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{{For|U.S. military use of this term|United States Army Rangers}}
{{For|U.S. military use of this term|United States Army Rangers}}
{{Infobox video game
{{Infobox video game
|title=Airborne Ranger
|title = Airborne Ranger
|image=[[Image:Airborne Ranger Coverart.png]]
|image = Airborne Ranger Coverart.png
|caption = C64 cover art by Mark Freeman
⚫
|developer=[[MicroProse]]
|publisher=MicroProse
|developer = [[MicroProse]]
⚫
|publisher = MicroProse
|distributor=
|designer=Lawrence Schick
|designer = Lawrence Schick <br> Scott Spanburg <br> [[Bill Stealey]] (concept)
|artist = Iris Leigh Idokogi <br> Barbara Miller <br> Jackie Ross
|programmer=
⚫
|composer = Ken Lagace
|artist=
⚫
|platforms = [[Commodore 64]], [[MS-DOS]], [[Amstrad CPC]], [[ZX Spectrum]], [[Amiga]], [[Atari ST]]
⚫
|composer=
|released = '''1987:''' C64, Spectrum<br>'''1988:''' Amstrad, MS-DOS<br>'''1989:''' Atari ST, Amiga
|engine=
⚫
|genre = [[Action game|Action]]
⚫
|platforms=[[Amiga]], [[Amstrad CPC]], [[Atari ST]], [[Commodore 64]], [[MS-DOS]], [[ZX Spectrum]]
⚫
|modes = [[Single-player video game|Single-player]]
|released=1987-1989
⚫
|genre=[[Stealth-based game|Stealth]]
⚫
|modes=[[Single-player]]
|cpu=
|sound=
|display=
}}
}}


'''''Airborne Ranger''''' is a [[video game]] developed and released by [[MicroProse]] in 1987. The game is a relatively (for its era) realistic [[action game]] in which a sole [[United States Army Rangers|U.S. Army Ranger]] is sent to infiltrate the enemy territory to complete various objectives.
'''''Airborne Ranger''''' is an [[action game]] developed and published by [[MicroProse]] for the [[Commodore 64]] and [[ZX Spectrum]] in 1987 and the [[Amstrad CPC]] and [[IBM PC compatible]]s in 1988. Ports to the [[Amiga]] and [[Atari ST]] by Imagitec Design were released in 1989. A sole [[United States Army Rangers|U.S. Army Ranger]] is sent to infiltrate the enemy territory to complete various objectives. The game was followed by ''[[Special Forces (video game)|Special Forces]]'' in 1991.


==Gameplay==
==Gameplay==
[[File:Airborne_Ranger_Atari_ST_screenshot.png|thumb|left|Ranger found some supplies during an arctic mission (Atari ST)]]
The game consists of several missions, in which the player controls a sole Ranger whose objectives include killing an enemy officer, destroying an enemy [[bunker]], taking out a [[Surface-to-air missile|SAM]] site, and rescuing a captured POW, which would possibly free a roster member that was labeled P.O.W. The game creates the maps and objective locations randomly, so the player is required to plan each mission carefully, because no mission is the same.
The game consists of several missions, in which the player controls a sole Ranger whose objectives include capturing an enemy officer, destroying an enemy [[bunker]], taking out a [[Surface-to-air missile|SAM]] site, and rescuing a captured POW, which would possibly free a roster member that was labeled P.O.W. The game creates the maps and objective locations randomly, so the player is required to plan each mission carefully, because no mission is the same.


At the start of each mission, the player is presented with a short overview of the mission, and can select a Ranger from a roster of available soldiers. The player is then in control of an aircraft, described as a [[Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey|V-22 Osprey]] and is allowed to drop three [[ammunition|ammo]] crates over the enemy territory. Once the three containers are dropped, the Ranger is [[parachute]]d into the area. Upon touch-down, the player has to overcome several obstacles, including enemy soldiers and officers, [[land mine|mine fields]], [[Defensive fighting position|foxholes]] and bunkers. Due to limited ammunition, the player needs to plan his path through the territory. The dropped ammo crates provide the soldier with fresh [[hand grenade]]s and ammo. A player is even able to actuallyby them. After completing the mission, the Ranger has to navigate to a pick-up point within a time limit. If the Ranger is captured (but not killed), the player can start an optional rescue mission using another soldier from the roster. Each successful mission increases the rank of the individual Ranger, up to [[colonel]].
At the start of each mission, the player is presented with a short overview of the mission, and can select a Ranger from a roster of available soldiers. The player is then in control of an aircraft, described as a [[Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey|V-22 Osprey]] and is allowed to drop three [[ammunition|ammo]] crates over the enemy territory. Once the three containers are dropped, the Ranger is [[parachute]]d into the area. Upon touch-down, the player has to overcome several obstacles, including enemy soldiers and officers, [[land mine|mine fields]], [[Defensive fighting position|foxholes]] and bunkers. Due to limited ammunition, the player needs to plan his path through the territory. The dropped ammo crates provide the soldier with fresh [[hand grenade]]s and ammo. After completing the mission, the Ranger has to navigate to a pick-up point within a time limit. If the Ranger is captured (but not killed), the player can start an optional rescue mission using another soldier from the roster. Each successful mission increases the rank of the individual Ranger, up to [[colonel]].

==Manual==

The manual mimics a Field Manual<ref>[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/policy/army/fm/ US Field Manual Index]</ref> of the U.S. Army, and brings the number of code FM75-041, non-existent outside the fiction of the game. The manual includes 40 pages in black and white, plus the color cover of thin cardboard. It is divided into two parts with 11 chapters in all. In the second part talks about the true story of U.S. Rangers from 1759 to the [[American Revolution]] to [[World War II]], the [[Korean War]], until today, with the [[Vietnam War]], the [[invasion of Grenada]] in 1983, their training and equipment, operations mountains, desert and jungle, consisting of a paraglider, a Colt [[CAR-15]] rifle, on the hand fragmentation [[M26 grenade]], a grenade launcher [[M72 LAW]], the [[M18 Claymore anti-personnel mine]] and the ranger knife F7. Aside from informational purposes, the manual was used as a form of copyright protection - each time you loaded the game it would give the player a multiple choice question on the identification of military ribbons, which were listed at the top of each page throughout the booklet. If the player answered correctly, the game loaded. If guessed incorrectly, the game wouldn't load.


==Reception==
==Reception==
A review in ''[[Computer Gaming World]]'' felt ''Airborne Ranger'' was reminiscent of the earlier arcade game ''[[Commando (arcade game)|Commando]]'', but much deeper and more versatile. The graphics and sound were praised, noting gunfire sounds different when shot from inside fortifications than it does outside fortifications.<ref name="CGW">{{Cite news|date=January 1988|last=Rohrer|first=Kevin|periodical=[[Computer Gaming World]]|title=Airborne Ranger|pages=18|postscript =}}</ref> A 1992 survey of computer wargames with modern settings gave the game four and a half stars out of five.<ref name="brooks199206">{{cite news | url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1992&pub=2&id=95 | title=The Modern Games: 1950 - 2000 | work=Computer Gaming World | date=June 1992 | accessdate=24 November 2013 | author=Brooks, M. Evan | pages=120}}</ref> It also received 4½ out of 5 stars in ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]''.<ref name="Dragon135">{{cite journal|title=The Role of Computers|last1=Lesser|last2=Lesser|last3=Lesser|first1=Hartley|first2=Patricia|first3=Kirk|journal=Dragon|issue=135|date=July 1988|pages=82–89}}</ref> ''[[Compute!'s Gazette]]'' noted that ''Airborne Ranger'' was an unusual game for MicroProse's developers given their history of publishing simulations, writing "they have created an arcade game, and a darned good one".<ref name="bobo198805">{{cite news | url=http://archive.org/stream/1988-05-computegazette/Compute_Gazette_Issue_59_1988_May#page/n31/mode/2up | title=Airborne Ranger | work=Compute's Gazette | date=May 1988 | accessdate=6 October 2013 | author=Bobo, Ervin | pages=31-32}}</ref> ''[[Compute!]]'' stated that "''Airborne Ranger'' is an excellent game from beginning to end", but cautioned that "the violence and action are graphic and highly realistic".<ref name="bixby198805">{{cite news | url=https://archive.org/stream/1988-05-compute-magazine/Compute_Issue_096_1988_May#page/n65/mode/2up | title=Airborne Ranger | work=Compute! | date=May 1988 | accessdate=10 November 2013 | author=Bixby, Robert | pages=65}}</ref>
''[[Computer Gaming World]]'' described ''Airborne Ranger'' as "a ''[[Commando (arcade game)|Commando]]'' or ''[[Rambo (1985 video game)|Rambo]]'' with strategy included".<ref name="cgw198711">{{cite magazine | title=Christmas Buyers Guide | magazine=[[Computer Gaming World]] | date=November 1987 | pages=20 |url=https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_41/page/n19/mode/2up |issue=41}}</ref> The magazine's reviewer wrote that ''Airborne Ranger'' was reminiscent of ''Commando'' but much deeper and more versatile. He praised the graphics and sound, noting that gunfire sounds different when shot from inside fortifications than it does outside fortifications.<ref name="CGW">{{Cite magazine|date=January 1988|last=Rohrer|first=Kevin|magazine=[[Computer Gaming World]]|title=Airborne Ranger|pages=18}}</ref> The magazine's 1992 survey of computer wargames with modern settings gave the game four and a half stars out of five.<ref name="brooks199206">{{cite magazine | url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1992&pub=2&id=95 | title=The Modern Games: 1950 - 2000 | magazine=Computer Gaming World |date = June 1992| accessdate=24 November 2013 | author=Brooks, M. Evan | pages=120}}</ref> In a 1994 survey of wargames the magazine gave the title two-plus stars out of five, describing it as "Contemporary Ranger operations in a semi-arcade mode that works. Challenging and fun for both adults and children".<ref name="brooks199401">{{Cite magazine |last=Brooks |first=M. Evan |date=January 1994 |title=War In Our Time / A Survey Of Wargames From 1950-2000 |url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1994&pub=2&id=114 |magazine=Computer Gaming World |pages=194–212}}</ref> It also received 4½ out of 5 stars in ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]''.<ref name="Dragon135">{{cite journal|title=The Role of Computers|last1=Lesser|last2=Lesser|last3=Lesser|first1=Hartley|first2=Patricia|first3=Kirk|journal=Dragon|issue=135|date=July 1988|pages=82–89}}</ref>

==Legacy==
The game was followed by ''[[Special Forces (video game)|Special Forces]]'' in 1991.


''[[Compute!'s Gazette]]'' noted that ''Airborne Ranger'' was an unusual game for MicroProse's developers given their history of publishing simulations, writing "they have created an arcade game, and a darned good one".<ref name="bobo198805">{{cite news | url=https://archive.org/stream/1988-05-computegazette/Compute_Gazette_Issue_59_1988_May#page/n31/mode/2up | title=Airborne Ranger | work=Compute's Gazette |date = May 1988| accessdate=6 October 2013 | author=Bobo, Ervin | pages=31–32}}</ref> ''[[Compute!]]'' stated that "''Airborne Ranger'' is an excellent game from beginning to end", but cautioned that "the violence and action are graphic and highly realistic".<ref name="bixby198805">{{cite news | url=https://archive.org/stream/1988-05-compute-magazine/Compute_Issue_096_1988_May#page/n65/mode/2up | title=Airborne Ranger | work=Compute! |date = May 1988| accessdate=10 November 2013 | author=Bixby, Robert | pages=65}}</ref>
In 2008, [[Atari]] informally announced a game called ''Airborne Rangers'' for the PS3, Xbox 360 and PC to be released in April 2009,<ref>[http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/atari-financials-leak-2008-2009-line-up Atari financials leak 2008/2009 line up News - Page 1 | Eurogamer.net]</ref> but the game was never mentioned again and is presumed to having been cancelled.


==References==
==References==
Line 43: Line 32:


==External links==
==External links==
*{{moby game|id=/airborne-ranger|name=''Airborne Ranger''}}
*{{Lemon64 game|id=74|name=Airborne Ranger}}
*[http://www.c64sets.com/set.html?id=47 Images of ''Airborne Ranger'' package, manual and screenshots] from C64Sets.com
*[http://www.c64sets.com/set.html?id=47 ''Airborne Ranger''] at C64Sets.com
*{{abime|id=3221}}
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZP-6EGaVhto Airborne Ranger video capture]
*[http://www.atarimania.com/game-atari-st-airborne-ranger_21043.html ''Airborne Ranger''] at Atari Mania
*[https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/117/ZX-Spectrum/Airborne_Ranger ''Airborne Ranger''] at Spectrum Computing
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}


[[Category:1987 video games]]
[[Category:1987 video games]]
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[[Category:Cancelled Nintendo Entertainment System games]]
[[Category:Cancelled Nintendo Entertainment System games]]
[[Category:Cancelled Super Nintendo Entertainment System games]]
[[Category:Cancelled Super Nintendo Entertainment System games]]
[[Category:Cold War video games]]
[[Category:Commodore 64 games]]
[[Category:Commodore 64 games]]
[[Category:DOS games]]
[[Category:DOS games]]
[[Category:MicroProse games]]
[[Category:MicroProse games]]
[[Category:Stealth video games]]
[[Category:Single-player video games]]
[[Category:Video games developed in the United States]]
[[Category:Video games scored by Barry Leitch]]
[[Category:Video games with isometric graphics]]
[[Category:ZX Spectrum games]]
[[Category:ZX Spectrum games]]
[[Category:Imagitec Design games]]

Revision as of 18:39, 18 May 2024

For U.S. military use of this term, see United States Army Rangers.
Airborne Ranger
C64 cover art by Mark Freeman
Developer(s)MicroProse
Publisher(s)MicroProse
Designer(s)Lawrence Schick
Scott Spanburg
Bill Stealey (concept)
Artist(s)Iris Leigh Idokogi
Barbara Miller
Jackie Ross
Composer(s)Ken Lagace
Platform(s)Commodore 64, MS-DOS, Amstrad CPC, ZX Spectrum, Amiga, Atari ST
Release1987: C64, Spectrum
1988: Amstrad, MS-DOS
1989: Atari ST, Amiga
Genre(s)Action
Mode(s)Single-player

Airborne Ranger is an action game developed and published by MicroProse for the Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum in 1987 and the Amstrad CPC and IBM PC compatibles in 1988. Ports to the Amiga and Atari ST by Imagitec Design were released in 1989. A sole U.S. Army Ranger is sent to infiltrate the enemy territory to complete various objectives. The game was followed by Special Forces in 1991.

Gameplay

Ranger found some supplies during an arctic mission (Atari ST)

The game consists of several missions, in which the player controls a sole Ranger whose objectives include capturing an enemy officer, destroying an enemy bunker, taking out a SAM site, and rescuing a captured POW, which would possibly free a roster member that was labeled P.O.W. The game creates the maps and objective locations randomly, so the player is required to plan each mission carefully, because no mission is the same.

At the start of each mission, the player is presented with a short overview of the mission, and can select a Ranger from a roster of available soldiers. The player is then in control of an aircraft, described as a V-22 Osprey and is allowed to drop three ammo crates over the enemy territory. Once the three containers are dropped, the Ranger is parachuted into the area. Upon touch-down, the player has to overcome several obstacles, including enemy soldiers and officers, mine fields, foxholes and bunkers. Due to limited ammunition, the player needs to plan his path through the territory. The dropped ammo crates provide the soldier with fresh hand grenades and ammo. After completing the mission, the Ranger has to navigate to a pick-up point within a time limit. If the Ranger is captured (but not killed), the player can start an optional rescue mission using another soldier from the roster. Each successful mission increases the rank of the individual Ranger, up to colonel.

Reception

Computer Gaming World described Airborne Ranger as "a Commando or Rambo with strategy included".[1] The magazine's reviewer wrote that Airborne Ranger was reminiscent of Commando but much deeper and more versatile. He praised the graphics and sound, noting that gunfire sounds different when shot from inside fortifications than it does outside fortifications.[2] The magazine's 1992 survey of computer wargames with modern settings gave the game four and a half stars out of five.[3] In a 1994 survey of wargames the magazine gave the title two-plus stars out of five, describing it as "Contemporary Ranger operations in a semi-arcade mode that works. Challenging and fun for both adults and children".[4] It also received 4½ out of 5 stars in Dragon.[5]

Compute!'s Gazette noted that Airborne Ranger was an unusual game for MicroProse's developers given their history of publishing simulations, writing "they have created an arcade game, and a darned good one".[6] Compute! stated that "Airborne Ranger is an excellent game from beginning to end", but cautioned that "the violence and action are graphic and highly realistic".[7]

References

  1. ^ "Christmas Buyers Guide". Computer Gaming World. No. 41. November 1987. p. 20.
  2. ^ Rohrer, Kevin (January 1988). "Airborne Ranger". Computer Gaming World. p. 18.
  3. ^ Brooks, M. Evan (June 1992). "The Modern Games: 1950 - 2000". Computer Gaming World. p. 120. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
  4. ^ Brooks, M. Evan (January 1994). "War In Our Time / A Survey Of Wargames From 1950-2000". Computer Gaming World. pp. 194–212.
  5. ^ Lesser, Hartley; Lesser, Patricia; Lesser, Kirk (July 1988). "The Role of Computers". Dragon (135): 82–89.
  6. ^ Bobo, Ervin (May 1988). "Airborne Ranger". Compute's Gazette. pp. 31–32. Retrieved 6 October 2013.
  7. ^ Bixby, Robert (May 1988). "Airborne Ranger". Compute!. p. 65. Retrieved 10 November 2013.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Airborne_Ranger&oldid=1224487828"