DESCRIPTION

The EuroFighter, an advanced tactical jet fighter, is set to debut at the beginning of the new millennium. Digital Image Design, with expert advice from pilots of the Royal Air Force, brings you EF 2000, a combat flight simulation designed to put you in the cockpit of this jet as it flies over four million square kilometers of texture mapped scenery. Single and multi-player dogfights, missions and more than 30 different planes, each accurately modeled with realistic flight physics and "smart" wingmen, are at the core of the simulation.

EF 2000 contains a quick combat mode, a simulator mode that lets you practice every maneuver associated with piloting the EuroFighter, as well as a massive air/land campaign. Gameplay is affected through a series of set-up screens, including weapons load-out, a dozen single missions available in non-linear order (quick combat) and several simulation options (free flight, basic training, weapons training, air-to-air combat, ground attacks and advanced training).

State-of-the-art aircraft systems make up the avionics of the EuroFighter, ranging from weapons delivery to displays. Included is equipment such as ECR-90 radar, the Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (JSTAR), introduced during the Gulf War, and the Joint Tactical Information Distribution System (JTIDS), the backbone of most modern aviation combat systems.

Some of the other featured systems include Infra Red Search and Track (IRST), also used as the Forward Looking Infra Red (FLIR) system for guiding Mavericks, Defensive Aids Sub-System (DASS), Thermal Imaging and Laser Designation (TIALD) and the Moving Map Display (MMD). Multi-Function Displays (MFD) provide in-cockpit warnings to the pilot regarding all major avionics systems employed.

The Head-Up Display (HUD) and Helmet Mounted Display (HMD) in EF 2000 have four modes: air-to-air, air-to-ground/navigation, and refueling and instrument landing, with each mode having its own unique features (airspeed, altimeter, vertical speed indicator, engine thrust, g-force, compass tape, weapon range bar and master arm indicator).

Weapons consist of air-to-air missiles (Aim-9 Sidewinder, AIM-132 ASRAAM, AIM-120 AMRAAM, S-225 LRAAMand the BK-27mm Cannon) and air-to-ground (smart and conventional bombs, iron bombs, guided bombs, rockets and several types of missiles) stores. The manual contains a large section on the tactical use of both air and ground weapons, strike missions and communications.

EF 2000 can be played by up to eight participants using a LAN and requires each PC to have a copy of the game installed. The option to play your own CD music during flight is also available. ~ Michael L. House, All Game Guide