, Bäumen und Städten.

In my opinion, it is a middle of the road game. It has the misfortune of being a very well written game at a time when there are a flood of well-written simulators already on the market. If you like to fly helicopter sims, this is for you. If you are new to them, this would not be a bad game to start with. But if you are looking for some new "gee-golly-whiz-bang" developments, then leave it on the store shelf.