Blue Lightning by ATD and Atari

CD

The game warms up with a spectacular front line, fully rendered, 3D cinema. The tunes are musically clear, the speed is incredible, and the voices are stunningly realistic. From there you go on with the ability of choosing continents to cover, pilots to fly, planes to conquer, and special weapons to light up the screen. Until the actually gameplay starts, the CD is packed with cinema's, and it hypes you up so much you can't wait to get started...

...but it has to end, and the game starts, and reality hits. The opening sequences are a true contrast to the actual game. Air level's are for the most part, cheap. Late draw-in is apparent, and the clouds create the sensation of flying through many cardboard cut-outs. The sky missions lack edge because they play on-rails. You can't go high above the clouds, or under them, nor can you turn completely around, you just fly straight forward shooting down enemy planes. Your bird moves slightly too choppy, but it's bearable. It seems that the creator's didn't add enough frames of animation for smooth movement. Ground missions look nice, with no apparent slowdown. Building and hills get pixelized up close, but you quickly fly past them. There's a lot of maneuvering to be done on the ground missions, where even the slight tap of your wing against the side of something will result in an explosion. Luckily the Jag seems to help you through really tight spots.

There are mission objectives, though not as complex as Iron Soldier's, it still something to accomplish. Every different plane isn't a whole new experience, but the difference in control is significant enough to keep the action varied. Every cinema is slightly changed for each plane, so it's nice to see that smaller things like this weren't looked over. Frame rate is constantly high, and enemy helicopters, tanks, trucks, planes, and so forth are well detailed, though they look like card board cut-outs themselves. The transition from outside view to in the cockpit looks cheesy but it's decent.

Sounds are possibly the best aspect of the game so far. CD quality tunes are all up beat and fast paced. There seems to be very many tunes, and they all stick in your head and enhance the gameplay very well. Sound FX are nothing to go crazy over. Voices are smooth, but some aren't understandable, while most sound monotone.

Control is nice, with 3 main control functions, and a well designed overlay, so you won't get confused. One thing that bothers me is the cockpit view. When you turn, the screen doesn't roll to the left or right, it just stays still like you're inside a car, and for some reason that takes away from the sensation of flight.

Overall, I have to say that for a pack-in, Blue Lightning is quite a bargain. Video Game Liquidator's is selling them for only $5, and if you don't have a copy for that price, you're missing out. It's easy to pick out everything that Blue Lightning isn't, but it's not worth the effort, since this CD has enough good points for a strong out come. The game is simply "good."

Graphics-7

The CD cinema's look incredible, but the overall gameplay graphics could use some touching up. It just looks way to flat, and pretty cheap throughout the game. Graphics don't take away from the game, but they don't enhance it, either.

Sound/music-9

Music is a masterpiece, with tunes that stick in your head and won't let go. Driving to say the least, and each track seems to match the game perfectly. Sound FX are nice as well, but nothing to get psyched over. Voices are occasionally dull, but good non-the-less.

Control-9

Control is crisp and handy. Nicely designed overlay with a state of the art control scheme. Nothing to really complain about, except the lack of animation makes controlling some what confusing.

Power-7

Cinema's are great, with no slowdown or flickering. The game however could easily be mistaken for a Jag cart. Luckily the high rising tunes save the CD from most cart aspects, but still, there is nothing that really separate's the two.

Fun factor-8

Barrel rolling in the sky produces a sense of awe and wonder, while the game is natural fun throughout. Some type of two player action could've done wonder's for this CD, but alas, it's a joy to behold.

Overall-83%