Subject:
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Review of 8450 - Mission
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.reviews
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Date:
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Mon, 22 Nov 1999 12:08:37 GMT
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Viewed:
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1456 times
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8450 is marketed as a Cybermaster expansion, although you can use it
without the CM too. (It would perhaps be interesting to see if you can
convert the models to use the rcx.)
Instructions for all the models come _only_ on the CD, which is
multilingual (Danish, Dutch, English, German and French). The CD also
contains software to be used with some of the (Cybermaster) models, more
on this later.
The 'main' model is a sleek black and cyan VTOL plane. It looks really
good, IMHO, and is very swooshable. It comes with a variety of
attachments for search and rescue type missions: A winch, a dropper for
light beacons, a claw and a drill. The claw and especially the drill are
perhaps somewhat tacky, but the winch and the beacon dropper are very
nice. Technical functions for this model are kinda limited: The cockpit,
which is sized for a technic figure, can open and close, the wings (with
engines) can turn between horizontal and vertical positions, and the
undercarriage can fold out. The wings and undercarriage are linked
(either wings vertical and undercarriage out (to land) or wings
horizontal and undercarriage folded in (to fly)) and the mechanism
contains one of these new dampened spring cylinders. All in all a very
nice model.
There are also some smaller models, such as a hangglider, and some
semi-finished ones, such as a helicopter. I haven't built these yet, but
they look reasonably nice. There is also a large number of ideas for
other vehicles and such.
Then there's the cybermaster models. (For which, of course, you need the
cybermaster set. I have it, so it may be that these options are not
accessible from the software if you don't have the CM software
installed.)
First of all, you can CM-ify the plane. This uses two sensors. The
default program for this is when you pick up the plane it goes into
flight mode and when you push another sensor it slowly switches to
landing mode. Great play value, I'd think. There is a programming
environment, which seems to be specific to this model: You drag icons
for what function of the plane to use next onto lines representing the
sensors. Quite simple and intuitive.
The most interesting CM-ified model is a bomb transportation vehicle. It
uses the big threads from the CM set, and has a 'reinforced' cabin. On
the back, there is a mount for a bomb to transport. There are two kinds
of bombs, one of which swings more freely than the other. There is also
a sensor that these bombs can bump into. The included game, then, works
basically this way that you get to build an obstacle course and try to
drive all the way through it without bumping the bomb too much, as this
would cause it to explode. Lots of settings to try out, design your own
obstacle courses, ideas for obstacles, the lot. Sounds like a very
interesting game, definitely something I will try.
There are also two completely computer based games included: One pacman
variant (the ghosts are computer viruses and multiply) and one
shoot-em-up (aliens(?) walking on platforms, hiding behind technic
constructions). These apparently sometimes happen as interruptions in
the bomb-transportation missions above.
Also, you can practice these games, and you can use them in your own
rescue missions with the plane: Think of some rescue mission, click go,
and start the rescue attempt. After some random time, one of the two
games will start, and you will have to make an emergency landing with
your plane, and try to win the game.
Overall, it is a quite good set, say, 4 out of 5 studs. The plane looks
good, the bomb transportation vehicle and game look extremely
interesting. There is also a good selection of other models and ideas.
The programming environment is, unfortunately, limited to the plane.
Parts wise, there seemed to be a good selection of parts, but perhaps
not as many as you'd want (hey, you always want more, right?). This is a
set that will give you many hours of play time.
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