Armoured Fist 3 - PC Games

Thanks to using the two combinations of keys normally reserved for 3D shooting games (cursor for movement and WSAD for aiming the turret) control is easily mastered and if the 18 enclosed missions seem like a piece of cake to you, then the enclosed mission editor will help you create your own to keep you interested. But the first one, an escort mission, is a straightforward convoy escort and gives a painless introduction. It's entertaining, and the different terrain and weather patterns give the game variety--it's as if MechWarrior games are being played out with present day weaponary. It's another game with a keyboard overlay which does help.

The online option is purported to link up to the later Comanche trilogy (no.4 onwards) and as long as all the Novaworld-supported games can link up, then this gives the game a whole new lease of life. Whether online or alone, AF3 is good, with the only downside being that Novalogic's support of human, helicopter, tank and jet combat means you tend to pick your weapon and stick to it. --Kenneth Henry

Amazon.co.uk Review
From the squad-based battles of Delta Force 2 to the helicopter combat of Comanche and air warfare of F-22 Lightning, Novalogic continues to craft war games that tend to offer more in the way of action than simulation. Armoured Fist 3, the third title in their tank game series, continues that tradition.

In Armoured Fist 3, players command M1A2 Abrams tanks across four campaigns that encompass more than 50 missions of tank combat. A well-designed interface simplifies the often-complex game situations; still, prepare to memorise many keyboard functions, including ones for launching smoke grenades, calling air support and operating the GPS.

Once players complete the single-player game, Novalogic's online service, Novaworld, offers multi-player competition (up to 32 players) that allows players to use microphones so they can transmit voice commands to their team mates. Also, a full-featured mission editor lets them create custom battles and share them with fellow Armoured Fist 3 players.

Perhaps the biggest gripe with Armoured Fist 3 is Novalogic's Voxel Space 32 engine, which eschews the use of the latest 3-D accelerators. Though the software engine supports a dazzling 16 million colours, you'll need at least the minimum requirements just to play at an enjoyable speed, and a much more powerful machine to enjoy Armoured Fist 3 at the highest graphical detail. --Doug Radcliffe