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FALCON PATROL 2
Virgin Games / £7.95

Roger: It would be easy to heap abuse on this game, but I'm not sure whether it really deserves it!
The format of aerial combat with relatively limited sophistication in VTOL aircraft control, some repetitive scrolling scenery and a variety of unpleasant helicopters bopping about looking for a missile in the laughing gear, is so tired and unoriginal that I started groaning as soon as it was loaded ...
Assuming that it'd take less time to get good at - and bored with - than it takes Pete Shaw to hack into a ham sandwich, I scrambled into action and discovered that it was just a little bit tougher than first expected. Learning 'vectoring' and the technique of diving to fire missiles downwards stretched my involvement and, finally, I got a bit hooked.
Sure, it's corny. Nevertheless, it's competent arcade thuggery and, if valued as such, earns its keep. 3/5

Dave: Deep down, I've always wanted to blast helicopters out of the sky ... trouble is, most programs don't give you that authenticity. Falcon Patrol 2, on the other hand, fulfills all of my warmongering ambitions. Great stuff let's see more, please. 4/5

Ross: The graphics in this game are amazing ... top marks to Virgin's back- room programmers. A vast improvement over Falcon Patrol. 5/5

Falcon Patrol II is a computer game for the Commodore 64, written by Steve Lee and published by Virgin Games in 1984.

Summary

This video game was also released for the ZX Spectrum in 1985. It is the sequel to Falcon Patrol.

Falcon Patrol II is a shoot-'em-up situated in a landscape resembling Egypt or the Middle East. The player controls a jet fighter and has to destroy a set number of enemy helicopters in order to clear a level.

The helicopters come in three forms:

Transport - an unarmed transport helicopter that lays missile turrets and radar interference devices on the ground.

Gunship - escorts the transport helicopters and shoots at your fighter.

Solo - a fast combat helicopter that goes right after your fighter.

The jet fighter has a finite supply of fuel and ammunition, but both can be replenished by landing on a landing pad.

AS PILOT of a souped-up Hawker Jump Jet with the latest in ATG missiles you must blast the enemy helicopters out of the sky. Thrills. Once you have completed one sortie and destroyed a wave of 'copters, you move up a level of competence and take on another wave.

The enemy general is a complete imbecile as his pilots rarely fire at your VTOL jet and occasionally even have a go at each other.

The author has tried to add some realism to the game. If you are hit by shrapnel you dive to the ground and explode. Also you must re-arm and take on fuel from platforms during your mission. One false move and you could crash.

Mediocre 3D graphics and blipish sound are compensated by the manoeuvrability of the aircraft and the ease of aiming the weapons. The game is nevertheless too easy. It's like shooting fish in a barrel.


Publisher Virgin Games Price £6.95
Memory 48K Joystick Kempston
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John Gilbert