Comanche (video game series)

2025-01-25T16:58:16Z

176.63.91.12: /* Games */ added timeline

{{for|alternate meanings|Comanche (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox video game series
| title = Comanche
| image = Comanche CD cover.jpg
| caption = Cover art for ''Comanche CD''
| developer = [[Novalogic]]
| publisher = Novalogic, [[THQ Nordic]]
| genre = [[Combat flight simulation game|Combat flight simulation]]
| spinoffs =
}}
'''''Comanche''''' is a series of simulation games published by [[NovaLogic]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/companies/novalogic|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120915103633/http://www.ign.com/companies/novalogic|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 15, 2012|title=NovaLogic Games|website=[[IGN]]}}</ref> later [[THQ Nordic]] after their acquisition. The goal of each of these games is to fly military missions in a [[Boeing-Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche|RAH-66 Comanche]] [[attack helicopter]], which was in development and prototyping at the time of release.

''Comanche'' was the first commercial flight simulation based on [[Voxel|voxel technology]] via the company's proprietary [[Voxel Space]] engine (written entirely in [[assembly language]]). This rendering technique allowed for much more detailed and realistic terrain compared to simulations based on vector graphics at that time.<ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20131113094653/http://www.codermind.com/articles/Voxel-terrain-engine-building-the-terrain.html Voxel terrain engine]", introduction. In a coder's mind, 2005 (archived 2013).</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://github.com/s-macke/VoxelSpace|title=Voxel Space - terrain rendering in less than 20 lines of code|website=GitHub|accessdate=2017-09-24}}</ref>

==Games==
{{Timeline of release years
| compressempty = yes
| title = Releases timeline
| 1992 = ''[[Comanche: Maximum Overkill]]''
| 1993a = ''Comanche: Global Challenge''
| 1993b = ''Comanche: Over the Edge''
| 1994 = ''Comanche CD''
| 1995 = ''[[Werewolf vs Comanche]]''
| 1996 = ''Comanche 2''
| 1997 = ''[[Comanche 3]]''
| 1998 = ''Comanche Gold''
| 2001 = ''[[Comanche 4]]''
| 2021 = ''Comanche''
}}

Throughout the years, several games and add-ons have been published:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mobygames.com/game/comanche-gold|title=Comanche Gold for Windows 98 - MobyGames|website=[[Mobygames]]}}</ref>
*''[[Comanche: Maximum Overkill]]'' (1992)
**''Comanche: Global Challenge'' (1993) - three new campaigns
**''Comanche: Over the Edge'' (1993) - four new campaigns
**''Comanche CD'' (1994) - a compilation of ''Maximum Overkill'' and mission disks, plus 10 bonus missions. Rereleased in 1997 from [[SoftKey]] As Comanche CD Special Edition. Includes a demo of America Online, and features Windows 95 compatibility.
*''[[Werewolf vs Comanche]]'' (1995) - a pack of two games with a compatible multiplayer mode
**''Comanche 2'' (1996) - the stand-alone release of the Comanche portion of ''Werewolf vs. Comanche''.
*''[[Comanche 3]]'' (1997)
**''Comanche Gold'' (1998) - ''Comanche 3'' with additional campaigns and various enhancements
*''[[Comanche 4]]''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.novalogic.com/games.asp?GameKey=C4 |title=Comanche 4 - Novalogic|website=novalogic.com|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100202124914/http://www.novalogic.com/games.asp?GameKey=C4|archivedate=2010-02-02}}</ref> (2001)
* ''Comanche'' (2021) - set in the near-future. [[Early access]] version was released on Steam on 12 March 2020<ref>{{Cite web|title=COMANCHE starts into Early Access today|url=https://www.thqnordic.com/article/comanche-starts-early-access-today|website=thqnordic.com|access-date=2023-01-19}}</ref> 1.0 release was on 26 August 2021.<ref>{{cite web |title=Comanche - Release Trailer|url=https://www.facebook.com/comanchegame/videos/comanche-release-trailer/367081178419876/|website=[[Facebook]] |access-date=19 January 2023 |date=26 August 2021 }}</ref> The game was developed by Nukklear before early access release and then by Ashborne Games.<ref>{{cite web |title=Projects |url=https://nukklear.com/projects |website=Nukklear |access-date=20 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220119021706/https://nukklear.com/projects |archive-date=19 January 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Games|url=https://ashbornegames.com/games |website=Ashborne Games |access-date=20 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210724125828/https://ashbornegames.com/games |archive-date=24 July 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Reception==
''[[Computer Gaming World]]''{{'}}s reviewer—[[United States Army Aviation]] [[AH-64]] pilot Bryan Walker—liked ''Comanche Maximum Overkill'' in 1993, calling it an "eye-popping glimpse into 21st-century helicopter warfare". He stated that it created a "more believable terrain model than the Army's Combat Mission Simulator" and was the first game to replicate "the thrill of low-altitude flying". Walker enjoyed the flight model's stability and ease of use, and reported that the cockpit corresponded to [[MANPRINT]] ("Manpower and Personnel Integration") principles. He compared the helicopter's handling as akin to "a slug ... joystick jocks may end up gritting their teeth", and also criticized the "meager" choice of missions and enemy targets, and the unrealistically high durability and weapon loads. Walker nonetheless concluded that "cutting-edge graphics firepower gives [it] the edge to sweep more than a couple of competitors off the battlefield".<ref>{{cite magazine | url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1993&pub=2&id=104 | title=NovaLogic's Comanche Maximum Overkill | magazine=Computer Gaming World | date=March 1993 | accessdate=6 July 2014 | author=Walker, Bryan | pages=124}}</ref>

In 1993 Walker reviewed ''Mission Disk One'' for the magazine, stating that he "honestly expected more from an [[expansion pack|add-on disk]] that retails for $40". He criticized the lack of improvement in the flight model ("''CMO''{{'}}s Comanche still flies like [[Barney Fife]] is at the controls"), and concluded that it "is like refueling a gunship without rearming it".<ref>{{cite magazine | url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1993&pub=2&id=109 | title=NovaLogic's Comanche Maximum Overkill Mission Disk One | magazine=Computer Gaming World | date=August 1993 | accessdate=12 July 2014 | author=Walker, Bryan | pages=134}}</ref> In 1994 Walker liked the harder difficulty of the ''Over the Edge'' mission disk's "40 tough new missions", as well as the improved graphics and controls. He concluded that the expansion "clearly shows the superiority of the new features and makes for a far more enjoyable game". Walker also liked the ''Comanche CD'' compilation but only recommended it to those new to the game or without the expansions. He reiterated, however, that "many of the limitations I noted in my review of the original ''CMO'' are still present ... it would be nice to see NovaLogic produce a chopper title on par with ''[[Falcon 3.0]]'' in the technical realism arena".<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Walker |first=Bryan |date=February 1994 |title=More Than Apache |url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1994&pub=2&id=115 |magazine=Computer Gaming World |page=50}}</ref>

A reviewer for ''[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]'' opined that "For pure multiplayer action, ''Werewolf vs. Comanche'' is hard to beat." He noted that because the two crafts are on separate discs, gamers only needed to buy half as many copies of the game as the number of players in a networked session. He scored it four out of five stars.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Werewolf vs. Comanche|magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|issue=13 |publisher=[[Imagine Media]] |date=January 1996|page=164}}</ref>

''Comanche Maximum Overdrive'' was nominated for an award at the 1993 [[Game Developers Conference]].<ref>{{cite magazine | url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1993&pub=2&id=108 | title=The 7th International Computer Game Developers Conference | magazine=Computer Gaming World | date=July 1993 | accessdate=12 July 2014 | pages=34}}</ref>

The overall ''Comanche'' series achieved combined global sales of 2.5 million copies by November 2001, before the release of ''Comanche 4''.<ref>{{cite press release | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20021211134521/http://www.novalogic.com/Company/pressreleases/pr_20011107.htm | url=http://www.novalogic.com:80/Company/pressreleases/pr_20011107.htm | title='Shooter in the Sky' Goes Gold! | date=November 7, 2001 | publisher=[[NovaLogic]] | archivedate=December 11, 2002 | location=[[Calabasas, California]] | url-status=dead | access-date=July 7, 2019 }}</ref>

''Comanche Mac'' received 4 out of 5 stars from ''[[MacUser]]''.<ref>{{cite web | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20010221150442/http://macuser.zdnet.com/mu_0796/personal/gameroom.html | url=http://macuser.zdnet.com:80/mu_0796/personal/gameroom.html | title=The Game Room | author=LeVitus, Bob | date=July 1997 | work=[[MacUser]] | archivedate=February 21, 2001 | url-status=dead | access-date=July 7, 2019 }}</ref> In 1995, [[Flux (magazine)|Flux]] magazine ranked Comanche 18th on their Top 100 Video Games. They praised the game calling it: "One of the most graphically pleasing flight sims around."<ref>{{Cite journal |date=April 1995 |title=Top 100 Video Games |url=https://archive.org/details/flux-issue-4/page/n25/mode/2up |journal=Flux |publisher=Harris Publications |issue=4 |pages=27}}</ref>

==See also==
*''[[LHX Attack Chopper]]''
*''[[G-Police]]''
*''[[Enemy Engaged: RAH-66 Comanche vs. KA-52 Hokum]]''
*[[Strike (video game series)|''Strike'' (series)]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://comanchegame.com/ Official website for the 2021 game]
*{{moby game|id=-group/comanche-series|name=The ''Comanche'' series}}

{{NovaLogic}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Comanche Series}}
[[Category:Helicopter video games]]
[[Category:Video game franchises introduced in 1992]]
[[Category:Video games developed in the United States]]
[[Category:Combat flight simulators]]
[[Category:Assembly language software]]
[[Category:Embracer Group franchises]]
[[Category:NovaLogic games]]

Vero - Wikipedia - User contributions [en]

Comanche (video game series)