I’ll be honest. I went into this game thinking okay, cool: A Helicopter flight simulator. I’ve played GTA and Battlefield. I’ve even played PlanetSide 2. I can definitely fly a helicopter. Nope. Comanche by developer NUKKLEAR and Publisher THQ Nordic and its tight myriad of controls basically called me a scrub and told me to Git Gud.
Gameplay
Comanche is basically the Attack Helicopter killstreak from the Call of Duty series, but you have full and total control over it, for better or worse. You load up into the cockpit of your very own war machine and fly around destroying anything your missiles lock on to. So far the developer, NUKLEAR, has given us the option to jump right into Multiplayer team-based helicopter battles, or delve into an ever-evolving Single-Player, which, right now, feels like an extension of the tutorial. I recommend starting there first before jumping into a multiplayer queue. You’ll need every bit of extra time to get familiar with the controls.
Multiplayer seems to be where the real money is at. There are several modes to participate in, allowing you to put your helicopter flying skills against others who, at times, make you feel like they fly helicopters as a full-time job. The tutorial itself takes you through three levels of increasing difficulty, allowing you to get a sense of the controls by flying through rings placed around the course. This is where Comanche’s steep learning curve became apparent. Even after conquering the tutorial with a basic grasp on flight, when jumping into an actual combat scenario, I knew I was going to be in trouble.
Mechanics
NUKLEAR spent a painstaking amount of time and energy into nailing the flight mechanics of this game. Even though there are three different control options, NUKLEAR gives you the option to switch between Mouse & Keyboard, Gamepad, and even HOTAS support which, full transparency, I didn’t even know existed until I Googled it. Preferably, I felt the Mouse & Keyboard controls to be somewhat easier to manage, even though I was still horrible.
When you pitch your Comanche to the left, you’re going left until you reorient yourself. Accidentally pitch too far to the right and you’re headed straight into a cliff. For my first couple of hours I’m sure I looked like a drunk hippo piloting this thing. And then I tried combat. The Missile lock on was my best friend. It allowed me to actually blow things up without having to aim at them, which Comanche allows you to do with your mounted machine gun. Holding the Shift key allows you to freely look around, which also aims your gun. Oh, but you still have to fly, also. So imagine me, a drunk hippo, also trying to aim a rapid-fire machine gun at a moving target.
The easiest, and in my opinion the coolest, thing to control in this game is the remote aerial combat drone that flies along with you. Not only does it shoot things, but you can also use it to investigate points of interest, collect loot from crashed enemies, and interact with a multitude of objects around the map.
Aesthetics & Sound
This game is GORGEOUS. NUKLEAR did an amazing job with the graphics of Comanche and created a beautiful vista to fill with smoldering warships and helicopters. Being in early access, NUKLEAR has done an impressive job with the look and feel of its environments, and I believe they are only going to get better. Currently, however, there is not much customization to be had with these settings aside from the three options of Good, Better, & Best provided. Again, with as much work as NUKLEAR has put in so far with the graphics, more is definitely to come. As far as the audio, I’m happy to report it isn’t as loud as a real-life helicopter. That would have been a little too immersive. Everything else is spot on. There’s something special about the sounds of missiles bursting from your helicopter followed by that euphoric low bass boom of a confirmed hit.
Summary
Comanche by NUKLEAR is an early access Helicopter flight sim that still feels early access in its current state. The Single Player campaign is a short, multistage mission, which feels more like a longer tutorial to get you prepared for the multiplayer. Even though the real action is in the multiplayer, it takes a while to get queued up in a lobby, which will improve as more people get their hands on the game. Aside from this, the controls and graphics are really where this game shines. Although there is a steep learning curve, there is an appreciation for how much realism went into crafting these controls. Once you do get the hang of flying, you feel like you’ve actually learned a transferable skill. Though I hope I’m never in the position where I have to pilot my own attack helicopter, if the situation arises, I feel a bit more prepared for it.
Check Out the Comanche Steam Early Access Trailer:
Comanche is available for $19.99 for Windows PC via Steam Early Access.
As the (self-proclaimed) King of Casuals, I'm always seeking out new titles to play and experience across all platforms. Eventually, I have ambitions to take the many different styles of this medium to create titles that will wow the masses in fresh, innovative ways.
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