Multiplayer Review of Falcon 4.0: Allied Force
SimHQ, one of the leading hardcore military flight simulation sites on the internet, has published Part Four of its comprehensive review of Falcon 4.0: Allied Force. The latest review concentrates on multiplayer.
As part of their conclusion, the reviewers, Chris "BeachAV8R" Frishmuth and Tom "WKLINK" Cofield, write: "We were able to fly multiple, long multiplayer co-op missions in the "Powderkeg" campaign without CTDs or hangs. That is a Falcon 4 miracle in itself. The amazing part is that with the exception of getting your router set up, this all occurred in the straight out of the box version of F4:AF. Lead Pursuit did an admirable job updating what was written in a time when dial-up was the predominant method of connecting online and broadband was mostly a dream. Considering this, it's amazing it works at all, let alone works with this degree of stability. We believe Lead Pursuit really did an exceptional job on the multiplayer side of the simulation and we look forward to seeing more improvements and additional features in the future."
The full review of multiplayer can be read here: http://www.simhq.com/_air5/air_163a.html
Earlier segments in the F4:AF Review Series include:
Part 1 - Overview by "BeachAV8R" and "20mm":
http://www.simhq.com/_air5/air_160a.html
Part 2 - Campaign and AI by "BeachAV8R":
http://www.simhq.com/_air5/air_161a.html
Part 3 - Mission Building by "20mm":
http://www.simhq.com/_air5/air_162a.html
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Falcon 4.0: Allied Force, the successor of Falcon 4.0, is an advanced F-16 combat flight simulator for the PC. The player takes on the role of a pilot flying a multitude of missions in either the Balkans Theater of Operations or the Korean Theater of Operations in a fully dynamic, evolving war.
The game's features include:
- Multiple threads in the code for true Dual Core processor support
- Revamped graphics engine
- Reworked multiplayer engine
- Highly advanced artificial intelligence
- 716 page advanced .pdf manual, 109-page "new player" printed manual
- Reworked dynamic campaign engine
- Brand new theater of operations
- New high resolution models and cockpits
- Highly detailed terrain and airbases
- Intuitive User Interface
The graphics engine supports real-time terrain lighting, dynamically-shaded 3D volumetric clouds and alpha-blended scattered clouds. Fog is also implemented and combined with new high resolution textures on models and the terrain, the visuals are tremendously improved. Highly detailed and clickable cockpits for three different F-16 aircraft are included: the Block 50/52, 40/42 and MLU variants.
The multiplayer engine features a new, problem-free connection method with support for a centralized, server-system style of play for internet and Local Area Network (LAN) games. Performance and reliability have been greatly improved for both custom made missions and campaign flights.
The Dynamic Campaign Engine (DCE) is the war simulator where any event happening in any part of the theater of combat affects the war's direction throughout that theater. How you perform in your mission directly, and proportionately, determines what happens elsewhere. This is true for the tens of thousands of computer controlled entities in the game. It means that the player really feels part of a living war environment, part of something that is evolving around them in real time.
Some of the greatest changes have been to improve the interaction of computer controlled aircraft and the hundreds of ground entities in Falcon 4.0: Allied Force. Thousands of hours of work has led to remarkable improvements in artificial intelligence. During missions, computer-controlled aircraft will perform with precision. The role of the Forward Air Controller (FAC) is now implemented, allowing the player to co-operate with other flight aircraft when carrying out ground attacks. Brand new Air Traffic Control intelligently manages the flights in and out of bases.
The F-16's electronic systems simulated in Falcon 4.0: Allied Force, including the avionics, are the most realistic for the home personal computer. Numerous modes and sub-modes in air-to-air and air-to-ground radar are accurately implemented to immerse the player in the feel of operating a modern combat aircraft.
The new theater of operations is the Balkans. There are three time periods stretching from the mid-1990s to 2010, featuring appropriate aircraft, squadrons and units. Each theater period has three campaigns, making nine in total for the Balkans. Falcon 4.0: Allied Force also features a heavily revised Korean theater and associated campaigns.
Our Media Pack is available here: http://lead-pursuit.com/media.zip
Lead Pursuit's website is here: www.lead-pursuit.com
Graphsim Entertainment's website is here: www.graphsim.com
July 11th 2005
Lead Pursuit LLC is the developer of Falcon 4.0: Allied Force
Graphsim Entertainment Inc is the publisher of Falcon 4.0: Allied Force
Atari Inc is the distributor of Falcon 4.0: Allied Force