Airport Simulator 2014 is the latest addition to UiG’s Airport Simulator series. This release includes more content and challenges than its predecessors. Airport Simulator 2014 is more than just micromanaging a bunch of menus and babysitting a status screen; it requires you to get your hands dirty.
You have to accomplish every task manually at the beginning of the game. You can micromanage these tasks via the Management Menu much later in the game. This menu can be accessed anytime, whether you are in the control tower or on a vehicle.
You can upgrade the terminals from the Management Menu when there are no active airplanes docked at the terminal. Each terminal gate has eleven stations, and these can be upgraded to level 3. Once a terminal is upgraded, a worker is assigned to help with the work load. This process is repeated for every terminal that is upgraded. Any money that is earned from servicing the Airliners can be used to hire additional staff that will work on mundane tasks.
The real fun begins when you start juggling multiple Airliners. Every task has its own set of requirements that must be met. Speed is important when servicing an airline, especially if you want to be successful at it. Service objectives are based on a timer that counts down as you work. Once the job timer enters the ‘negative’, you are considered ‘behind’ on the job. Completing tasks in a timely fashion will earn you more money and a better reputation.
Not all tasks are equal; some require vehicles such as refueling trucks, which are located at the other end of the airport. These require a lot of time to retrieve. Managing your time is vital to servicing airliners. You will learn very quickly which tasks need to be completed first. Dealing with an airline manually can take upwards of 30 minutes to complete.
Airport Simulator 2014 is a very casual simulator that will have you glued to your computer chair for hours. Its gameplay is far less complex than most simulators, and it’s very easy to operate. Becoming familiar with all the different equipment on the airport runway is the enjoyable part. Vehicles such as the cleaning truck and the luggage vehicle both function differently. Not every aircraft requires the same tasks; some are cargo planes that must be unloaded.
As you progress through the game, you will end up controlling airports that are much larger than the last. These airports require more responsibility and include additional tasks. While the game is realistic, it doesn’t include accidents and/or catastrophes on the runway. While this feature is not necessary, it would have added to the game’s realism. Having the capability to control fire trucks and other rescue equipment would really help to elevate the overall atmosphere of the game.
Airport Simulator 2014 offers a dynamic weather system that changes on a whim; the weather can change from fair skies to cloudy and rainy within just a few minutes. Due to its unpredictable nature, the weather system would be a great way to introduce accidents to the runway.
Airport Simulator 2014 is the perfect simulator for the casual gamer. You can spend just a few hours playing and still feel like you have accomplished something. There were times when the game had some problems with crashes and glitches, but these issues were rectified by a recent patch/update via Steam.
With that said, Airport Simulator 2014 is a fun simulator that is very easy to play. Even gamers that have little experience with the genre will be maintaining airliners in no time.
James ‘Daripp3r’ Pittaro
Platform: PC
System Requirements
Minimum:
OS: Windows XP / 7 / Vista / 8
Processor: 2,4 GHz Pentium or 100% compatible CPU
Memory: 2 GB RAM
Graphics: Nvidia Geforce 6800GT, ATI Radeon HD 3650
DirectX: Version 9.0c
Hard Drive: 200 MB available space
Developer: United Independent Entertainment Gmbh
Publisher: United Independent Enterainment Gmbh
ESRB: N/A
Price: $14.99
Airport Simulator 2014’s Official Website
| Review Score | |
|---|---|
| Graphics |   |
| Highly detailed airliners fly in and out of your airport. The environments are massive and contain a great amount of detail. | |
| Sound | |
| All the sounds you would expect to hear at an airport, including elevator music. | |
| Gameplay | |
| T You can spend a few hours playing and still feel like you’ve accomplished something. | |
| Overall | |
|---|---|
| A casual simulator that caters to gamers of all skill levels. | |
