Warhead

Colonel Kurtz 2015-10-13
(7/10)
I'm playing XF5700 Mantis right now, the sequel to Warhead albeit without Glyn Williams' involvement. Apparently, they tried to simplify things: the starmap was removed (and navigation control with it), the mouse X-axis is used for yaw instead of rotation (at last!) and docking to Solbase is automatic. Let's see.
Update: nah, bunch of repetitive missions that mostly boil down to single large space dogfights.
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Colonel Kurtz 2014-06-16
(7/10)
Taking a step back from the first impression, the learning curve is actually bearable... Only, it starts off from some of the most counterintuitive controls ever - and I'm really talking about the key bindings rather than the hardcore Newtonian physics.

In the end, Glyn Williams did a praiseworthy job at making a mission-based combat sim on top of an Elite-like framework, with no real predecessors to speak of (I mean, Starglider and Skyfox were pretty much different matter). It took Wing Commander and X-Wing to realize this wasn't exactly the best approach to a combat sim.

The campaign was fragmented into many short, not very articulated missions. It worked well IMHO... Except maybe for the Berzerker, where you wouldn't know if you had gotten it right until four missions after first meeting it: if you keep saving over the same slot, you could be on a losing path and not even know it.

Actually the games that remind me of Warhead the most are the Colony Wars series on the PlayStation, sans the physics of course.
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Colonel Kurtz 2014-05-14
(7/10)
Now that's what I call a steep learning curve! This one goes head-to-head with Derek Smart's space sims. It does seem to be more engaging, nonetheless.
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Steel 2007-11-23
(10/10)
Oh yes, you CAN beat the Berzerker!
It frustrated me for quite a while, but then I remembered the black hole - if you fly in there and avoid being sucked in while the Berzerker is on your tail - at some point a cutscene will show the Berserker being sucked into the black hole and you can hyperjump out.
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Ray 2006-05-09
(10/10)
One of my favourite games on any platform.

You could not "beat" Berserker, you just have to run away from him as fast as you can. Berserker is unbeatable. After some time, you will get his hateful message, and a call to go back to your base.
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Ratso 2005-05-05
(8/10)
Fabulous controls and atmospherics but I never got past the Berserker wither, and I really wanted to see the rest of the game...
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Jams 2005-04-22
This spaceship looks like the biggest spaceship in utopia
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Kriko 2005-02-13
(10/10)
The best military space simulator ever. Simply great atmosphere, with well scripted missions and cool graphics. And the Berzerker... That was a masterstroke. I-War on the PC wasn't as captivating as this "prequel".
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MartinUK 2005-01-04
(8/10)
Part flight-sim and part shoot 'em up, this is one of the forgotten classics, and hugely innovative in its own right. One thing not mentioned yet is the awesomely haunting intro music by Michael Powell, that's worth hunting out in its own right.
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IPAndrews 2005-01-04
(9/10)
I never did figure out what to do with Berzerker. While I'm here, how come this game features newtonian physics and is playable and yet Elite 2 plays like crap on toast?
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DeAdLy_cOoKiE 2004-12-29
(9/10)
Ancient god-mother of realistic space-sims perhaps? This strange yet stylish looking game is awesome. Very immersive and intense, and it really makes you feel like you are all alone in space out there when you play it. It may take a while for you to figure out the controls and options (HUD - plotted galaxy map - various camera modes including fish-eye view - quad drive - various weapons, nuclear missiles and probes), but once you get the hang of it it's a great experience. Just wait till you meet Berzerker!

Class!
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