B-17 Bomber, 1982 Mattel/John P. Sohl/William C Fisher/Stephen Roney (20 From Intellivision #19)
15Far too complex for me, but this was probably the best game for the Intellivoice Module (of which there was this, Space Spartans, TRON Solar Sailer (!), World Series Baseball, and Bomb Squad. This is a flight simulator-- in more ways than you'd think-- set in WWII in 1943 over the English Channel. Pick the destination you want, preferably over enemy factory targets, on the map screen (use the CLEAR keypad button to see it). Then press one of the top action buttons to start flying your plane over to it (very slowly). Anytime during the game you can select the map screen, use the pilot viewpoint (button 1), your gun viewpoints (12:00 is keypad button 2, 3:00 is keypad button 9, 6:00 is keypad button 0, and 9:00 is keypad button 7), your bomb bay viewpoint (button 3), your gauges (button 4), the point value of your target (button 6), your map screen (Clear), and your score thus far (Enter). The general goal of the game is to take off safely (a fairly complicated process for beginners) and then check your "o'clock"s for enemy aircraft to shoot down when a voice prompts you (i.e., "Bandits/enemy at 6:00"), shoot them down, and when you get the opportunity use your bomb bay sights and look for ground targets to bomb for points. Ground targets can fire flak up at you which can disable your bomb sights if you are hit. These targets are the best source of points, since shooting down enemy planes gives you a lame 2 points apiece! But, that's pretty important nevertheless, since if you get shot at one of your o'clock guns you'll be unable to shoot from there and if you're overall shot too much you may tailspin and die! You have a limited supply of bombs, fuel and ammo and when you run low, go back to the map screen and chart a course back to jolly old England to refuel/resupply. Then start the whole thing over again to try for as high a score as you can. Getting shot or (gasp) bombing England will deduct from your score! When taking off go to the gauges menu and ramp up your RPMs to 2500 and hold DOWN on the controller when your MPH is 90, and you should take off fine. When landing in England keep at 90 MPH and cut your RPMs. You can also jettison some fuel with the top action buttons. Man, this game is too much for me.. you have to memorize all the controls from the keypad to survive and react QUICKLY when the voice samples tell you of enemy planes. Hold rapid fire for a quick burst and try to pick off the planes quickly before they fly out of sight. Pretty cool and deep for its time. See you soon with game #18, but above all else-- STAY SAFE and DON'T PANIC UNNECESSARILY. We WILL get through this Covid-19 scare eventually with precaution and common sense. Best of wishes health-wise to you and yours.