EF2000 (video game)

EF2000
Developer(s) Digital Image Design
Publisher(s) Ocean Software
Engine Wargen
Platform(s) DOS, Windows
Release 1995
Genre(s) Combat flight simulator
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer

EF2000 is a combat flight simulator video game developed by Digital Image Design and published by Ocean Software in 1995 for the PC DOS. It is the sequel to DID's earlier software title, TFX.

Gameplay

EF2000 is a combat flight simulator of the Eurofighter Typhoon (EF2000) aircraft, featuring detailed terrain of the Baltic region. It supports virtual reality goggles. Graphics features included naturally irregular topography, clouds and darkening skies at high altitudes.

Gameplay consists of quick combat, simulator (free flight mode), training, multiplayer and campaign mode. The game featured a dynamic campaign that simulating a campaign set in northern Europe. Missions require the player to evade ground-based and airborne defenses. Mid-air refueling is included.

MFDs allow player to attack both flying and grounded targets with a range of weapons, including precision-guided munitions, missiles and unguided bombs. Spot view allows for remote viewing of targets, enemies, friendly forces or the player's own EF2000. With padlock, the computer could lock onto a target and follow it around the cockpit even when the target maneuvers from in front of the player's aircraft.

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
PC Gamer (US)88%
Next Generation[1]
PC GamesB[2]

On release, a Next Generation critic called the game "one of the best flight sims on the market", applauding the realistically texture-mapped graphics, easy-to-learn interface, intelligently responsive AI, and multiplayer networking.[1]

EF2000 won Computer Gaming World's 1995 "Simulation of the Year" award. The editors praised it for combining "a high level of realism with fun", and noted its "ground-breaking terrain and aircraft graphics".[3] In 1996, Computer Gaming World also ranked it as the 42nd best video game of all time for making combat simulation graphics, sound, and realism take "a flying leap forward."[4] That same year, Next Generation ranked it as the 43rd top game of all time for being "simply the most immersive combat flight sim on the market."[5] PC Gamer nominated EF2000 as the best simulation of 1995, although it lost to Apache.[6] It was also the second-place finalist for Computer Game Review's 1995 "Simulation of the Year" award, which went to MechWarrior II.[7]

EF2000 was named the eighth best computer game ever by PC Gamer UK in 1997. The editors called it "the best flight of all time".[8]

Sequels

Super EF2000

EF2000 spawned later versions with various improvements, including EF2000 V2.0 for Windows 95 and Super EF2000 with the Tactcom additions for Windows 95 (both compatible with Windows 98, 98SE and ME). The graphics were boosted when Digital Image Design (DID) released the "Graphics+"-Patch, which added Rendition Vérité hardware support and Glide API for 3dfx graphics card support to EF2000.

In addition DID Simulations followed up with games based on the F-22 - first with F-22: Air Dominance Fighter and F-22 Total Air War.

The EF2000 series came to an end in 2001 when Rage Games Limited released Eurofighter Typhoon. It was developed from the makers of EF2000 and has the Digital Image Design label on the box.

References

  1. 1 2 "EF2000". Next Generation. No. 15. Imagine Media. March 1996. p. 87.
  2. ↑ Lukban, Anthony (March 1996). "EF2000". PC Games. Archived from the original on February 7, 1997.
  3. ↑ Staff (June 1996). "The Computer Gaming World 1996 Premier Awards". Computer Gaming World (143): 55, 56, 58, 60, 62, 64, 66, 67.
  4. ↑ CGW 148: 150 Best Games of All Time
  5. ↑ Next Generation 21 (September 1996), p.55.
  6. ↑ Editors of PC Gamer (March 1996). "The Year's Best Games". PC Gamer US. 3 (3): 64, 65, 67, 68, 71, 73–75.
  7. ↑ Staff (April 1996). "CGR's Year in Review". Computer Game Review. Archived from the original on October 18, 1996.
  8. ↑ Flynn, James; Owen, Steve; Pierce, Matthew; Davis, Jonathan; Longhurst, Richard (July 1997). "The PC Gamer Top 100". PC Gamer UK (45): 51–83.
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