Kennedy Approach  	 
1985, MicroProse Software


"This is American Airways 157 - heading V.O.R. at 4...thousand feet".

When that speech came out of my Commodore C64 I nearly wet my pants. The next time that will happen is when I first turn on that new holographic TV in 30 years time. That's how astounding it was. Like a lot of us that's why I bought the game. But that's not why I still play it. Oh no. Not on your sweet bippy. The speech, as it turns out, is the icing on the cake and not the cake! Who would have thunk?

Yes. It's the gameplay that just melts in your mouth like moist Angel cake. And what an Angel this game is! It grabs you slowly. The odd plane here, the odd plane there. Press your joystick button on the plane icon or choose it's letter code as displayed along the top of the screen. Then up on the joystick to climb, down to descend and left and right to change direction. How simple is that? Well to start, at level one, it is that simple. One runway and three routes. Some flights landing/taking off at the airport, others just passing through your control zone. But then it is Atlanta and it is the midnight shift. Of course even at level one you'll hear the occasional "This is United 128 - eight minutes fuel left" said in a voice just tense enough to pass that emotion onto you. But as you look at the clock and see that 3 minutes of your 5 minute shift has already gone by, you relax again.

Oh how the game has lulled you into it's charms. "Easy" you're thinking. "What's everyone been talking about?" But you have been promoted and the screen opens. what's that? A Storm? Heading for the runway? And...Oh my goodness. I have HOW MANY planes waiting to take off? AND gee whiz, gotta get that plane moved, oh oh and that one. Then the heavy black groaning buzzes as two planes comes within their cones of conflict. Get them 1000 feet apart height wise or 3 miles width wise or you have conflict - and too much conflict gets you FIRED!. Oh yes! And those planes waiting on the runway because you've decided to wait for the storm to go over. that's FLIGHT DELAYS. They can get you FIRED! And Make sure those planes fly around the storm or they'll crash, and remember to put that flight back on course after it goes round the storm, and make sure you bring that northbound flight down to 4000 feet after it goes over that southbound flight...And don't forget....And don't forget.... Planes leaving at the wrong height or wrong exit can get you FIRED as well! Well, you're sweating now. You look up at the game clock - only 90 seconds gone and 8 1/2 minutes still to go - "that is an eternity!!" you'll find yourself thinking.

Now add mountains. A second local runaway along with an international runway. Now add a storm to the mountains. Now add a storm and mountains and a no-fly zone over Washington DC. You are talking about 20 minutes of total lovely hell!!!

A puzzle game? Sure. Small, simple graphics? Absolutely. But what tension. What terror. What concentration. What about one more go to get promoted to level 3 and then maybe trying Denver with it's Rocky Mountain range to deal with!? You end up salivating at the challenge of it, and the addictiveness just keep dragging you back. (Like it has me for the last 20+ years!) But whether you'll EVER cope with Washington DC/Dulles International Airport during the mid-afternoon shift is anyone's guess. I haven't after 20 years of playing!

They say on the packaging that this game will tell you if you could be an Air Traffic Controller. By playing this game, I know I couldn't. But what pure exhilarating fun this game is! As strategic as a war game. As much a puzzle game as Rubiks cube, but also a true simulation of the tension and speed of thought needed to control the airways above the major cities of the USA.

"This is American 134 - six minutes fuel left" You look up at the game clock. 10 minutes left on your shift. Need to start moving a lot of flights. American 134 needs priority. United Airways 168, climb to 4000 feet new heading 270. American 422, descend to 3000 feet new heading 090, California 288 new heading 180.

American 134 new heading 235, cleared to land....


Reviewed by humorguy, 2006-03-22