Software:Jane's ATF: Advanced Tactical Fighters

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Jane's ATF: Advanced Tactical Fighters
Jane's ATF cover.png
Developer(s)Electronic Arts
Publisher(s)Electronic Arts
SeriesJane's Combat Simulations
Platform(s)DOS, Windows
Release1996 (DOS)
April 2, 1997 (Windows)[1]
Genre(s)Combat flight simulator
Mode(s)Single-player, Multiplayer

Jane's ATF: Advanced Tactical Fighters is a 1996 combat flight simulator developed and published by Electronic Arts for DOS. It is part of the Jane's Combat Simulations franchise. An expansion pack, NATO Fighters, was released in 1996. A compilation package, Advanced Tactical Fighters Gold, was released in 1997 for Microsoft Windows.

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
CGW4/5 stars[3]
GameSpot7.7/10[4]
Next Generation4/5 stars[5]
PC Gamer (US)90%[2]
PC GamesB[6]

In Computer Gaming World, Denny Atkin praised the game and its features, but complained for lacking multiplayer mode.[3] Steve Wartofsky called ATF an "evolutionary rather than revolutionary step" for Jane's Combat Simulations, but argued that it set the standard for its genre. While he found its graphics to be a "mixed bag", he enjoyed the game overall, and highlighted its encyclopedia as its best feature.[7]

Writing for PC Gamer US, Dan Bennett called ATF as a solid, good-looking sim, but found the game to be overly difficult.[2]

Next Generation reviewed the PC version of the game positively and recommended it for flight sim fans.[5]

In 1996, the editors of Computer Gaming World nominated ATF for their "Simulation of the Year" award, which ultimately went to EF2000. They wrote that ATF "makes up for its aging engine by providing the best multiplayer environment of any modern sim".[8] It was also a nominee for the Computer Game Developers Conference's 1996 "Best Simulation Game" Spotlight Award,[9] but lost the prize to MechWarrior 2.[10]

The expansion, NATO Fighters, received 7.8 out of 10 from T. Liam McDonald of GameSpot who called it "[...] a must, as it expands considerably on the original program and doubles its play life."[11]

References

  1. "Electronic Arts Ships Advanced Tactical Fighters Gold and Longbow Gold for Windows 95; Latest Offerings From Jane's Combat Simulations Brand Add Technology Upgrades, Internet Play and New Missions". April 2, 1997. Archived from the original on December 6, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151206051737/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Electronic+Arts+Ships+Advanced+Tactical+Fighters+Gold+and+Longbow...-a019267776. Retrieved August 11, 2021. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 Bennett, Dan (June 1996). "Advanced Tactical Fighters". PC Gamer US. http://www.pcgamer.com:80/reviews/159.html. 
  3. 3.0 3.1 Atkin, Denny (June 1996). "Plane Jane's". Computer Gaming World (143): 150, 152. 
  4. McDonald, T. Liam (23 May 1996). "Advanced Tactical Fighters Review for PC". CBS Interactive. http://www.gamespot.com/pc/sim/advancedtacticalfighters/review.html. 
  5. 5.0 5.1 "Finals". Next Generation (Imagine Media) (19): 83. July 1996. 
  6. Lukban, Anthony (May 1996). "Advanced Tactical Fighter". PC Games. http://www.pcgamesmag.com:80/games/May96/tactic596.html. Retrieved January 31, 2020. 
  7. Wartofsky, Steve. "Jane's Advanced Tactical Fighter". Computer Games Strategy Plus. http://www.cdmag.com:80/articles/006/025/atf_review.html. 
  8. Staff (June 1996). "The Computer Gaming World 1996 Premier Awards". Computer Gaming World (143): 55, 56, 58, 60, 62, 64, 66, 67. 
  9. Staff (April 15, 1997). "And the Nominees Are...". Next Generation. http://www.next-generation.com:80/news/041597e.chtml. 
  10. "Spotlight Awards Winners Announced for Best Computer Games of 1996" (Press release). Santa Clara, California: Game Developers Conference. April 28, 1997. Archived from the original on July 3, 2011.
  11. McDonald, T. Liam (17 October 1996). "ATF NATO Fighters - GameSpot Review". Fandom. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/atf-nato-fighters-review/1900-2565938/.