This town ain't big enough for the both of them (Lock On: Flaming Cliffs (PC))

Member Name: Fennesz

Product:	Lock On: Flaming Cliffs (PC)
Date:	19/01/09 (125 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Pretty. One of your few options.

Disadvantages: Cold and lifeless. No campaign.

So, you're looking for a modern combat flight sim with jets? In many ways, this is it, but don't get too excited.

LOMAC is, in the visual department, the best there is. Land, planes, and anything else visible are all incredibly detailed. Half of the time playing this game you will probably just be admiring your jet as it cuts through the virtual air. It isn't all good though. In Burning Cliffs they have added a damage model which shears off parts of your plane due to stress. Sound cool? Yes, but it isn't. The detection is ropey at best, and your wings snap off in exactly the same way every time. All that just adds to a physics model that, in the original, was only good enough to fool newbies to the genre.

Visually and in terms of gameplay I would call this a flawed but solid title. The real crippling blow comes in the mission structure. The game models several seperate aircraft and provdes missions for each of them in their various roles. This is quite an attractive set up, unless you consider LOMACs only real competitor: Falcon 4: Allied Force. F4AF models only one plane, but incredibly accurately, and places you in one of several amazing and engrossing dynamic campaigns. The depth of that game just floors LOMAC, which feels clinical and unloved by comparison.

Graphics: 8/10
Sound: 6/10
Gameplay: 7/10

Summary: Get F4AF.