Gunship! is the latest helicopter combat sim from Microprose, who have brought us many fine games in the past. This is no exception. You can pilot a number of attack helicopters--the WAH-64D Apache, UHT-2 Tiger and the Mi-28N Havoc--in a variety of combat sorties against a range of enemies.
The realism of the game is incredible, and this goes hand-in-hand with extensive control options. The handling of the helicopters is smooth, providing the responsiveness you would expect of an attack helicopter. Of course, getting familiar with the controls and can take some time. The simplest means of control is with a joystick--giving you rudder control as well as the usual directions. The Logitech Wingman Extreme 3D would more than suffice.
The graphics are very good, and the aircraft and vehicles are instantly recognisable. The ground detail is also very good, although some trees can look a little flat up close. The sound quality is incredible, with in-flight noise and radio chatter. It is also multi-language, so if you are flying a Russian Havoc, the co-pilot and the rest of your flight crew can speak in Russian, adding distinctive atmosphere to the game.
Gunship has a number of single customisable missions and campaign modes. It also supports multiplayer games over a LAN or the Internet. Overall, Gunship! is possibly the best attack helicopter simulation available. If you are a helo-sim fan, Gunship! is an absolute must; if you are a flight or combat fan, then Gunship! is definitely recommended. --Chris Hall
