Page 55 - OSG Presents Classic Gamer Magazine #6

F F Super Huey again, is that Cosmi reduced the recommended
or the Commodore 64, Cosmi brought out a
good number of titles during its support. Start-
retail price to a low $12.95. This, after being on
ing in the early years, they released Aztec
Challenge, Caverns of Khafka, Monster Trivia, some Cosmi, 1985 For the C-64 the market for not even two years. Titles from
other companies released at the same time
productivity and educational packages, and one of were still commanding their same suggested
my favorites, Forbidden Forest. Then, in 1985, By Fred Pierson price of twice the ‘now asking price’ for SH. I
Cosmi released the remarkable sequel to FF, Be- know Cosmi was always a budget company, in
yond the Forbidden Forest, and entered into the sound and effects are nice as well, replicating the a manner of speaking, meaning most of their
simulation genre, more specifically, aircraft simula- sounds of lift and artillery, and the music is just plain games did not exceed $20-$25, but less than
tion. Released in the last quarter of ‘85, Super Huey awesome. two years? Man! Well, I do not have the facts
was one of, if not, THE first true helicopter simula- Control is by a single joystick and the input of the on what I am about to state, but I am sure this
tions available for the 64, and perhaps for the entire three-letter codes. To maneuver, the fire button must lower price helped sell this #1 title even more,
computer scene. In the game, you take control of the be depressed along with moving the joystick in the and that the overall total of copies sold until its
Huey UH-IX; at that time, an experimental high per- desired direction. In combat, it will be a little aggravat- commercial ceasing probably more than dou-
formance aircraft. ing to know that you cannot fire weapons and move at bled, especially with the additional and in-
Starting at your airbase, you choose one of four the same time, since both utilize the button. If done creased sales of the 64 system over the next
missions—Flight Instruction, Exploration, Rescue, or right, though, there is a method that will turn out to be few years.
Combat. The selection is chosen by inputting the advantageous. The gameplay is absolutely fabulous, This game is without a doubt a classic, in all
respective three-letter code. Flight Instruction is just and is definitely worth recurring play time. While doing sense of the word. There is also a version for
that—getting familiar with all aspects of your air- research, I came across an astonishing fact: by the the Atari 7800, which is rather fair. Cosmi also
craft—instrumentation, engage engines, take-off, end of ‘87, Super Huey had sold more than 150,000 released Super Huey II for the 64 in 1986 (I do
control, and landing. In Exploration, you can map out copies. Numbers like that for a computer system, es- not have it, and I have never played it, but I
the territory and level of terrain, as well as finding pecially at that time, were unheard of. I do not think have heard it is comparable to the original).
significant features and landmarks. Rescue has you many of today’s PC titles reach that point. What I Then, at the end of 2000, Super Huey III was
trying to locate lost military personnel in the moun- found astonishing and was surprised to learn once released for the PC (see review below).
tains. You must retrieve any who are injured and Super Huey is ranked as one of the Top 10
return to base. In Combat, there is a secret installa- games during the first 10 years of computer
tion that could be a security threat. You are to deter- gaming. Personally, I would rank it in the Top
mine the enemy’s ground and air strength to decide 10 of all time. Paul Norman is a force of creativ-
if it is feasible for attack. ity, and as such, provided me with hours of
After selecting a mission, you are inside the cock- entertainment back in my early 64 days (and
pit, given a first person view looking at the screen. continues to do so to this day!) I hope to bring
There are 29 instruments, from a compass and hori- word of Paul’s other creations in a future issue,
zon to malfunction lights and direction finders. These but until then, take the time to play his most
instruments are located in front of you and above successful game of all time.
you on the chopper ceiling. The graphics are noth- Take off and fly high!
ing short of excellent with the representation of the
interior of a real Huey—instruments, gauges, and
the outline of windows—front, side, and floor. The

Super Huey I + III
Super Huey I + III

Super Huey III missiles (oh yeah!) and the nifty
flamethrower for those of you who like
Cosmi, 2000 for the PC your enemies extra crispy.
As for the missions themselves,
By Chris Cavanaugh they tend to start out on the fairly
T T challenge-o-meter. However, as you
easy side, hardly registering on the
o be perfectly honest, I’ve never
progress they do get more difficult.
played the original Super Huey in
my life. Not that I didn’t want to, it’s just You’ll encounter tanks, zeppelins, ra-
dar installations and even other hos-
that I was an Apple II man, and I was tile helicopters. I think my only beefs
busy with games such as Super Taxman mean, it sucks?”. Nope! Not at all. Cosmi with the game would be that the lev-
and Drol. So, I decided to use this handi- has built a pretty impressive 3D helicopter els are far too brief and sometimes
cap as an advantage, and judge Super flight simulator. Yeah, it’s not Microsoft you’d kill for the copter to go faster.
Huey III on its own merits, rather than as Flight Simulator, but who needs all those The music and sounds are nice as
a remake or an update. gauges, anyway? What you do get is a well. The “Whup! Whup! Whup!” of
The first thing you’ll notice about Super slick looking and challenging game. your chopper blades combined with
Huey, before you even pop it into your Man the technologically superior Super the rousing melody of “Flight of the
computer, is the price. It’s cheap! Cosmi Huey IXB into 35 missions to bomb radar Valkyries” will keep you in the de-
Software is known for its budget software, sites and rescue your men. This time stroying spirit.
yet high quality library, and Super Huey III around, the new and improved Huey is Super Huey III is a fun game to kill
is no exception. Now I know you Classic sporting cool, new weapons. Standard some time with. Go to download.com
Gamers are a thrifty lot so this little piece ones, such as the single shot gun (kinda and get the free demo or hit up
of info puts us into positive territory right useless) and a machine gun (much better!) www.cosmi.com for more details.
off the bat. are combined with “lock on” heat seeking
“Sure it’s cheap! But doesn’t that
Classic Gamer Magazine Spring 2001 55