Reviewed by: Mike Brinkman
Review Date: 9.2.99
Publisher: MacSoft
MSRP: $49.95
Genre: Flight Sim
When you open Falcon 4, one of the first things you will realize is the scope of
this game. If you're like me, you'll be intimidated by the 400+ page manual. Yes,
that's right, it has a 400 page fight manual! Fortunately, if you're not a fan of
doing a lot of studying, MacSoft was kind enough to include a 60 page Communications
Handbook and Cadet's Guide. This gives you a very brief tutorial on flying your F-14,
and how to use your weapons and defensive systems.
Speaking of flying, 
before you go out and buy Falcon 4, you
will need to have a joystick. Yes, it's possible to play with keys, but would you
really want to? Falcon 4.0 includes support for input sprockets, so any joystick
with input sprocket support will do. I used a Microsoft Sidewinder 3D Pro, which
was fairly adequate for game play. You may prefer a stick which has both throttle
and rudder controls.
While Falcon 4.0 has one of the steepest learning curves I've ever seen in a game,
the authors were kind enough to write several missions under the guise of Tactical
Engagement. These range from your first three flight mission to blowing up bridges,
learning to dogfight with only your cannon and using radar guided missiles to shooting
things down. Tactical Engagement also gives you the ability to design your own missions,
which you can exchange with other Falcon 4.0 fans. The process can be tedious, but
you do have control over every aspect of the game. And I mean every aspect.
This Tactical Engagement thing is good and all, and it's probably where you should
start. But if you're like me, you'll probably just install the game and start blazing
away on Instant Action! The name is just like it sounds. You're automatically taken
up into the wild blue yonder, placed right in the middle of a Korean convoy of IL-28
Bombers and TU-18 fighters. Your mission: Take 'em out. And when you're done, along
comes more, but they get nastier. You start having to dogfight MiG-19's & 21's.
That's where the real fun starts.
Before I get too wrapped up in blowing stuff up, I should probably touch on Falcon
4.0's main plot. In one scenario, Operation Tiger Spirit, the Unified forces (U.S.
and South Korea), have not only repelled the invading North Korea, but now the South
seeks to unify the peninsula. In the other scenario, Operation Iron Fortress, the
North has succeeded in capturing most of the peninsula, and you must now use your
air power to hold off the blitzkrieg while the US sends in reenforcements. Failure
is not an option in either scenario.
Of course, if the element of blowing your buddies out of the air has more appeal,
Falcon 4.0 also offers Dogfight mode. You can play in teams or every man for himself,
and you can have up to 4 teams of 4 players. To put it in air warrior terminology,
Falcon 
4.0's dogfights can turn into a real "furball."
Bottom Line
If there's one thing to be said about Falcon 4.0, it's "Wow!" Falcon 4.0
is nothing short of spectacular. From its awesome graphics to its challenging game
play, Falcon 4.0 kicks! But, there is a heavy toll to be paid in order to become
an expert. In fact, the learning curve is so steep, it will probably diminish enjoyment
for many players. I've had easier college courses! Only hard-core gamers and flight
sim addicts need apply.
The other detracting factor of Falcon 4.0 is speed. Unless you've got the "Really
Hot" configuration (see below), Falcon 4.0 isn't going to give you the great
performance you'll crave. I used a 250 MHz 603ev with 96 MB real RAM and an 8 MB
Rage Pro card, which puts me somewhere in the middle of the system requirements.
With this system, my Mac occasionally would pause for just a brief second while doing
a roll my motion. On a B/W G3, things seemed to go pretty smoothly.
While these problems may be system specific or depend on the preferences of the player,
I feel they put Falcon 4.0 out of the range of interest or ability of many computer
gamers. For those however with a new Power Mac, this game will definitely stretch
your machines legs.
Graphics: 10
Sound: 9
Game Play: 8
Learning Curve: 5
Overall Score: 8
System Requirements:
(minimum)
200 MHz 603e processor, 256k L2 cache, 32MB RAM, MacOS 7.5.3, 4x CD-ROM drive, 175MB
hard drive space, joystick
(recommended)
233 MHz 604e processor, 512k L2 cache, 3Dfx Voodoo I or ATI Rage Pro, 64MB RAM, MacOS
8.1, 8x CD-ROM drive, 375MB hard drive space, joystick with throttle
(really hot)
300 MHz (or faster) G3, 1MB 2:1 backside cache, 3Dfx Voodoo II, 3Dfx Banshee or ATI
Rage 128, 128MB RAM, MacOS 8.5.1, 24x CD-ROM drive, 600MB hard drive space, joystick
with throttle and rudders
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