The Apache Longbow gunship (AH-64D) is a staggering machine, equipped with a sophisticated Fire Control Radar that allows the two-man crew (pilot and weapons officer) to analyze the battlefield, prioritize both air and ground threats from a relatively safe position, and then pop up to deliver lethal “fire and forget” AGM-114B Hellfire missiles to multiple targets.
- Probably the Best Mission on Helicopter in Games! Apache AH-64D Longbow. Medal of Honor 2010 (PC) - In this video, we'll be Apache helicopter gunner, and we will take part in military operations.
- May 22, 2017 The Apache Longbow gunship (AH-64D) is a staggering machine, equipped with a sophisticated Fire Control Radar that allows the two-man crew (pilot and weapons officer) to analyze the battlefield, prioritize both air and ground threats from a relatively safe position, and then pop up to deliver lethal “fire and forget” AGM-114B Hellfire missiles to multiple targets.
| Jane's AH-64D Longbow | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Origin Systems |
| Publisher(s) | Electronic Arts |
| Director(s) | Will McBurnett |
| Producer(s) | Andy Hollis |
| Artist(s) | Paul Stankie |
| Composer(s) | Barry Leitch |
| Series | Jane's Combat Simulations |
| Platform(s) | PC (DOS)/(Windows) |
| Release | 1996 |
| Genre(s) | Combat flight simulator |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
AH-64D Longbow is a realistic combat flight simulator of the AH-64D Apache Longbow attack helicopter. Released on May 31, 1996 for the PC, this simulation was developed at Origin Systems. AH-64D Longbow was the second simulator released under the Jane's Combat Simulators line from Electronic Arts.
A mission disk Flash Point: Korea was released as an add-in in 1996, and a compilation pack, Longbow Gold was released in 1997. A sequel, Longbow 2 was released in late 1997. In 1998, Longbow Anthology was released, which included the whole Longbow series.
- 4Reception
Gameplay[edit]
The game had the most authentic flight model for a helicopter for its time and every aspect of the electronics systems were meticulously detailed. The weapons had realistic operational ranges and limits, and all friendly and enemy units were strictly based on their real-life counterparts. A wingman helps the player, and the player takes on Russian equipment in multiple single missions and campaigns, as well as a handful of historically accurate missions in which it is possible to 're-live' memorable battles.
Flash Point: Korea was released on November 30, 1996. It features a new campaign set in Korea, the addition of the co-pilot position, improved wingman commands and many bug fixes.
Development[edit]
Release[edit]
Longbow Gold came out in March 1997. It is a compilation pack featuring the AH-64D Longbow and Flash Point: Korea add-ons. It is also fully patched and updated to include a Windows executable, so DOS is no longer necessary. Also included is the 3Dfx update, which adds a Glide renderer.
Longbow Anthology was released in 1998 and is a compilation of Jane's AH-64D Longbow, the mission disk Flash Point: Korea, and Longbow 2 in one box, with an abbreviated manual. All included simulators are fully patched to the latest versions.
Reception[edit]
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AH-64D Longbow debuted at #4 on PC Data's monthly computer game sales chart for June 1996.[3] The game fell to position 14 the following month, before rising back into the top 10 in August and exiting the top 20 in September.[4][5] In the United States, the game sold 106,423 copies and earned $4.78 million by October 1999.[6] Global shipments of AH-64D Longbow ultimately surpassed 600,000 copies. The Longbow franchise as a whole, including the compilations and Jane's Longbow 2, shipped above 1.2 million units.[7]
The reviewer for Next Generation praised the option to choose from nine different levels of realism, and the game's unique mission design.[1]
Longbow was named the best flight simulator of 1996 by PC Gamer,[8]GameSpot,[9]Computer Gaming World and Computer Games Strategy Plus.[10][11]CNET Gamecenter and the Computer Game Developers Conference nominated it in their 'Best Simulation Game' categories, but these went to NASCAR Racing 2 and MechWarrior 2: Mercenaries, respectively.[12][13][14] In 1996, Computer Gaming World ranked it as the 100th best game of all time for being 'the first helicopter sim to match its fixed wing counterparts for realistic play.'[15] That same year, it was also ranked as the 73rd top game of all time by Next Generation, for being 'an unbeatable marriage of graphics, gameplay, and armor-blasting fun.'[16]
Flashpoint Korea[edit]
The editors of PC Gamer US named Flashpoint Korea 1996's 'Best Expansion Pack', and wrote that it 'practically makes [Longbow] a whole new game.'[8]Flashpoint: Korea was also a finalist for Computer Gaming World's 1996 'Best Enhancement of an Existing Game' award,[17] which ultimately went to Warcraft II: Beyond the Dark Portal.[10]
References[edit]
- ^ ab'Bull's Eye'. Next Generation. No. 21. Imagine Media. September 1996. p. 156.
- ^Lukban, Anthony (July 1996). 'AH-64D Longbow'. PC Games. Archived from the original on October 18, 1996.
- ^GamerX (August 8, 1996). 'June's top 30 games'. CNET Gamecenter. Archived from the original on February 5, 1997.
- ^GamerX (September 27, 1996). 'August's top 30 games'. CNET Gamecenter. Archived from the original on February 5, 1997.
- ^GamerX (October 29, 1996). 'September's top 30 games'. CNET Gamecenter. Archived from the original on February 5, 1997.
- ^Brown, Ken (October 1999). 'EA Scraps Jane's A-10'. Computer Gaming World (183): 44, 46.
- ^Geryk, Bruce. 'PC Gaming Graveyard; Jane's A-10 Warthog'. GameSpot. Toward Multiplay. Archived from the original on August 18, 2000.
- ^ ab'PC Gamer Reveals Its 1997 Award Winners'. Business Wire (Press release). Brisbane, California. February 6, 1997.
- ^Staff. 'GameSpot 1996 Best & Worst Awards'. GameSpot. Archived from the original on December 13, 2000.
- ^ abStaff (May 1997). 'The Computer Gaming World 1997 Premier Awards'. Computer Gaming World (154): 68–70, 72, 74, 76, 78, 80.
- ^Staff (March 25, 1997). 'Computer Games Strategy Plus announces 1996 Awards'. Computer Games Strategy Plus. Archived from the original on June 14, 1997. Retrieved November 2, 2010.
- ^The Gamecenter Editors. 'The Gamecenter Awards for 96'. CNET Gamecenter. Archived from the original on February 5, 1997.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
- ^Staff (April 15, 1997). 'And the Nominees Are...'Next Generation. Archived from the original on June 5, 1997.
- ^'Spotlight Awards Winners Announced for Best Computer Games of 1996' (Press release). Santa Clara, California: Game Developers Conference. April 28, 1997. Archived from the original on July 3, 2011.
- ^Staff (November 1996). '150 Best (and 50 Worst) Games of All Time'. Computer Gaming World (148): 63–65, 68, 72, 74, 76, 78, 80, 84, 88, 90, 94, 98.
- ^Staff (September 1996). 'Top 100 Games of All Time'. Next Generation. No. 21. Imagine Media. pp. 44, 45.
- ^Staff (April 1997). 'Best of the Bunch; Finalists Named for CGW Premier Awards'. Computer Gaming World (153): 28, 32.
Ah 64d Apache Longbow Game
External links[edit]
- AH-64D Longbow at MobyGames
- Flash Point Korea at MobyGames
- Longbow Gold at MobyGames