COMBAT LYNX ZX SPECTRUM

COMBAT LYNX ZX SPECTRUM

Combat Lynx is a helicopter action-oriented flight sim with an arcade feel by Mike Richardson from Durell. It is not overly realistic, but suffers from the same problem as Turbo Esprit, i.e. it is technically a marvel but there are so many things you have to watch at the same time (your ammo, engine temperature, height, enemy planes and tanks shooting at you, the map, etc.) that gameplay feels a bit overloaded. Especially for a game that looks like an easy arcade flight sim.

The helicopter and terrain are shown from behind the heli; when the heli turns the view switches between north, south, east, or west. There are also instruments like a compass, altimeter, and temperature monitor for the engine. There are air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons in the game, and one can land at several bases to refuel or get supplies or ammo. (You have to land very carefully though or your heli will be destroyed, which is often easier said than done in the midst of battle all around you,)

Gameplay was usually quite hectic because the easiest way not to get hit by incoming missiles was to fly at full tilt all the time. Thankfully there is a map, but even with that it is still possible to lose your way in the comparatively huge playing area.

While this game does not quite qualify as a full flight simulator, this was still impressive for the time, especially as it was released during the 464 era. A cool wireframe animation of the helicopter and its equipment at the base were a particular highlight, as was the lush terrain with houses and trees. Later Amiga games like Gunship were somewhat similar to Combat Lynx.

Still, on the whole Combat Lynx is yet another Durell game with too much realism in an essentially arcade-like game which makes gameplay challenging even for adults, not to mention children and teens of the era.

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