Blue Max: Aces of the Great War

Blue Max: Aces of the Great War description

The Blue Max ("Blue Max") is the unofficial name of the highest German military order “Pour le Mérite”, which was given until the end of the First world war. And what was the film about pilots, released in 1966, which may have inspired the creators of this game.

If it was released at least a couple of years earlier, one could mention its originality, novelty and technological advancement. But alas, she was born at a time with Knights of the Sky and Red Baron that are superior to her in almost everything, and even plays some older games, for the same A-10 Tank Killer looks and plays much better, even though it came out a year earlier.

Blue Max: Aces of the Great War is definitely not a bad game: as you progress through it even begins to draw away and a bit like, but still looks very weak apart from his contemporaries - as a good overall framework which is simply not added enough content, and even the few notable things that the game has not been brought to mind. For the arcade in the film (if it is indeed inspired by the movie, because it's just a guess) then there is absolutely no story references, and even arcade, but simulation it is too simple.

There to play as the allies called "Allies", and for the Central powers, named "Axis". For each side there is a choice of 4 aircraft (three-storey red “Fokker” for the Axis is present) and three common to both sides of the campaign. There are single and training missions and quite original and entertaining, but it is not quite clear why you need a strategic mode with the movement of aircraft on the hexagons. The mission editor is missing, but only in single missions you can select number of enemies.

There is the possibility of playing together - the split-screen and involved the left and right sides of the keyboard. It is perhaps the best component of the Blue Max: apart from the duel, all other single modes are also available for two even are permitted to run a campaign, and your friend can be both ally and enemy.

In the game there is an option "video recorder" (VCR), and is allowed during the flight (which will be put on pause) to watch the replays. If in the settings before departure include a “VCR ON” and to view in-flight press V. But to save and to review them after the flight why-that is impossible.

The main mode is campaign, each of which includes about a dozen missions, and at the end of which you get a medal. Earning three medals, your pilot is entered in the lists of aces and goes on a holiday; can register a new and start all over again. However, it will have to do and in that case, if the pilot was killed or went missing.

A typical mission looks like this: first a short briefing of lines is five, then the appearance in the air over "our" base and steady flight towards the target over a modest lined with pseudo-objects a map, divided into "our" and "our" side. Cards each of three different campaigns; from choosing which side to play, depends on which one will be "our" and what types of aircraft will be enemies.

The task for the mission is always the same and refers to one of four types: shoot down enemy planes to shoot down the balloon, bomb ground the object or to photograph itself (to press the button, flying near the target, the screen flashes black and white). About halfway to the target in the sky will appear to three opponents, after defeating which sometimes have 1-2. Deal with all opponents, you can safely perform its task. Enemies are always only the enemy aircraft, no antiaircraft guns and the like there.

After completing the task, you should fly back and land on base (light brown rectangle on which the player appears at the beginning of the mission). Fit does not visually depicted, just when the height becomes zero, the plane either crashes (if the rate of descent airspeed and the angle was too great), or shows a picture of a successful or unsuccessful landing. To sit can, in principle, anywhere, but the successful completion of the mission will be only in case if it happens at their base or at least on "our" half of the map.

Despite the fact that the average mission length is only five to seven minutes, the Blue Max, you can have time to get bored. Air battles take place and end quickly, and then remains only the flight to the target and back to base, you have a few moments just to stare at almost static nizkokaloriynye landscapes. It is annoying, as usual for such occasions - fun- to play with during the flight, the camera and you can see your plane from outside - the game is not provided. The third person is, but he only appears in windowed mode, and the camera is strictly fixed behind the aircraft, and to explain the flaw of purely technical limitations hard mode replay, for example, it is possible for the screen to rotate the camera around your plane, zoom it, zoom out and so on.

Directly air battles leave a strange feeling: the opponents are very primitive and easily destroyed from a distance, but if they manage to get close enough, they begin to maneuver the unpredictable and sometimes quite quickly shot the player. No clever maneuvers, "boom-zoom" and attacks on the aisles, all of the same maneuver, like a UFO, so you just need to spin in different directions and shoot at the enemies as they are falling in sight. Good help is having the shadow on the ground: if the enemy is out of sight, you can look down and cast them to the silhouette to determine his location.

The game can include both arcade and “realistic” control; with the second to play more interesting, but it is very sharpened by the joystick and with the keyboard are the aircraft in this mode is very difficult managed. The instruments in the cockpit there: at the bottom of the screen only indicated the altitude, speed and the "safety margin" of the plane, while all other parameters are displayed in a special window, opened by pressing F9. In flight, you can look to the sides and back and admire unique for each machine, cabin, wings and tail.

Before each flight there is also the possibility to choose weather conditions: clouds and wind. Be the first to add costs - it makes the world around more beautiful - but the second is implemented as if someone is constantly pulling the wheel, and this shaking of the screen causes only irritation.

Mode split-screen for two players, as already written above, is very good. Play is really interesting: duel, duel, cooperative, joint, cooperative or opposing the passage of the campaign. The problem with the simultaneous pressing of three buttons are not seen.

Strategic mode is a pretty original thing is available against both AI and other player. In fact, it is a dogfight a couple of planes, which every few seconds are programmed in increments. At first entertaining, but because of the monotony and the General meaninglessness of the process quickly bored.

Graphics and sound even for its time are not a masterpiece, but perceived good. All aircraft have a unique appearance, objects on the ground colorful, roads and rivers have a width, not just depicted with colored tape. The sound (the sound of a motor in different modes, guttural gurgle when firing from machine guns and the sound of the explosion and crash) does not cause desire it immediately off.

The game lacks any interesting moments - for example, battles with the bosses-Asami (technically they are, but they are reported only in the briefing, and they are no different from normal enemies) or something like, plus the missions are boring and short, and the entire active gameplay in each of them is placed literally in the first fifteen minutes.

Blue Max, in my opinion, it is possible to recommend to those who like the setting of the air battles of the First world war, and all the other games on this subject is tired or for some reason unavailable. Well, or those who are looking for a simple rerelease about "stack", in which you can play together on one computer.

Have you ever wondered what kind of video games were played in the good old days? Try playing Blue Max: Aces of the Great War online now and we are sure you will not stop playing again.

Source: Archive.org, Mobygames.com