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With all the shooters, role playing games and puzzlers out there you wouldn't think there'd be room for an air traffic control simulator for kids.

Yet Reflexive Arcade has taken it upon itself to design just such a game. And, surprisingly, the result works.

Airport Mania is a fast-paced flight control game that puts you in the command tower of an airport. It's your job to manage a fleet of planes and make sure they get on their merry way in a timely fashion.

A game made for the younger generations, Airport Mania's a point-and-click venture. As planes fly onto the screen you click them and send them to an empty runway. They descend. You direct them to an empty hanger. They dock, unloading old passengers and boarding new. Once full you send them back to the runway and they head off again. The process takes six clicks per plane. Simple?

Not really. The volume of planes coming in makes things tricky. At its' heart Airport Mania's about effective management: you need to juggle the planes so your runways don't get backed up. It's one plane per runway and hanger at a time, so prior planning is necessary if you're to get all your planes through in time. And other demands, like repairs and refueling, further complicate matters.

This sequence would be frustrating and dull if not for Airport Mania's unique artistry. Simply put, each plane is alive. They all have cartoon eyes, happy little mouths, expressive eyebrows, jaunty voices and (unfortunately for you) limited patience. If a plane is left waiting for too long you'll lose money needed to make expansions to your airports.

Coupled with these wide-eyed wonders is a basic yet aesthetically pleasing backdrop complete with appropriately cheery music. And while you won't be wowed by Airport Mania's straight-lined visuals and airport pickup lounge background tunes, you'll never be annoyed by them, either.

I have only two complaints, and neither pertains to the game's mechanics. The premise is sound and, as far as I've played, glitch free. What bothers me is Airport Mania's level of difficulty. While targeted at kids with its easy-to-navigate tutorial and bright visuals, the game's probably too challenging for most children. The traffic gets pretty hectic, and balancing the demands of refuels and repairs may be too much for anybody under 12.

But it's too easy for most adults. People who multi-task on a daily basis will breeze through Airport Mania. Reflexive Arcade should have included adjustable difficulty settings based on who's playing.

My other complaint is aimed at the lack of alternative modes. The game is crammed into an 84-stage campaign mode which, though expansive, is simultaneously restrictive. A random level generator, or even some form of limited free play, would help allay repetition.

Taken as a whole, though, my complaints are minute. Airport Mania is a fun, accessible, well-tuned game for all ages (though I'd suggest an adult be nearby to help any newcomer children), and given more leisure time I would probably buy it. 4/5

Learn more about this author, Matt Bird.
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