Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

AirCars delivers an intense, cockpit-based flight experience that blends fast-paced action with strategic objectives. From the moment you hop into your nuclear-powered AirCar, you’ll be juggling altitude, speed, and energy reserves as you navigate toward E.B.N.E.R.S. bases scattered around a post-holocaust Earth. The instrument panel is your lifeline: radar sweeps reveal enemy fighters and ground targets, while a simple menu system lets you select from missiles, lasers or EMP blasts at a moment’s notice.

(HEY YOU!! We hope you enjoy! We try not to run ads. So basically, this is a very expensive hobby running this site. Please consider joining us for updates, forums, and more. Network w/ us to make some cash or friends while retro gaming, and you can win some free retro games for posting. Okay, carry on 👍)

The single-player campaign asks you to infiltrate and destroy 28 known strongholds, with rumor of countless hidden outposts adding an air of mystery to each flight. Three difficulty settings—Rookie, Veteran, and Ace—ensure that both newcomers and hardened sim fans find an appropriate challenge. As you progress, enemy pilots grow more aggressive and ground defenses more lethal, demanding quick reflexes and a solid grasp of your weapon systems.

Where AirCars really shines is in its multiplayer modes. Plug in a JagLink for a head-to-head tussle or connect up to eight machines via ICD’s CatBoxes for large-scale dogfights that can become absolute chaos. Each player’s vehicle is color-coded on screen and radar, making friend or foe identification instant. Whether you’re staging a cooperative strike on a fortified base or battling rivals in an aerial free-for-all, the variety of modes keeps sessions fresh and endlessly replayable.

Graphics

For its era, AirCars boasts impressive true-3D environments rendered in surprisingly smooth polygons. Mountain ranges, ruined cities, and desert wastelands scroll beneath your cruiser with minimal slowdown, even when multiple fighters and missile trails fill the sky. Texture mapping isn’t a focus here—but the stark, angular geometry adds to the bleak, post-nuclear ambiance.

The cockpit view is both functional and immersive. Clear gauges, radar scopes, and weapon indicators are overlaid on your viewport without cluttering the action. Bright color-coding on the HUD helps you track enemy craft and allied positions at a glance. In multiplayer, these color distinctions carry over to the external world, making each player’s AirCar stand out amid the metallic haze.

Explosion effects and weapon trails are simplified by today’s standards but pack a satisfying punch. Rockets and lasers leave vivid streaks through the air, and ground demolitions light up nearby geometry in quick bursts of fiery orange. Overall, the graphics strike a solid balance between readability and visual flair, ensuring you always know what’s happening—even when the sky is thick with enemy fire.

Story

AirCars immerses you in a stark future where the remnants of humanity struggle beneath the shadow of E.B.N.E.R.S., a monolithic organization bent on global sovereignty. The backstory—revealed through briefings at the start and end of each level—frames your mission as a desperate bid for freedom. You’re not just dogfighting; you’re fighting for the survival of what’s left of civilization.

While there are no long cinematic sequences, the game uses its intermission screens and introductory music to build atmosphere. Each mission briefing highlights the enemy’s latest weapon or defense upgrade, making the next sortie feel urgent and personal. The sense of progression—from raiding isolated fuel depots to obliterating heavily fortified command centers—keeps you invested in the narrative arc.

The simple premise—steal plans, build your own AirCar, and bring down 28 E.B.N.E.R.S. bases—proves effective. You quickly understand why each target matters and how its destruction chips away at the villainous forcefield and teleportation network that threatens global annihilation. Even with minimal dialogue, the sense of purpose drives you forward through the toughest skirmishes and boss-style encounters.

Overall Experience

AirCars offers a compelling mix of arcade-style dogfighting and mission-based objectives that still holds up for retro flight fans. The cockpit instrumentation strikes a satisfying balance between realism and accessibility, letting you dive straight into the action without drowning in menus. Steering your AirCar through tight canyon passes and weaving between SAM sites never feels repetitive, thanks to varied landscapes and enemy formations.

Multiplayer remains a standout feature: few games of its time let eight players blow each other out of the sky in real time. Whether you’re coordinating a strike squad on a fortified base or staging a chaotic free-for-all, the mayhem is magnified by the game’s crisp 3D sound and optional computer voice alerts. Hook up a decent sound system, and you’ll hear every incoming missile whine and every explosion rumble with satisfying depth.

With its blend of high-octane combat, strategic base-raiding, and solid audiovisual presentation, AirCars is a worthwhile pick for anyone seeking a retro flight-sim challenge. It doesn’t rely on modern bells and whistles; instead, it offers straightforward, addictive gameplay that rewards quick thinking and precision. Whether you’re a nostalgic veteran or a newcomer curious about ’90s sim innovation, this title delivers an experience that’s both challenging and thoroughly entertaining.

Retro Replay Score

5.3/10