Fighter Pilot (video game)

Last updated

Fighter Pilot
Fighter Pilot cover.jpg
Developer Charybdis Enterprises
Publisher Electronic Arts
Platform Windows
Release
Genre Combat flight simulator
Modes Single-player, multiplayer

Fighter Pilot is a combat flight simulation game developed by Charybdis Enterprises and published by Electronic Arts for Windows in 1998.

Contents

Gameplay

Fighter Pilot offers an arcade-style take on modern air combat, designed to ease beginners into the genre without overwhelming them with technical complexity. Set across 24 missions in the Middle East, players take on objectives ranging from destroying weapons caches in Iraq to escorting helicopters and confronting terrorists in Afghanistan. Each mission begins with a briefing from General Mervyn. Players choose from four aircraft—F/A-18 Hornet, F-117 Stealth, F-22 Raptor, and Su-35 Flanker. The game eschews traditional cockpit instrumentation in favor of a panoramic view. Flight physics are simplified to the point where crashing is nearly impossible unless done intentionally, and evading missiles is possible with sharp turns and flares. A flashing "SHOOT" prompt helps newcomers avoid wasting ammunition when a kill is guaranteed. Support aircraft like AWACS or EF-111 can be summoned with a single "call for help" command. Multiplayer offers some extended replayability. [2]

Development

The game was developed by Charybdis Enterprises, a company founded in June 1995. [3] It was first mentioned in July 1998. [4]

Reception

The game received unfavorable reviews according to the review aggregation website GameRankings. [5]

PC Gamer said "Fighter Pilot could have been a solid flight sim or an exciting action game, but without a clear direction one way or the other, all of its gameplay elements are too diluted to satisfy fans of either genre". [12]

References

  1. Hulsey, Joel (October 15, 1998). "EA's Fighter Pilot lands on store shelves". Computer Games Strategy Plus . Strategy Plus, Inc. Archived from the original on July 9, 2003. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  2. 1 2 Poole, Stephen (December 10, 1998). "Fighter Pilot Review [date mislabeled as "May 1, 2000"]". GameSpot . Red Ventures . Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  3. "New 3D Game Developer Established in Austin". Charybdis Enterprises. June 30, 1995. Archived from the original on December 10, 1997. Retrieved October 6, 2025.
  4. Udell, Scott (July 29, 1998). "Action flight game scheduled for September". Computer Games Magazine . Archived from the original on July 5, 2003. Retrieved October 6, 2025.
  5. 1 2 "Fighter Pilot for PC". GameRankings . CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  6. House, Michael L. "Fighter Pilot: Ready, Aim, Fire [sic] - Review". AllGame . All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 14, 2014. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  7. Udell, Scott (November 15, 1998). "Fighter Pilot". Computer Games Strategy Plus. Strategy Plus, Inc. Archived from the original on July 9, 2003. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  8. Dahl, Chase (February 1999). "Fighter Pilot" (PDF). Computer Gaming World . No. 175. Ziff Davis. p. 192. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  9. "Fighter Pilot". GameStar (in German). Webedia. December 1998.
  10. "Fighter Pilot". Génération 4 (in French). No. 117. December 1998. p. 254. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
  11. Buckman, Chris (March 17, 1999). "Fighter Pilot". IGN . Ziff Davis . Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  12. 1 2 Durham Jr., Joel (February 1999). "Fighter Pilot". PC Gamer . Vol. 6, no. 2. Imagine Media. Archived from the original on January 17, 2000. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  13. "Fighter Pilot". PC Games (in German). Computec. December 1998.
  14. Dewhurst, John (January 1999). "Fighter Pilot". PC PowerPlay . No. 32. Next Media Pty Ltd. p. 109. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  15. Shoemaker, Richie (February 1999). "Fighter Pilot". PC Zone . No. 73. Dennis Publishing. p. 90. Retrieved January 25, 2021.