Achtung Spitfire, Avalon Hill Game Company/Big Time Software, Baltimore, $69.95.
Thanks to the efforts of Big Time Software, aviation enthusiasts who sometimes find simulations too difficult to fly can now experience World War II air combat without needing quick reflexes or having to memorize dozens of keyboard commands. Achtung Spitfire, available for Windows and Macintosh, is an aviation wargame set in the skies of Britain and France, circa 1939-1943. The classic turn-based system gives you time to ponder your next move.
Music and sound effects evoke the right atmosphere, and the graphics are crisp and attractive. Aviation History readers will especially appreciate the game’s encyclopedia of aircraft data and the ability to re-enact famous air battles. Conflicts in Achtung Spitfire can include dozens of aircraft, virtually re-creating the furballs of WWII.
Aerospace physics translate well in this computerized wargame. Altitude, speed, pilot competence and historical performance parameters affect each aircraft’s capabilities. The major shortcoming of gameplay is the difficulty involved in trying to visualize altitude and attitude in the two-dimensional abstract battlefield.
Fine graphics, realism and an easy interface make Achtung Spitfire a recommended play. The Windows version requires Windows 3.1 or higher and a 486 or Pentium. The Macintosh version requires a 68040 Mac or PowerPC. Both require 8 megabytes of RAM and a CD-ROM drive.
Bernard Dy
