Triplane Turmoil
A shareware dogfighting game set in a fictional post-WWI world.
Triplane Turmoil is a horizontally scrolling dogfighting flying game for MS-DOS developed by Finnish studio Dodekaedron Software. It is based on the 1984 MS-DOS game Sopwith by David Clark. Originally released as shareware, the source code and assets were later placed under the GPLv3, and the community ported it to other platforms via SDL.
Quick Facts
- Author
- Dodekaedron Software (Markku Rankala, Teemu J. Takanen and Henrikki Merikallio)
- Developer
- Timo Juhani Lindfors
- Teemu J. Takanen
- and Riku Saikkonen (Open source version)
- Released
- 1996
- Latest release version
- 1.08
- Latest release date
- 24 February 2013
- Genre
- Single-player, multiplayer Shoot 'em up
- Platform
- cross-platform (originally MS-DOS)
- License
- GPLv3
Facts from the source article.
Plot
The game is set during or after the First World War, possibly in the mid-1920s, with triplanes using nose-mounted machine guns and interrupter gear. Four feuding powers—England, Finland, Germany, and Japan—engage in shifting alliances and preemptive strikes across single-player campaigns.
Gameplay
Players control an aircraft by pitching up, down, rolling 180 degrees, firing a machine gun, and dropping bombs. Control is via keyboard or joystick. Four nations are available: Finland, England, Germany, and Japan, each with a single-player campaign and multiplayer levels against human or computer pilots. Aircraft differ in speed, maneuverability, bomb load, endurance, ammunition, and fuel. Weapons include a machine gun, bombs usable for ground attack or as primitive air-to-air missiles, and the aircraft itself for kamikaze attacks. Bombs destroy aircraft instantly; bullets deal random damage. Aircraft durability varies by nation: Japanese craft are lightly armored, while Finnish planes withstand more damage, indicated by smoke trails. Each faction starts from an airfield with a bomb-proof hangar, runway, infantry garrison, turrets, towers, and tents. Towers and tents have no gameplay effect but are sometimes bombing objectives in single player. The hangar and runway allow repairs, refueling, and reloading. Infantry provide weak anti-aircraft fire, but a group of six or more can threaten most aircraft. Turrets are of two types: Anti-aircraft Machine Gun (AAMG) and Anti-aircraft Artillery (AAA or Flak). Flak turrets fire slowly but are accurate with a high ceiling, firing red incendiary projectiles that burst at altitude. A solid hit causes the aircraft to burst into flames and spiral down; a graze causes heavy smoke. Flying very low can avoid flak fire depending on turret elevation and gun angle.
Legacy
A sequel, Triplane Turmoil 2, was released in 2006, distributed over the internet and later in retail stores. It features 3D graphics with traditional 2D gameplay and an emphasis on online multiplayer, though the initial release lacked online multiplayer. Six nations—Finland, Germany, Japan, Great-Britain, United States, and Russia—each have a six-mission campaign, and the game includes over 30 multiplayer maps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who made Triplane Turmoil?
Triplane Turmoil was made by Timo Juhani Lindfors, Teemu J. Takanen, and Riku Saikkonen (Open source version).
When was Triplane Turmoil introduced?
Triplane Turmoil was introduced in 1996.
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