By Thomas "AV8R" Spann

  "Nagging Nadia" is the "Bitching Betty" of USAF fame gone over to the Dark Side. Her purpose in life is to give the pilot audible voice cues such as gear down, low altitude, stall speed warning, damage report, etcetera, all in Russian accented English. If she bugs you too much, or with her incessant nagging, just hit the "M" key (M for mute). Thanks to some ingenious efforts (see add-on links below) by Phantom Dave, you can also have Nadia speak in her native Russian tongue.

If I were pressed to say what I think were F2's strongest suits, I would have to say it is flight model and graphics. We could argue all day about the AI and FM shortcomings, but this author knows that flying around in F2 is heavenly. There is a cockpit mode that moves the viewer's perspective as your head would normally move while in turns. This innovative feature just adds to the fluidity of the sensation of flight.

The other captivating aspects are in the graphics and special effects. As I said before, the previous incarnation of Flanker's graphics were drab. But the graphics in F2 show the quantum leap in this department. Fly low and near any populated town or city and you are treated with highly detailed buildings, roads, rivers, bridges, trains, radar installations, trucks, parked aircraft, armored vehicles, factories, etc.

Here's a fun trick. Fly slowly through the high tension power lines. Your plane will register a slight slow down and you'll hear the "zap" as you cut through them. Look externally and you'll see the sparks fly. This shows high level of detailed programming. Go on to high altitude and you can fly through puffy clouds and look down and see most of the land mass very vividly.

If you have the CPU power, try this. Turn on a high level of fog density and try a carrier or land based landing where you are forced to trust the ILS and instrument landing techniques. Don't forget to pop your drogue chute (Su27 only) or drop your hook (Su33 only) so you don't over run the landing strip.

As I've said before, there is something here in F2 for everyone, not just for those who want to engage in mortal combat. If F2 had added more interactive voice communication chatter (other than just "Roger"), more wingman control and active ground objects, the immersion factor would have been totally captivating.

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Missiles and Evasion

For those who fly where only eagles and Flankers dare, F2 delivers hard pounding effects. This atmosphere can be had either in solo or multiplay. In solo game play what you can do is set yourself up in an A2A guns or missile mission. There are plenty of scenarios in the Missions folder supplied in F2.

In a BVR (Beyond Visual Range) missile engagement watch as you launch your missiles. The missile will drop from its rail before the rocket motor ignites with a glowing flash and smoke trail. Switch to missile view and you can watch it reach out for its target in lead trajectory. As the initial rocket engine thrust is spent, it will continue to puff smoke as it pulsates and compensates in its final adjustments. Then Kaboomski! Watch the bandit burst in a ball of light, flames, smoke and fumes; simply spectacular.

Now on the receiving end of the stick, when the opponent fires their missile at you, it is important that you remember the direction that your radar warning receiver says that you are being painted from. This will aid you as you pan the skies for the thin rocket motor smoke trail as the missile seeks to ruin your caviar. Put this missile on your 3 or 9 o'clock position.

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