What is Apache Longbow?

Helicopters are generally harder to fly than airplanes, but not so in Apache, Interactive Magic’s latest flight sim. As a matter of fact, the flight model is probably the weakest point in an otherwise excellent sim.

Apache leans more toward arcade than the realism of ParSoft Interactive’s A-10 Cuba!, with more shoot-’em-up action than in Graphic Simulations’ F/A-18 Hornet. What Apache lacks in a flight model, though, it makes up for in weaponry. Hellfire, Hydra, Stingers, and a chain gun mixed with laser designation, heads-up displays, and countermeasures make for fast-paced, complex fighting.

The game has two modes — arcade and realistic. In the first, your chopper is easier to fly (and practically impossible to crash), but the enemy is just as deadly. In realistic mode you have full aerobatic control and can fly loops and rolls, or anything a real Apache can do. Full heads-up displays are in both modes as well as internal, external, and missile-in-flight views.

One of Apache’s unique features allows two to fly in the same hehcopter via modem or network — one pilot and one gunner, just like the real Apache. Or two Apaches fly together against the enemy, or in head-to-head combat. On a network up to 16 people can get a piece of the action.

Stability is good but not great, and more Mac-like dialogs and docs would also be nice — the interface is more Win95 than Win95 itself. The manual’s loaded with acronyms, too, which is good for realism but makes for a stiff learning curve. These minor issues aside, the final word is fun. Apache is a good shoot-’em-up and complex enough to keep any pilot on his or her toes.

Boylan, T. Kelley. (January 1997). Apache. MacAddict. (pg. 82).

Download Apache Longbow for Mac

Architecture

IBM PowerPC

System Requirements

From Mac OS 7.5 up to Mac OS 9.2

Compatibility notes

Minimum Requirements

• PowerPC processor
• 25 MB RAM
• 12 MB hard disk available
• CD-ROM drive
• System 7.5

Emulating this? It could probably run under: SheepShaver