Air Attack Editor's Review

There are a huge number of flight simulation and flight combat games, ranging from expensive, professional-level simulators to 2D mobile games. Air Attack finds itself at the more archaic end of the power spectrum, and anyone who wants a highly detailed, graphics-intensive game is going to be disappointed from the start. The game’s graphics engine looks like it hasn’t been updated for the near-decade that the game has been around, but should this put you off?

Despite the graphics engine, Air Attack still enjoys a stronghold of online users and for good reason. Air Attack has a simple premise, fly around and shoot the other aircraft. You can play on public servers or set up a password-protected private game. Play with either a keyboard or joystick, depending on what you have lying around. While the games graphics may look dated, the aircraft design and damage engine is particularly noteworthy, offering a level of game play that many other air simulators lacked at the time.

The first thing that you will notice about Air Attack is its pre-dated look with pixellated backdrops and a very simplistic HUD. Yet the online community for this game speaks for itself. Like with the continued love for Counter-Strike, people still play Air Attack because it offers a great game play and design that is lacking from many modern games. This is strategic, addictive and, importantly, a simple game. Whilst a modern flight combat game may overcomplicate the experience with an invasive HUD, or excessive storyline, Air Attack gives you exactly what you want from a flight combat game.

Pro's: Addictive, huge replay ability, free.

Con's: Very dated graphics engine.

Conclusion: If you are in doubt about Air Attack, the best thing to do is give it a try. For something that will cost you nothing, what better way is there to experience such a longstanding game with this reputation.