Retaliator is a cool game that I used to play a lot of. Actually it’s the only flight sim I’ve ever enjoyed. Its gameplay involves cruising around on a small map (settings included ‘Pacific’ and ‘Middle East’) and destroying labelled targets and enemy aircraft in the area (splash one lizard, yo). Its 3D engine is simple but remarkably smooth for its time.
What really makes the game fun is its head-to-head modem play. The slower modem we typically used ran at 2400 baud, which meant choppy updates but otherwise a very playable experience. The only problems came up when trying to fly in formation: a slight change in trajectory could cause your opponent to slam right into you.
Typical of the genre, Retaliator supports multiple views: the standard cockpit view, various views taken from outside the plane, and one looking “behind,” shown on the right. Hm. Is that you, or the copilot? I’ve only ever seen one parachute come out of an airplane…
When you are shot, different parts of your plane stop working: radar, fuel lines, weapons. This is kind of cool—your sensors can get damaged and you can keep flying around. But if you’re damaged badly enough, your engines will intermittently fail and your plane will start to nosedive. You can pull up, prolonging the inevitable, but eventually you must eject. Oh, and while your engines aren’t working, Retaliator plays the most horrible alarm out of the PC speaker. Possibly one of the worst noises I’ve ever heard in my life. Cool MIDI soundtrack, though.
Tags: nostalgia, video games
