THIS IS NOT MEANT TO BE A REVIEW!
Picked up a copy of VR Stalker this afternoon. Presentation videos (between missions and intros are OK...nothing extraordinary. I have played missions 1 and 2. In these missions you get to select 1 of 3 planes (F14,F16,A10). While planes' interiors look a bit different they seem to handle pretty much the same though this is just a first impression. Plane may be viewed from inside or behind. A,B, and C buttons are used for shooting, acceleration, and deceleration. D pad steers. Left front changes views and right front changes weapons (guns, missiles, bombs). First mission is to destroy airplane tower at air base and destroy some enemy planes. If any of you have played F22 Interceptor on the Genesis that is the closest thing to describing the gameplay. That game was what I would call an arcade flight simulator. In that class of games, F22 rated somewhere in the middle in my book with Chuck Yeager being the exemplar of the best of the genre. This rates with F22 (based on just the two first missions). Explosions OK. Very sparse landscape (the word barren comes to mind though there are trees and one mountain mound in the middle of the combat zone). You blow up the planes, blow up the tower and some other little buildings and you're finished with mission one. There is a video of a takeoff but you do not do takeoffs and landings yourself. The game supports the new CH Flightstick (which is still not in evidence). The second mission seems much like the first but with artillery fire from the ground and helicopters instead of jets to fight. Total of 15 missions. I had fun playing the first two missions but I'm not sure about staying power for this game. For those who expect a sim like 1942 PAW or F15 SE III or even Chuck Yeager, pass this one by. For those who want a little bit more strategy to their shooting than Shock Wave or Total Eclipse (though a lot less in the graphics department) you might like this. My suggestion is try befoe you buy. I am undecided as to whether or not this is a keeper.
Regards...Marc Baime
michel.buffa@essi.fr