Preparing for take-off
Bandits at ten o’clock and jumbos on mayday calls will provide some of the challenges in Pilot Academy
Combining the design expertise of a long-running Japanese flight sim series and the development smarts of UK studio Kuju, Pilot Academy is the first game of its type for PSP. It’s not the most obvious handheld genre we have to admit but if you’re a fan, Pilot Academy certainly won’t be skimping on the number or type of aircraft you’ll be able to get your hands on. Both military and civilian types will be available, with the first set of screens showing the WWII-era F-51 Mustang and the Jumbo Jet in action.
The game will start with a series of training exercises which teach the basics of flight and controls. From there, players can jump into the cockpit of commercial, private and military planes to complete various challenges. Missions will include tasks such as making an emergency landing in fierce weather conditions, performing acrobatic moves or crop-dusting fields. Success will allow you to select other planes and scenarios, each unique to the class of aircraft you’re currently piloting. Achievements are recorded, providing further incentive to replay missions and challenges for additional reward.
Perhaps most interest surrounds the more warlike modes of play however, with the campaigns broken down into four eras: World War I; World War II; The Cold War; and modern-day combat jets. This aces-high behaviour will also be supported via the multiplayer deathmatch mode which will enable eight players to battle it out using the game sharing mode where you only need one copy of the game. There will be three other multiplayer modes, although these haven’t been announced yet.
Pilot Academy is currently due for take-off in March 2006.
