By Derek “Baron” Davis Lock On: Modern Air Combat...Mega Review! Q. Why has the game been “Lock On began as an outgrowth of Heir to the throne! called Lock On: Modern Air Flanker 2.5 by Eagle Dynamics. Three of Lock-On was always going to be an Combat? the yable aircraft from this title were the ambitious project. Being next in line to the A. Rather than being focused on a single Su-27 “Flanker B”, the Su-33 “Flanker ‘Flanker’ dynasty, it had a lot to live up to! plane, Lock-On allows players to y a D”, and the MiG-29K “Fulcrum.” Given So although the brief historical outline given variety of combat aircraft. Hence, it would be the work already accomplished for these above illustrates its initial conception, this inappropriate to name the title after a single aircraft, it was a logical choice to bring the offspring has grown up to take on a character aircraft. Additionally, we wanted a name that Su-27 and Su-33 over to Lock On. Initially, all of its own. So what’s the best way to would convey the subject matter of the game what is now called Lock On was once describe this new addition to the ight sim to a customer not versed in combat aviation. termed Flanker Attack. This product was family? I suppose that Lock-On can best be As such, we needed a name that was broad to add a dedicated Russian ground attack described as a ‘mini-survey’ sim (offering in scope, easy to remember, and meaningful aircraft in the form of the “Frogfoot”. With a selection of aircraft), with the qualities, to the average consumer. While “hardcore” the demise of other A-10A simulations and aspirations and attention to detail of a ‘study’ consumers may feel this name is more the strong desire in the ight simulation sim. In fact Matt Wagner, Producer of Lock- appropriate to an arcade title, we believe community to y the Hog, we felt it was On goes on to state that, “One of Lock-On’s that this title will appeal to the broadest a great opportunity to take advantage of. primary goals is to create an authentic and possible market. To round out the mix of US and Russian realistic combat environment. Key to this is aircraft, and to provide a counterpart recreating the jets as accurately as we can. Background history to the Su-27, we decided to add the air Lock-On is not a survey simulation that will Before we take a look at what is probably superiority, not a pound for air-to-ground, include many aircraft with a low delity of the most anticipated combat ight sim F-15C Eagle. Finally, we added three modelling. Rather, we want to concentrate on release of recent years, here is a little versions of the MiG-29 Fulcrum (German a select number or aircraft and model their background history to this sim. MiG-29A and Russian MiG-29A and C).” distinct qualities as accurately as we can.” 2626 Computer Pilot Magazine V V 88II22 REVIEW However, as we have seen with past The Manual? Lock and Load! - Installation simulations, it is one thing to aspire to a goal, Now we’ll turn our attention to the and Main Menu but it’s another when it comes to achieving packaging, installation and presentation Installation comes on one disk and was that aim! So let’s see whether Eagle of Lock-On. Let me say right off the bat uneventful. Once installed, Lock-On takes Dynamics have managed to maintain a lock that on opening the case containing the up 1.24 GB of hard disk space. Load time on their target or whether their efforts have single CD, I was initially disappointed. to main menu seems a little longer than been spoofed! This disappointment stemmed from the other sims, particularly with the absence realization that the manual accompanying of a progress bar. However, this may be A quick guide to LOMAC the game consisted of only 56 pages. The dependent on the specication of your Before we can examine the pros and cons current convention of packaging gaming machine. While we’re on the subject, the of Lock On: Modern Air Combat (LOMAC), software in small cases means that we machine on which Lock-On was initially it will be helpful to rst get a brief overview are no longer provided with beautifully tested was as follows: of the design and content of this simulation. designed booklets, such as those provided by the Jane’s series of simulations. On • Processor - Athlon XP 1800 1.53 Mhz Aircraft: pages 49 and 50 of this booklet is an • RAM - 512 MB inadequate keyboard command, with • Video card - Geforce FX 5600 with 128 First we have eight aircraft. U.S. aircraft the type size being unhelpfully small. MB RAM include - the A-10A Thunderbolt II and the Fortunately there is a printable 135 page • Soundcard - Soundblaster Live Value! F-15C Eagle; Germany is represented by manual, saved as a PDF, on the CD. This • DirectX 9.0b the Mig-29A ‘Fulcrum-A’; while Russia is admittedly is more of what I’m used to • Joystick/Throttle - CH Force FX and represented by the Su-25 ‘Frogfoot’, Su-27 when it comes to a simulation of this CH Pro Throttle ‘Flanker-B’, Su-33 ‘Flanker-D’, Mig-29A complexity and sophistication. To be fair, • Windows XP (Home Edition) ‘Fulcrum-A’ and the Mig 29S ‘Fulcrum-C’. the printed manual is designed to get you up and running quickly, with the pdf Region of conict: manual providing the greater depth. In However, halfway through this appraisal, spite of this approach, I still feel that the I upgraded the RAM and the graphics card, The Black Sea region, which includes the keyboard card is inadequate and while which resulted in a marked improvement in Crimean Peninsula and the western caucuses the PDF version is more detailed, I found the sim’s performance, more on this later. - the setting for a hypothetical conict. it hard going because of the layout, the Having installed and launched the Single-player missions: relatively small typeface, the narrow line program, you are presented with a clean A variety of single missions are presented or can spacing of the text and the lo-res images. but ‘functional’ menu display that takes its be created, using the in-built mission planners. Thankfully the shortcomings of this part design cues from the multi-function displays of the package have been recognized and and push-buttons of the cockpits of the Campaigns: alternatives have been offered via the modelled aircraft. This screen is split into Lock-On website: http://www.lo-mac.com/ two sections. The left half of this screen has Four scripted campaigns are included, in (or check the January issue Cover CD). 10 different sections that give you access to which you can y for either the U.S. or Here you will be able to download a high- the various parts of the sim. From the top Russia. Apparently, the team ran out of time to res Reference Manual and Keycards. In we have: Show Replays, Training, Open fully realize a dynamic campaign. However, addition, you will also nd details of an Mission, Mission Editor, Network Play, Lock-On includes a ‘persistent’ world in enhanced manual and game guide that has Campaign, Fast Battle Planner, Options, which damage to objects and buildings in one been produced by a third-party company Encyclopedia and Pilot Log book. On the mission will carry over to the next. - Digital Aspirin. right hand side of the menu screen are displayed six screen shots of the yable Graphic detail: aircraft. This section is essentially an ‘Instant “Digital Aspirin are producing ‘leather Action’ module that allows you to jump Of all the features included in this package, type’ triple fold ring binder with over 300 straight into the cockpit of your chosen probably the most anticipated element is the pages of information for the Lock On: mount. Serving as an audio backdrop, one graphics engine. Lock-On comes with a high Modern Air Combat fan. In addition to the can hear radio communications between standard of detail throughout. Dynamic lighting, 136 page full color manual that will be pilots, ATC and weapons ofcers, which more than 180,000 buildings, 50,000,000 tress, shipped with the game, the paper manual seem to be taken from actual missions. 21 cities, 1,700 towns and villages, 500 bridges, will also contain a 70-page additional 18 airelds and 8 naval bases. training section, plus 120 pages of Options technical data concerning each of the air, Of the 10 sections, the rst place you Audio features and communications: ground and naval units in the game. On top should pay a visit to is the Options section. of these a section will be created with quick This area allows you to congure the look, Lock-On provides the player the ability reference in mind, such as a key reference sound, feel and difculty levels of Lock- to communicate with wingmen, AWACS, guide, landing/take-off and engagement On. The options section is split into ve refuelling tankers, Tower and approach checklists and mission planning sheets. areas; Input, Audio, Difculty, Graphics and controllers. The manual is A5 in size and will contain: Cockpit. Let’s take a closer look at a few of A debossed logo on the front, a CD Sleeve these areas in more detail.