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Headspinning arcade shooter not for flight-simmers

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 28 / 30
Date: December 04, 2001
Author: Amazon User

Being a fan of Novalogic for four years and owning eight of their games I eagerly awaited C4. Hoping to experience the realism Novalogic is known for I was terribly disappointed to find Comanche 4 to be an arcade shooter. I have Comanche 3 and although the graphics are terribly dated it has much better gameplay and realism. I'm a flight-simmer and love flying. What good are jawdropping graphics if your not given time to enjoy them. All missions in Comanche 4 are time-sensitive which gives you no time to do anything but acquire targets and shoot. If you win the objectives, forget about flying around mopping up secondary targets or surveying the damage you've done because you are immediately loaded back to the menu. Forget about flying back to base, landing and feeling the accomplishment of making it back home.The only time you get to view the detail of the awesome graphics is during the opening cut scene of each mission and they aren't interactive. If you are a Ricochet Rabbit on caffeine under the age of 16 this game might be for you. If you like flying helicopters and realism then by no means buy this game. I'm so disappointed with Novalogic. This game is going back to the store.

Once in a great while, a computer game comes along...

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 13 / 14
Date: October 10, 2005
Author: Amazon User

NOTE: I have written a previous review of this game when it first came out in Noveber of 2001, and you can find it here under the name Robert Hodges. I felt compelled to write a follow-up review, now 4 whole years later, because Comanche 4 still remains to be the best helo sim ever produced. And tragically, 4 years later with nothing else being produced by the industry, Comanche 4 also appears to be the last great helo sim we may ever see.

-----------------------------------

First of all, I am now 38 years old. I've been playing Comanche since version 1 for DOS, and began my sim days at lan parties back in the early 90s when everything was still DOS. I have every version and expansion version of Comanche, from diskettes to CDs.

I recent read an online write-up about the tragic loss of good combat simulators. ANY combat simulators, like Armored Fist, etc. The article was right on the money. Jet sims are all there is now. Yawn - snore. Fixed wing aircraft sims bore me to tears (talk about monotonous - circle around and shoot, circle around and shoot, circle around and shoot). Honestly, how many F-16 sims does the world need? I was nodding my head and mumbling "yeah, no kidding" over and over as I read the article, which could be more accurately described as an obituary for true combat sims like Armored Fist and the Comanche series.

Shooters shooters shooters, that's all we get now. But what do you expect from a PC gaming industry that has been hijacked by wimpy little Nintendo kiddies who are used to playing mystical magical games based on dragons, super heroes and ninja warriors running around like ants in a maze? Wussies all. None of the new market consists of anyone who knows what a "simulator" is, and Nova Logic has gone after the money. In other words, shooters and only shooters are all we'll be fed from now on. All Nova Logic's eggs are now in one basket. Which is proving to be a stupid move because Battlefield 2 just wiped out Joint Ops, Nova Logic's bread and butter. Oops. A "Comanche 5" could have prevented that. I would have even settled for a decent F-22 sim (Nova Logic tried several times and failed miserably).

We need to plead with Nova Logic to release a new Comanche version or plead with them to release the source code to the sim so it can be put into the hands of fans who would take the game into the future. There are absolutely brilliant programmers out there who can easily do it.

We all mourn the loss of Janes, and Nova Logic's tragically confirmed that they will not be creating another version of Comanche due to the real Comanche getting canceled by the Pentagon. This is utterly stupid because the aging Apaches - you know, the ones with the radar signatures that show up like skyscrapers - are damned near falling out of the sky on their own and were already maintenance nightmares back in Gulf War 1 (I know, I was there). We even got to see them fall out of the sky on their own in Bosnia!

I'll offer a quote from another web site I found that says it all:

"Once in a great while a computer game is produced that long outlives its life expectancy. Now and then a game company does something unexpected and creates a game not only worth the money but with a powerful mission builder and network play that holds a hard core game lover's interest for years. COMANCHE4 is one of those games."

Comanche 4 is exactly that. It also just may be the last great helo sim ever. It is certainly the best helo sim to ever be released. We may very well live out our days playing C4 and even Comanche Gold, which I still fully enjoy despite the graphics (the beauty of CG being that wonderful Comanche 3 flight model as well as the fact that you can run it on any Windows box built in the last decade). Not long ago, I found a brand new copy of C4 in the bargain bin, so I bought it. I now have 2 copies to ensure I'll always have a good CD for reinstallations, further assisted by the 1.01.20 version of the c4.exe file that allows you to play the game without the CD once installed. Beautiful! A true testament to the devotion of the C4 fans out there.

The Comanche truly gave the game industry a reason to create helo sims. The Apache has been done to death (yawn - snore), and the Comanche is all I want to fly. Enemy Engaged: Comanche vs Hokum just never cut it, but I think it's probably because of that game that Nova Logic even got around to releasing Comanche 4. If EECH had never came out, I doubt we ever would have seen the release of C4 at all.

I must convey my many thanks and gratitude to the C4 fans who have done everything from create new missions to hacking together new EXE replacements that add fixes and new features. Fans are not letting this game die like Nova Logic has. The extra utilities on some of these web sites keep this game alive and well, and C4 games are still going on Nova World to engage in all sorts of multiplayer madness.

No old version of Delta Force does that, which says it all.

I have been out of the flight sim loop for a few years due to school, moving and having kids. But now I'm getting back into it. I have just upgraded all my older (but very trustworthy) Thrustmaster FLCS/TQS gear to the new Cougar HOTAS, which I'm also modding to the teeth. My ONLY reason for doing so: Comanche 4, period. It is the game worthy of building an entire sim around. I waited for YEARS for that game to come out, and drove my local video game store absolutely nuts in how I continually pestered them for updates on the release date for C4. When it was finally released, and I played it for the first time, my jaw hit the floor - I had never seen anything like it and it exceeded my wildest dreams. The game continues to FAR exceed Noval Logic's other offerings, and still remains to be completely superior to the latest engines in their latest shooters.

Again, my appreciation for the interest and energy in the fans who continue to support this helo sim of helo sims, game of games. Know that you are not alone, and that there are MANY of us C4 fans out here that will never abandon this game as long as they keep making computers and operating systems that support it.

Attention Nova Logic: We're SICK of grunt shooters. Got it? Give us Armored Fist 4 and Comanche 5 NOW.

Jaw-dropping Comanche 4 turns Enemy Engaged into "Pong".

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 17 / 21
Date: November 17, 2001
Author: Amazon User

I, like most Comanche fans, have been waiting for 4 years for this game to finally come about. For a while, it was even "rumorware", with news of it's progress often dissappearing from the face of the earth in total darkness, making us helo sim fans sweat bullets, forcing ourselves to get used to the idea that Enemy Engaged would be all ther is. Well, that wait came to an end yesterday, and it was well worth the wait. These guys at Nova Logic rock. I bought this game the moment it hit the shelf on the release date. Holy cow. The graphics are simply staggering, and even motion of the characters (even the stinger-toting ground troops) is so life-like it's spooky. This game is so real, I actually caught myself feeling a sense of guilt and dread while pulling the trigger and ripping up ground troops with my cannon - and watching them very realistically fall down on the ground, lifeless (seeing dead bodies is a new chill to the comanche series - still trying to convince myself that I like that). The sound effects of all combat are simply incredibly real. The sound of those rockets ripping the air is exhilerating when you squeeze them off. And wait until you see the HellFire missile's new makeover! I've never seen such a cool thing as watching the artillery blow up a bad guy base. Man O man - the explosions are staggeringly cool (bits and chucks of smoking debris flying everywhere). Check this out - you can even dump your EFAMS mid mission when you've emptied them to cut down on your signature! Targeting is simply amazing, with the bird computing the shots to the speed of the target so even your unaimed rockets hit their targets. Rotor wash, dust and water vapors flying up in front of your face when hugging the ground, swaying trees when you're close too them, dense jungles... all superbly done and makes you slack-jawed when you see it the first time. My "PlayStation2" nephew stood there dumbfounded and in jealous shock as I showed it to him. Also, the game has automatic internet update built right into it. Don;t have to worry about patches or updates - bang, done. Right out of the box, there were already a few files that were updated when I tried it right after the install. Install was flawless. I have the ThrustMaster FLCS, TQS and Elite rudder pedals, and I am in hog heaven. If I had to speak of a criticism at all, I would have to mention that even loading up the menus takes a little bit, and as far as gameplay goes, the controls seem to be much more sensitive that previous releases of this game. I double-checked my control adjustments, but nope - it's the game. Comanche 3 had a bit more of a comfortable "bulky" feel to the bird, but this one feels really lightweight and even a little jerky. Maybe it's just my 1.2 Gig Athlon (the game calls for a P-266 or better). A slower machine might actually make it feel a little heavier, which wouldn't be a bad thing. One little sideways movement on the stick send's the C4 bird rolling over on it's side. One little rudder kick and you've done a 180. Very sensitive. If the real Comanche flies like that, then it's ok. Know this - this game is gonna give your processor a workout. It's a big game to load, so have tons of RAM. 482 meg on the drive for the full install. Even with a 52X CDROM, 256 meg in a 1.2 GHz Athlon, I have to wait for it to load for a little bit. If you don't have 128 meg of RAM and at least a 500MHz processor, upgrade immediately - this game needs it. I built this PC for the sole reason I heard this game was about to come out. And this game has completely justified the expense and trouble. After playing this game non-stop for hours, I never did get it to crash (I'm running Windows 2000 Pro). Stable as a rock, and outstanding fun. Best $40 I ever spent. Also, there is a new CD key registration process to install the game, A La Microsoft. Get used to it, we're going to be seeing this kind of thing from now on. Comanche 4 makes it all worth it.

Great Game If you have the Power

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 7 / 8
Date: January 15, 2002
Author: Amazon User

Thank god I'm running a Geforce3 Ti Graphics card with a P4 1.6 GHZ processor and almost 700MB of RAM. This game will EAT your computer up if you arent well aboove the requirements in my opinion. If you CAN handle this...I highly reccomend it.

Comanche 4 takes a step away from the complicated, often too annoying to learn flight sims that have come out as of late.
You take off with one button, and fly with your mouse. It couldn't be easier. Choosing your weapon is a mouse click away, and firing it is just the same.

The game play is pure arcade fun. It's not as involved as Ghost Recon, or the Rainbow Series (if you consider the Rainbow series to have a good storyline haha right) but its just as much fun.
When you buy this...know your getting an ARCADE style helicopter shooter...not a flight sim. One of the simplest yet most fun games out there.

One of the hottest games of the 2001

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 7 / 9
Date: December 02, 2001
Author: Amazon User

Comanche 4 is one of the best games I have played this year. Now when I rate games I am very tough but this game is just amazing for many reasons.
1. some of the best graphics I have seen in a sim
2. perfect difficulty levels three is just enough.
3. great gameplay
4. excellent controls
5. smart AI
6. excellent selection of weapons
and 7. very realistic

This game is a must buy no matter if you're a hard core gamer or someone who has never played a sim like this before. To all the parents out there this is a great christmas gift.

Disappointment- Crashes, Lack of Support

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: February 02, 2002
Author: Amazon User

I love games and had anticipated the purchase of a helicopter sim for some time. Unfortunately, Comanche4 was a poor choice. Despite the claim that Comanche4 is compatable (and supported) with XP and GeForce2 cards, this game has not worked once. It crashes every time when loading. This is despite updated drivers. Other games, including other sims, work flawlessly on my system.

Novalogic Support was less than helpful. I emailed all system information including the fact that I have updated XP compatable drivers for video and audio. I waited 8 days for a reply. What was the reply? "Make sure that you have updated compatable drivers." A poor experience made even worse.

I sent them a response reminding them that I had initially informed them that updated and compatable drivers were in place, and that their response hadn't helped. It has been 12 days, and still no reply from Novalogic Support.

Advice? Buy another game and save yourself some disappointment. If the other game is a Novalogic product, don't be surprised if support is poor for any problems you experience.

Happy Gaming!

Fly the helicopter that never was and never will be!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 5
Date: January 16, 2004
Author: Amazon User

A fun game, but not much of a simulation. Great graphics, and challenging in that you can actually get shot down.

Considering the Comanche has been in the works for the past 15 years, and shows no signs of being finished for 15 more, this might be your only chance to fly, let alone see a Comanche.

It's probably in the dollar bin now, so it's worth a few bucks to give it a try.

This is an amazing game!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: August 24, 2002
Author: Amazon User

If you like Tribes, Tribes 2, and Quake 3 and beyond, this game is for you! It's stunning once you learn to play and the online community is very friendly and helpful. The sound and graphics go beyond anything made today - it's far ahead of its time.

Check out my Comanche 4 guide for reviews, tips, and very useful information on the game:

http://www.geocities.com/c4guide/

See you in the skies! =)

Stuff blows up great!

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: December 01, 2002
Author: Amazon User

When this game initially arrived, I played it enough to sprain my wrist. Things blow up spectacularly; this game really pushes current hardware. I use a Athlon XP 1700+ and ATI Radeon All-in-Wonder, and I'm upgrading the video card because higher resolutions are too slow. Note that the game warns about reduced framerates under Windows 2000 (I'm upgrading to XP, too).

The missions all seem pretty short (I've played about ten of the thirty). They seem quite variable in difficulty. Sometimes caution is called for, and sometimes a mad, all-out rush is necessary. It's hard to tell when each is appropriate.

The sound and video of this game are phenomenal. If you're looking for something to take advantage of your high-end system, I highly recommend it.

More than I expected.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: March 15, 2003
Author: Amazon User

When I saw this game for 9.99, I thought it might be a flop, but the graphics looked great, so I bought it.

The exceeded my expectations. The scenery is great, the game play is great. Everything about this game is great.

It runs smoothly on my 1.3GHZ AMD Athlon with a Radon 9000 Pro video card. If you are looking for a fun game, and don't want to spend too much, try this game out.

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