Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Tower places you squarely in the control room of an airport, tasking you with the safe passage of arriving and departing aircraft. Your primary interface is a text-based console that reports every aircraft’s call sign, altitude, heading, and intentions. Meanwhile, you’ll listen in on the radio chatter to confirm inbound clearances, altitude changes, runway assignments, and potential conflicts. Every command you issue—from “maintain heading” to “hold pattern” or “cleared to land”—must be precise and timely, or you risk runway incursions and, in the worst-case scenario, collisions.

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The challenge scales beautifully across three airports of increasing complexity, culminating with O’Hare in Chicago—one of the busiest hubs in the world. You can customize each scenario by selecting the time of day, the number of runways in use, and even the traffic rate, handling up to 150 planes every two minutes. This flexibility means you can ease into the role or dive headlong into a frenetic, high-stress session that will test your multitasking abilities to the limit.

Managing priorities becomes a juggling act: you earn points for smooth operations but lose them for separation breaches or crashes. Accumulated points unlock perks such as controller‐of‐the‐month recognition, time off with pay, or a paycheck bonus—small but satisfying rewards that reinforce your growth as a virtual air traffic controller. For those seeking cooperative play, Tower even supports multiplayer via modem or null-modem cable in conjunction with Microsoft Flight Simulator v5.1, letting a second player take on the role of pilot approaching your airfield.

Graphics

Visually, Tower offers a fully 3D, 360-degree panoramic view from the control tower, allowing you to rotate and zoom around the airfield. While the polygonal aircraft and runway layouts may feel dated by modern standards, the clarity of each model and the distinct color schemes for different airlines remain effective for quickly identifying targets on your runways. Switching to the binocular or tracking display provides a closer look at individual planes, which is essential when confirming tail numbers or runway assignments.

The user interface is functional rather than flashy: a compass rose, wind gauges, a digital clock, and a panel of shortcut buttons line the bottom of the screen. These instruments are intuitive, giving you at-a-glance data to make split-second decisions. The Airport Surface Detection Equipment (ASDE) view is particularly helpful in low-visibility or night scenarios, highlighting potential ground conflicts in bright, contrasting colors.

Lighting effects, such as runway approach lights and taxiway beacons, perform double duty by enhancing immersion and reinforcing realism. Whether you’re guiding flights during a dawn arrival or fending off a late-night thunderstorm, the combination of visual cues and ambient runway sounds makes you feel like you’re truly on the tower floor, headset snug and eyes glued to multiple displays.

Story

While Tower doesn’t feature a traditional narrative, it crafts its own emergent stories through scenario progression. Starting at a modest regional airport and eventually tackling O’Hare’s maze of runways, you’ll experience the satisfaction of small victories—clearing a complex landing sequence—and the tension of near misses. Each workload increase feels like a chapter in your controller career.

The game loosely follows real-world aviation regulations, adhering to FAA and Transport Canada rules, which adds a layer of authenticity to your “career.” As you advance, you accumulate accolades—controller-of-the-month titles, extra paid time off, or bonus paychecks—that serve as milestones in your personal narrative arc. These rewards aren’t merely cosmetic; they reward efficient, conflict-free operations and encourage you to refine your skills.

Multiplayer sessions introduce another dimension to the unfolding story. Handing off communication to a human pilot in Flight Simulator can lead to unpredictable moments—an approach gone awry or a sudden go-around order—creating memorable high-stakes drama. In this way, Tower weaves together the routine and the unexpected, making every play session feel unique.

Overall Experience

Tower excels at immersing players in the high-pressure, detail-oriented world of air traffic control. Its steep learning curve is matched by a deeply rewarding feedback loop: the more accurate and timely your commands, the smoother the traffic flow and the higher your perks. The combination of text-based data, radio chatter, and multiple visual displays creates a multi-sensory puzzle that aviation enthusiasts will relish.

Although the graphics and UI may feel dated compared to modern simulators, the core gameplay remains compelling. You’re not simply watching planes land; you’re orchestrating an intricate dance of metal birds, each with its own schedule, speed, and quirks. The scenario customization—from traffic density to runway count—ensures that you can tailor each session to your skill level and mood.

Ultimately, Tower stands out as a niche simulation that delivers on its promise: becoming an air traffic controller without leaving your desk. Whether you’re a casual player intrigued by the challenge or a hardcore sim veteran seeking an all-consuming management experience, this title offers hours of intellectually stimulating gameplay. Just be prepared for the occasional heart-thumping moment when two approaching jets suddenly converge on the same runway—an adrenaline rush that only air traffic control can provide.

Retro Replay Score

null/10