Who remembers AV-8B.

[bertieck476]

Hi folks, I bought this game many years ago when it first came out, I played it for a while but it wasn't really what I was into at the time. Now many years later I seem to remember some of that original game is quite like what I enjoy playing now.
Anybody recall it? does anyone know of a more up to date version of the game (graphics) in the same sort of genre.

Thanks Bert.

[Threadfin]

I remember it, it was called Harrier Assault if I recall correctly, and came out around 92/93. I never played that one, but a few years later I played Jane's Marine Fighters which was an addon to US Navy Fighters and featured VSTOL aircraft in a Kurile Islands campaign.

That would have been around '97 or so I would think, so not much newer than Harrier Assault. I can't think of any relatively recent VSTOL sims.

[bertieck476]

Hi, thanks for the reply, your date would be about right.
Its not so much the VSTOL sim that I am interested in. The AV8B iirc was a sim of sorts but you had a campaign that you could control from a command level or flying the harrier.

Bert.

[Threadfin]

There have been several flight sims with a strategic command layer through the years. MiG Alley in 1999 was one. But for me the apex of this is Falcon 4 Allied Force, released in 2005. I was a moderator/editor on the Frugal's World site that was one of the leading Falcon sites, and for me no other sim compares (aside from perhaps the current BMS versions, but even they don't have the level of campaign control that F4 AF does)

Of course it's a huge leap from Harrier Assault from the early '90s to F4, but if a jet sim with an amazing campaign and player controlled tactical level is what you want I don't think you'll find a better one.

[Pisces]

Is this it:

http://www.myabandonware.com/game/av-8b-harrier-assault-1c8

[Swabbie]

I didn't have AV-8B. I did have "High Roller" a jump jet sim for the C-64. That was in the mid 80's, I think.

[bertieck476]

Is this it:

http://www.myabandonware.com/game/av-8b-harrier-assault-1c8

Yes thats the one. The graphics look so dated now.

The falcon 4 looks interesting though. In my searches I come across Jet thunder as well but that appears to still be some way from release.

[Pisces]

Falcon BMS 4.32 does not have many (maybe not even any) playable cockpits, like the Harrier, to fly. It is mostly only F16 variants, afaik. Freefalcon (another Falcon 4.0 mod) does have many more flyable cockpits iirc, including a Harrier according to some videos I found on Youtube. Haven't played it myself though.

Aside from Falcon there is DCS A-10 if you are into button and switch-ology. Don't know about any other simulator of modern fighterjets. Thanks for the headsup about Jet Thunder. Looks interesting if it gets of the ground.

[Eichhörnchen]

As far as I know, Falcon 4 is still regarded as the benchmark against which all other (contemporary period) sims are compared. I must admit to only playing it when I'm in "serious" mode, regarding most of the others in my collection as shoot-em-up fun.