TFX (video game)

TFX is a 1993 combat flight simulator video game developed by Digital Image Design and published by Ocean Software that was released for DOS and Amiga computers.

TFX
DOS cover art
Developer(s)Digital Image Design
Publisher(s)Ocean Software
Designer(s)Martin Kenwright
Programmer(s)Colin Bell
Composer(s)Barry Leitch
Dean Evans
Platform(s)DOS, Amiga
Release1993
Genre(s)Combat flight simulator
Mode(s)Single player

Gameplay
View from the TIALD pod of a Eurofighter during a laser-guided bombing run in TFX

The game features an instant-action arcade mode, custom missions, and a campaign mode. The player can fly three aircraft: The Eurofighter Typhoon, the F-22 and the F-117, and can customize payload for each aircraft. The campaign mode takes place in three theatres - Colombia, Somalia, Libya, the Balkans, and the South Georgia Islands. "TFX" stands for Tactical Fighter E(X)periment.

Development

The Eurofighter Typhoon, a playable plane in TFX, was still in its prototype stage when TFX was released,[1] with a real Eurofighter Typhoon not making its first flight until 1994. The interactive parts of the game were reduced to still images or omitted altogether for the Amiga version which, although never officially released by Ocean, was later included as a give-away game on a CU Amiga cover disk. An experimental port was produced for the original PlayStation shortly after its release. The Soap Opera Engine was manually programmed in TFX, but would be altered to become automated in future games. TFX was shown at the 1994 European Computer Trade Show at the Business Design Centre in London, England.[2] An Atari Jaguar port was slated to be under development by DID but it never released.[2]

Reception

Computer Gaming World briefly reviewed TFX in February 1994, calling it "the most advanced flight model yet" due to the many factors taken into account in the simulation, and further called it a simulator for "purist[s]".[3] Another reviewer from CGW in April 1994 praised TFX's "excellent" effects and "detailed" graphics, but criticized the lack of a rudder and other examples of lack of realism, "predictable" computer tactics, the lack of a campaign setting, and an 'irritating' untoggleable autopilot. The reviewer concluded that "TFX feels old fashioned", further expressing that some aspects felt "unfinished", and recommended it only to casual pilots.[1]

Amiga Computing gave the Amiga version of TFX an overall score of 93% and highly praised its graphics, calling them "breathtakingly atmospheric" and stating that they were "designed to inspire and awe", and expressed that this "visual realism" give the game's missions further depth. Amiga Computing noted TFX's hardware requirements as 'demanding' for the Amiga, but noted that even with lowered settings TFX is 'more impressive than other flight sims' on the Amiga.[4]

In 1994, PC Gamer UK named TFX the 26th best computer game of all time. The editors called it "one of the best flight sims out on the PC and, with a bit of effort, a hugely playable game."[5]

References
  1. Rigby, Paul (April 1994). "Review - TFX: Ocean's Experimental Flight Sim Design". Computer Gaming World. No. 117. Ziff-Davis. pp. 98–99. ISSN 0744-6667.
  2. The Ripper (April 1994). "Europa!". Diehard GameFan. Vol. 2 no. 5. Die Hard Publishing. pp. 136–137. ISSN 1070-3020.
  3. Matthews, Robin (February 1994). "Over There: How To Make Dinosaurs And Jet Fighters In Three Easy Steps". Computer Gaming World. No. 115. Ziff-Davis. pp. 134, 136. ISSN 0744-6667.
  4. Lofthouse, Gareth (May 1995). "TFX". Amiga Computing. No. 86. IDG Media. pp. 108–110.
  5. Staff (April 1994). "The PC Gamer Top 50 PC Games of All Time". PC Gamer UK. No. 5. pp. 43–56.
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