Apache Havoc by Empire/Razorworks (U.S. Release) by Eric Marlow
	Other objects, such as the tanks, equal if not exceed the object modeling of the tanks in Microprose' M1 Tank Platoon 2. Certain parts of objects articulate, and the helo rotors bend with the various loads placed on them. Windshield wipers work and are a nice feature when it's raining, and like the equipment on most cars today they have two speeds. The terrain modeling is very appealing. Though the pallet choices are a little unnatural, it is not as cartoonish as some other sims. And best of all, the terrain has a significant amount of variation: undulating surfaces, valleys, ditches, hedgerows, and trees keep things interesting. Yes, I said trees. The most elusive terrain item to helo fans everywhere is resident in Apache Havoc. And yes, they are tactically significant - you can terrain mask behind them to cover your ingress/egress. Some of the transition in terrain, especially around the trees, is a little rough, but I can understand this from a frame-rate standpoint. The default screen size in Apache Havoc is 640x480. The 2D cockpit, although functionally accurate, takes up much space and limits situational awareness. You can, of course, turn off the cockpit graphic to get the full-screen HUD effect. If you don't mind this view, I was able to bump the graphics up to 1024x768 on my V2 SLI or 1152x864 on my TNT. Click to continue		The objects and terrain really shine at the higher resolutions. I generally prefer 800x600, as text/MFDs become unreadable on a 17" monitor at the higher resolutions. The only problem is that the cockpit graphics were only rendered at 640x480, and although they will still work at the higher resolution, the "floating cockpit" is quite bothersome (the cockpit no longer takes up the full screen.) Sound Quality In general I found the sounds to be adequate, but the engine sound was for me the most disappointing. It sounded like it could be an actual Apache, but like the sound was sampled outside the cockpit AND at the other end of the field. There was neither a pitch change when throttle was applied nor any turbine whine or other miscellaneous interior sounds. The explosion sounds were satisfactory, as were the missiles leaving their hardpoints. The 30mm chain gun was a bit non-specific, and didn't at all sound like the 30mm gun I've heard in documentaries about the Apache. It sounded more like a standard infantry M-60. All of the radio comms received from internal and external sources (CP/G and wingmen/bases) sounded as if they were coming from the same voice actor. This hurts situational awareness because you are not sure who is making the radio call. Is your CP/G is talking to you or if the comms calls are coming from your wingmen? So, is the threat he is reporting at YOUR nine o'clock or at the nine o'clock of a wingman or another flight? It's difficult to know. There are Russian-accented voices when you fly the Havoc, but the commentary is generally the same as it is for the American side. Go to Page Five
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