I am an Air Traffic Controller 4
- October 15, 2020
- TechnoBrain
- 8h median play time
Get on Steam"I am an Air Traffic Controller 4" is a simulation game that puts you in the role of an air traffic controller. Issue instructions to aircraft for safe and effective flight, with the goal of clearing stages. The game offers various stages with different challenges, as well as an extra stage for additional excitement. Your judgment and precision will be tested as you manage changing situations and resume from game replays.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game offers a complex and immersive air traffic control experience, with realistic scenarios and challenges.
- Graphics and audio are well-designed, contributing to an engaging atmosphere for aviation enthusiasts.
- The game provides a good balance of challenge and fun, making it enjoyable for both casual players and those interested in aviation.
- The game frequently crashes, leading to frustration and loss of progress during gameplay.
- Limited control over aircraft movements and commands can make the gameplay feel restrictive and less realistic.
- The high price point is not justified by the amount of content available, with only one airport included in the base game.
- graphics45 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players noting that they are good but not cutting-edge, often reminiscent of older flight simulators. While many appreciate the improved visuals and attention to detail, particularly in aircraft design and environmental effects, others criticize the graphics as dated and lacking in options for enhancement. Overall, the graphics are considered serviceable and immersive, contributing positively to the gameplay experience despite not being top-tier.
“The graphics are much improved with lots happening in and around the airport; I'd go as far as to say this is easily the best-looking ATC game available today. There is weather this time - like cloudy days and rain effects.”
“Graphics are great and gameplay is engaging.”
“I should mention that graphically, while the game looks a lot more realistic than most ATC sims (which are usually either cartoony or just feature wireframe graphics meant to look like a radar station), it is based on super-old 3D technology.”
“If you are looking at getting this sim, it is indeed pricey, and the graphics are not as evolved as other simulators out there.”
“I thought the graphics were kinda dated, like maybe Flight Simulator 98 caliber, so good but not high end.”
“The graphic of iPhone even seems better than PC on 1080p.”
- gameplay23 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it addictive and enjoyable once they grasp the mechanics, while others criticize its frustrating limitations, such as restricted control over aircraft and repetitive routines. The game requires a solid tutorial to help new players navigate its complexities, and while it offers a solid simulation experience, it lacks variety and can lead to crashes, impacting overall enjoyment. Despite its long development history, the gameplay is seen as both a strength and a weakness, with potential for improvement through updates.
“Graphics are semi-ok, but the gameplay is very nice and addictive.”
“Having said that, once you figure out the game mechanics, this game is absolute bliss for people who like juggling various multiple tasks at once while finding optimal solutions.”
“Gameplay wise, it involves directing airplanes on the ground and in the sky and maintaining safe distance between them at Tokyo International Airport (RJTT).”
“The most frustrating aspects are the game mechanics.”
“There are some frustrating mechanics like you can't vector airplanes at will, you can't change their speed on approach at will, and a near miss game over occurs within 5 nautical miles of separation.”
“However, there is no variation in gameplay; it's always the exact same routine for each challenge, which sometimes is set up intentionally to create issues with your gameplay.”
- story17 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is primarily mission-driven, with each level presenting unique objectives that gradually increase in difficulty, rather than a cohesive narrative. Players can engage in various missions, including custom scenarios, but the lack of a traditional story mode means the experience relies heavily on the simulation of air traffic control tasks. While some missions can be enjoyable and educational, they can also become chaotic, detracting from the overall experience.
“Every level has a unique purpose and its own story to unfold.”
“The ATC3/4 series has always been about specific missions that graduate in difficulty, not a random collection of traffic that other ATC games offer.”
“In Japan, this developer has released numerous games not only in this series, but also previous installments such as 'I Am an Air Traffic Controller 1 through 3' (ATC 1-3) and other series such as 'Pilot Story.'”
“There’s obviously no such thing as a story mode or any narrative thread to an in-depth simulation like ATC 4.”
“Like any veritable simulator, the gameplay has to compensate for the missing storyline.”
“You can do one of the 19 missions or you can create your own from a day in 2017, but once you have done it, you're done, unless you pay £30 for the DLC.”
- music7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising its quality and integration with the gameplay, while others find it repetitive and distracting, leading to a preference for external audio. Overall, the soundtrack is described as decent but can become tedious, prompting players to mute it in favor of their own music.
“The game has amazing music and voice acting, as well as one of my favorite airports in the world!”
“The game offers good visuals and music, with a variety of interesting scenarios, such as runway changes, bird strikes, and aircraft getting stuck on a taxiway.”
“+ decent graphics & soundtrack.”
“Occasional, discreet musical tracks which get boring really fast and you end up muting them and listening to whatever genre might relax you instead.”
“It's like a very, very, very expensive flash game or something, with dialog in Japanglish and no way to turn off the terrible music in like 80% of the places it plays.”
“Music - borders on torture.”
- optimization5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews; while some players report smooth performance even on entry-level hardware, others experience significant frame rate issues and underutilization of high-end systems. Overall, the game's performance is described as inconsistent, with some praising the detailed modeling while others criticize the optimization as lacking.
“The performance was also quite smooth; I doubt you couldn’t run this even on an entry-level laptop.”
“There's quite a bit of detail in the modeling of the airport and aircraft, and the game runs smoothly.”
“Absolutely terrible performance and graphics, but really fun and challenging!”
“Abysmal performance: the game is running at 20fps while my 9900k and 3090 are barely being used.”
“The only negative thing I can think of is that the optimization is a bit so-so, and the airlines in the non-Japanese version are fake.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game suffers from significant stability issues, frequently freezing and force closing, particularly on the Steam Deck, which disrupts gameplay and requires players to restart. Despite its promising premise, these technical problems detract from the overall experience.
“Right when I find a rhythm, the game freezes up and then closes, causing me to have to start all over again.”
“The game has a great premise; however, buyers beware: this game force closes and freezes frequently when played on Steam Deck.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game has limited replayability, as players feel there is little incentive to revisit completed puzzles after achieving perfect scores. However, there is potential for future expansions that could enhance replay value by introducing new locations, similar to previous titles in the series.
“The game offers a variety of airports, including Kai Tak and Honolulu, which adds to its replayability and keeps players engaged.”
“With the potential for future updates featuring more airports outside of Japan, the replayability of this game is promising.”
“The inclusion of diverse locations enhances the overall experience, making it worthwhile to revisit the game multiple times.”
“Since there is no replay value (once you've completed each puzzle with a perfect score, there's really no reason to replay), I don't feel the game has good value.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that the emotional voice acting in the game is lacking, leading to a less impactful emotional experience for players.
