Review by Matt_B on 11 Mar 2009 (Rating: 5)
Following up from the earlier success of Fighter Pilot, Digital Integration released this helicopter simulation based upon the AH-64 Apache helicopter.
As with Fighter Pilot, the flight model is quite respectable, even by modern standards, and supports things like autorotation and stall turns. There's also a variety of weapons to use such as the laser-guided Hellfire missiles and a powerful chain gun; targets are provided in the shape of enemy tanks, artillery and helicopters.
What really sets this game out from the crowd is the quality of the graphics; as well as the horizon there are mountain ranges, forests, buildings and assorted other details rendered in wireframe graphics at a respectable speed.
Comparisons with Microprose's Gunship, which came a bit later, are inevitable but Tomahawk holds up as the more realistic and better looking simulation, even if the later game has more interesting missions.
Overall, Tomahawk is a shoe-in for the best helicopter simulator but is also a front runner for the best flight simulator in general, although DI's later F-16 Combat Pilot shades it slightly in that respect.
Review by sirclive1 on 06 Jul 2009 (Rating: 5)
Digital Integration didn’t make many games , fighter pilot and night gunner were two earlier releases and both were pretty good , Tomahawk was basically the follow on to fighter pilot and was delayed for over a year whilst in development , with Crash and Sinclair user running adverts for months before release , expectation was very high.
The game is a 3d flight simulator , it might seem silly to say nowadays but at release it was one of only a handful of actual games based on piloting a flying machine.
You are put in total control of a US Army AH-64A Apache helicopter , armed to the teeth with a 30mm chaingun , laser guided missiles and hellfire rockets , enough power to wipe out any enemies you encounter , which vary from tanks , field guns , soldiers and another deadly helicopter which heads pretty much straight for you.
It has a detailed landscape , single trees , forests , buildings , landing pads , mountains and pylons , these are physical property and will damage your apache if you make contact with them , except the landing pad which will re arm and re fuel your craft.
You can also alter the enviroment , fly day or night , alter the height of the clouds , crosswinds (on/off) and your skill level from trainee to ace , these features are not just extras they really alter major elements to the game.
The game has 4 main missions , the 1st one is just a basic training type , enabling you to get used to piloting the heli , 2nd mission has you helping your forces in a small battle against ground forces and then zoom back to base , in the next mission you take off surrounded by enemy vehicles and troops and you have to liberate each section of the map. Mission 4 is full combat , a large scale battle for control of the entire map , use your apache to its best of abilities and win the war..
Flying the helicopter is as real as you could get on a spectrum and exceeds expectations , there are a lot of keys to get used to and its difficult to get used to but once mastered it becomes second nature. The sense of speed is also amazing , flying low to avoid enemy radar , dodging treetops whilst blasting out a tank is a real buzz.
Playing it this week brought back a lot of good memories , especially dogfighting over the mountain range , the game still plays well , its quick , graphically still good especially considering its wireframe , its difficult without being impossible and highly recommended.
