For some, the first introduction to a new
city is when arriving at the airport. The personality of the country (at
international airports) and the host town can be conveyed within the terminal
walls. Some airports are seemingly sterile environments that push people
through as quickly as possible.
But have you ever considered how designers
come up with the ideas for the runway layout, or the location of the various
buildings that comprise an airport. And what about all the peripheral business
that pop up around an airport. How do they figure into the management structure.
Sunstorm Interactive and Global Star Software
give simulation game players the opportunity to delve into the wheeling,
dealing and design of a major airport hub with the release of Airport Tycoon
2 for the PC.
There are two major ways to play Airport
Tycoon 2 either in the scenario mode with goal-driven missions, or
in the free play mode, which enables you to begin by buying a piece of
land and developing it from there, all within a budget.
Your goal is to turn a profit but just
when it appears that things are moving smoothly toward that end game, a
blizzard rips through Chicago and you are shut down. You are losing money,
and those who have contracts with you are getting nervous. From weather
to contracts not being renewed, and a host of other problems, players will
be forced to deal with the vagaries of running an airport.
Other game features include 25 cities worldwide
in which to locate your airport and 60 buildings that you can plunk down
on your plot of land.
In free play, after you have purchased
your plot of land (and the game does not feature any real clues about how
big a plot of land you should buy to begin with), you activate the build
window by clicking on the pop-out construction bar on the right side of
the monitor. This is all select, drag-and-drop building, you really don’t
have to create anything from scratch. The building menu is divided into
seven categories: scenery, public services, airport support, storage facilities,
airside navigation, transportation and emergency services.
Dropping a structure into the land area
is not set in stone. You can demolish any structure you have created and
recoup the funds spent on it. Contracts offered can be negotiated, and
you will also receive event messages about disasters and other major happenings
within the scope of the game.
The player interface has been designed
with ease of use in mind. The learning curve for this game should be relatively
short in terms of being able to navigate through the various elements of
the game. However the game is still rife with the challenges of deciding
what to build where, as well as the intricacies of building a people-friendly
complex.
The game’s sound is annoying. This is strictly
arcade or elevator music. This was one of those occasions when being able
to turn off the music was a bright moment.
Graphically the game is solid. The buildings
boast good detail, and the animation is smooth.
Airport Tycoon 2 is a full three-dimensional
real-time management simulation requiring players to understand and utilize
their resources well. Those players who like a grander arena may pass on
this title, but Airport Tycoon does sport challenge and requires careful
thought.
This game is rated for Everyone.
Gameplay: 7
This in intricate, time-consuming gaming
where you manage renovations and building, as well as signing service contracts.
If you are the type that likes to micromanage, you will enjoy this aspect
of the game. The drag-and-drop construction does speed things up considerably
and you can go from bare plot of land to working airport in about 30 minutes.
Graphics: 7.4
The animation is nicely done, but the
game seems relatively sterile. The elements are bright and seem well detailed,
but there is an intangible missing that would really send this game, graphically,
over the top.
Sound: 6.9
The soundtrack is cheesy at best. Yes,
some of the sound associated with an airport are there, but the music is
so upbeat that it can be annoying after a while.
Difficulty: Medium
The goal-driven scenarios are challenging,
but the free play is more so. While you don’t have the overall goals of
scenarios to guide you, working to turn a profit while realizing your vision
is tough.
Concept: 7
In a genre that allows players to micromanage
entire cities, an airport seems a little limiting. That said, it is the
focus that makes it enjoyable.
Overall: 7.2
Simulation fans may enjoy the challenge
of managing an airport, of the minute details that go into the task. This
is a game that will likely have a small but gritty fan base. While it does
a nice job graphically, elements such as the soundtrack and limiting gameplay
may limit its success.
