|
PSP
Airport Hero Narita
- New Import |
 |
 |
|
|
 |
NCS
Game Synopsis
«©NCSX»
In the 1999 movie, Pushing Tin, Billy Bob Thornton
and John Cusack played dueling air traffic
controllers. Cusack's Nick Falzone fueled conflict
against Thornton's half-Choctaw Russell Bell.
Despite their battles and bouts of inner turmoil,
both had the ability to visualize 3D airspace and
guide streams of planes to and fro without having
them crash into each other.
Airport Hero Narita is sort of like Pushing Tin
except the scope of your responsibilities go far
beyond what the two cowboys had control over. In
addition to keeping a watchful eye on all of the air
traffic around Narita Airport in Tokyo, players also
direct planes to start their descent, prepare to
land, taxi to a runway, depart, and maintain
speed/altitude. Due to the critical decisions that
are heaped upon the player's shoulders, one must
keep track of all the planes and spatial dimensions
around Narita airport to avoid any dangerous
situations that might lead to disastrous
consequences. As planes approach and depart from
Narita airport, one has to issue timely commands to
ensure smooth traffic patterns.
The Operation Mode of the game is the day-to-day
business of being an air traffic controller while a
Challenge Mode introduces various dangers to the
routine including inclement weather and mechanical
difficulties on a plane which require an emergency
landing. Before diving into the job, a Tutorial Mode
teaches the basic controls and the scope of an air
traffic controller's duties.
|
|
|
NCS Game Notes
» As commands are issued, electronically
transmitted voices may be heard as pilots answer in
the affirmative and let loose with little snippets
of radio chatter requests. Pilots may say such
things as, "Request Taxi" or "Request Pushback
Information" while the tower may reply with "Cleared
for Takeoff" or "Good Day."
» When planes enter your tower's sphere of
influence, they'll appear in the Arrival or
Departure columns located on the lower left corner
of the screen. Once they are identified, give them
instructions on which runway to land and where to
take off respectively. Once a large number of planes
are under your guidance, the game gets exciting and
very stressful. If you botch a command, you'll hear
audible boos from an unseen crowd.
» If you botch the directions, planes may have near
misses on the runway as well as in mid-air. If two
planes crash or get into a "Head-On" situation, your
job is immediately terminated and the game ends.
» Operation Mode features six stages which
progressively scale in difficulty from beginner to
outright hero. Challenge Mode also features six
stages with scenarios such as bad weather, low
visibility, and emergency landings.
» The clouds overhead are a mixture of fluffy white
wisps as well as darker clouds which seem to
threaten rain.
» The sound effects of the jets as they whine
through the air, scrape their tires against the
runway, and whoosh upon departure are fairly
realistic.
» Three camera perspectives may be toggled by
tapping the R-Trigger: Plane Cam, Tower Cam, and
Runway Cam.
» Airport Hero Narita requires PSP firmware v2.6 in
order to run. The full name of the game is: Boku Wa
Koukuu Kanseikan: Airport Hero Narita
Conclusion
Airport Hero Narita offers a rare chance at operating an
airport tower and the game is beautifully done.
Although there's a good amount of Japanese, there's
also English in the game to make it slightly more
import-friendly than the average Japanese simulator.
When we first imported the game, NCS staffers would
spend hours upon hours directing air traffic and
learning the ways of pushing tin. Highly
recommended.
|
|
This document and photos are ©NCSX 2006. All rights reserved. No
reproduction in whole or in part of this document
may be made without express written consent of
National Console Support, Inc.
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
