Wing Commander IV

As this smash PC hit continues on the PlayStation, the epic war between the Terrans and Kilrathis has concluded, but unrest is springing up on Confederation worlds. Colonel Blair returns to help rescue the waning Confederation, but finds that internal corruption is causing all the trouble. From there, WCIV takes off with the series' usual blend of Hollywood-quality live-video storytelling, which stars well-known actors like Mark Hamill and Malcolm McDowell, and real-time outer-space combat from the cockpit of your fighter.

Wing Commander IV: The Price of Freedom does a workmanlike job of converting the PC game for PlayStation duty, but it's not for impatient, twitch-o-centric space aces. As you might expect from a four-CD game, Wing's packed with entertaining belt lengthy video sequences. Moreover, numerous data loads ioticeably break up the action.

There's a good assortment of missions, which include deploying space commandos, intercepting base ships, and flying spy missions--all the while engaging in good ol' dogfights. It's a grand space epic, but unfortunately the actual combat's dry.

The dogfights feature sweaty chase-and-be-chased intensity, but they're chaotic, even though enemy ships are few. Bogeys are as tough to track as runaway meteorites, and you rarely get a good look at them.

The graphics and sounds are a treat. The story cinemas and animated sequences are outstanding, but the gameplay visuals rely a little too much on radar blips. The macho dialogue drives energy into the joices, and with a Prologic sound system, the Dolby Surround is very cool.

Wing Commander IV presents an engaging story. With more interesting enemy encounters, this game could have taken wing.

The bloody battle between the Kilrathi and the Terrans is finally over - but the action isn't. When civil war breaks out on the home front, Colonel Blair has to save the day. This newest adventure in the classic series features an all-star cast (including Mark Hamill and Malcolm McDowell), enhanced movie-quality graphics (including photorealistic fighters), digital music, and of course a complex and absorbing story line that combines simulation and adventure gameplay.

The battle with the Kilrathi is over, but civil wars and unrest have broken out on the homefront. As Colonel Blair, you return to Terra to calm things down.

The improvements in the latest WC saga are highlighted by photorealistic fighters and movie-quality cinematics. Origin also promises improved player interactivity both in and out of the cockpit. This big-budget game stars Mark Hamill and Malcolm McDowell.

After the successful translation of the PC hit. Wing Commander III to the Sony PlayStation, Origin will be bringing the latest chapter in the Wing Commander saga to the 32-Bit powerhouse. Wing Commander IV. like the previous title, originated on the computers. If you have played WC3. you should be familiar with the play mechanics of part four. The game features the same fast-paced space combat of the original games, but with many enhancements to the game engine to make it better. In order to continue the Wing Commander story, the game features extensive use of full-motion video between missions to keep the story moving along. The FMV features big-name actors to give the game a more "Hollywood" feel. Among the stars returning from WC3 are Mark Ham ill Costar Wars) and Malcolm McDowell (A Clockwork Orange). Their acting talents lend a lot to the game and make you want to continue playing so that you can see more of the epic story. Fans of flight sims or space shooting games should he looking forward to Wing Commander IV, which should definitely be one of the best of the genre to he made available on the PlayStation.