3: Knights of the Sky

Number 3
(276.2 points)
Knights of the Sky
1992: 9 (18.4)
1993: 9 (36.8)
1994: 7 (56.4)
1995: 9 (73.6)
1996: 10 (91.0)

A consistent top-ten entry in the list from the moment of its release, that consistency has seen it climb almost to the summit of my own list. Strap in and enjoy those magnificent men in their flying machines.

Set during World War I, it's a dogfighting simulator in the same vein as Their Finest Hour. You take control of several WWI-era fighter planes, mostly shooting other planes with your machine gun, which has a tendency to jam. You can also drop bombs on targets when necessary, which is difficult since you can't see directly below your plane. The 3D action is improved greatly when run on a faster Amiga, and since you're flying the most primitive of aircraft, the complexity is kept to a minimum.

I'm a little surprised that Their Finest Hour was never picked again after 1991, but it's probably because of this game. No missiles and radars, just you and your machine gun and your bare eyes. Personally, I'm not sure which of those two WWI flight sims I prefer, but clearly the Amiga Power guys like this one. I'm genuinely amazed to see it so high in this list, but you can't argue with maths. If you want to play it, I'd try it in WinUAE with an uncapped processor speed, it makes the game super smooth and a bit more enjoyable.

Recommended TOSEC disk(s):
Knights of the Sky (1993)(Kixx XL)(Disk 1 of 2)[cr DCS]
Knights of the Sky (1993)(Kixx XL)(Disk 2 of 2)[cr DCS]