Where to get it

Steam

1998 · MicroProse · Flight simulation · Simulation

Falcon 4.0

Falcon 4.0 breaks the sight-and-sound barrier with its cutting-edge graphics, realism, dynamic campaigns and multiplayer gameplay.

Released: 12 December 1998
Platforms: Windows macOS
Genres: Flight simulation Simulation
Developers: MicroProse
Publishers: MicroProse
Series: Falcon
Modes: Multiplayer Single-player
Perspective: First person Third person
Country: United States
Age ratings: ESRB T USK 16 ACB G

About

Falcon 4.0 is a combat flight simulation video game developed by MicroProse's Alameda development studio and published by Hasbro Interactive under the MicroProse label in 1998. The game is based around a realistic simulation of the Block 50/52 F-16 Fighting Falcon jet fighter in a full-scale modern war set in the Korean Peninsula.

The game is the ultimate development in the Falcon series from Spectrum HoloByte that began in 1984. HoloByte had acquired MicroProse in 1993, and started using that name for all of its titles in 1996. After MicroProse was purchased by Hasbro, official development ended. In 2000, a source code leak allowed continued development of the game by members of the gaming community, including bug fixes and new campaigns.

Players say

Media

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Gameplay

The game's story begins in the early 1990s with North Korean forces invading South Korea. The United States deploys extensive support to the South, including military aircraft, armored forces, and naval vessels. The rest of the game plays out in response to the player's actions, potentially involving China and Russia. Japan has an airbase, but plays no role in the conflict itself. Because of the game's story content, which involves war in the Korean Peninsula, it was banned in South Korea until 2003.

Falcon 4.0's gameplay parallels actual fighter pilot combat operations. First, over 30 training scenarios acquaint the player with F-16 maneuvering, avionics operation, and various USAF protocols. After training, the player may start the primary gameplay mode in the campaign, which simulates participation in a modern war. Alternatively, the player may engage in dogfight mode, which provides an individual air engagement without any continuous context, or create what are effectively miniature campaigns, known as "Tactical Engagements".

Development

The game was in development since 1994. The game was originally designed and produced by Steve Blankenship and Gilman Louie and published under the MicroProse label. Though originally slated for a late 1996 release, the game ended up being rushed to market in order to make the 1998 Christmas selling season.

On 9 April 2000 a developer of the game leaked the source code of a Falcon 4.0 version between 1.07 and 1.08 on an FTP site. Kevin Klemmick later claimed responsibility for the leak.

Reception

In the United States, Falcon 4.0 sold 41,209 copies during 1998, after its release on 12 December of that year. These sales accounted for $1.85 million in revenue. By October 1999, its total sales in the region had risen to 116,776 copies, which drew revenues of $4.57 million. It sold 209,000 copies during 1999 alone.

Falcon 4.0 won Macworld's 1999 "Best Flight Simulation" award. PC Gamer US likewise named Falcon 4.0 the best simulation of 1998. The game was a finalist for Computer Gaming World's "Best Simulation", GameSpot's "Simulation of the Year", IGN's "Best Simulation of the Year" and Computer Games Strategy Plus's "Simulation Game of the Year" awards, all of which ultimately went to European Air War. The editors of Computer Games Strategy Plus called Falcon 4.0 "extremely impressive", while those of Computer Gaming World described it as a sim with unprecedented detail.