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A-10 Tank Killer

Last updated: January 9, 2026

Overview

A-10 Tank Killer is a combat flight simulation that puts players in the cockpit of the A-10 Thunderbolt II, also known as the “Warthog”12. Developed by Dynamix and released in 1989 for DOS and 1990 for Amiga3, this simulation was designed to be “as realistic as possible without bogging the game down with complicated controls”4. The game focuses on close air support missions, primarily hunting enemy tanks but also destroying roads and bridges5.

The original release was enhanced in 1991 with version 1.5, which added seven new scenarios set during Operation Desert Storm in Iraq, along with improved graphics and sounds64. This timing proved fortuitous, as the game benefited from the Persian Gulf War’s prominence in the news7. Following Dynamix’s acquisition by Sierra On-Line in August 19908, the updated version incorporated the flight model from their successful Red Baron simulator9.

Story Summary

A-10 Tank Killer places players in the role of an American A-10 Thunderbolt II pilot fighting in campaigns across the world10. The simulation features dynamic campaign elements where “actions in one mission affect another - something you failed to destroy in one mission can attack you later”58. The original version included six missions set during a hypothetical Cold War conflict in Europe4, while version 1.5 expanded this to 21 missions, including seven new scenarios covering the Iraqi war and Operation Desert Storm11.

Gameplay

Interface and Controls

The game was designed for accessibility without sacrificing realism, featuring keyboard cursor keys for button navigation to ensure playability without a mouse12. Players could control the aircraft using keyboard, joystick, or mouse input4. The simulation includes a comprehensive training mode to familiarize players with controls and approach techniques before tackling the main missions13.

Structure and Progression

A-10 Tank Killer features both training scenarios and campaign missions. The original release included 6 missions4, expanded to 21 in version 1.54. The game’s dynamic campaign system means that mission outcomes affect subsequent scenarios, creating a persistent battlefield where destroyed targets remain destroyed and surviving enemies may pose future threats5. Players must master ground attack techniques, as the A-10’s primary role involves close air support rather than air-to-air combat9.

Puzzles and Mechanics

The simulation emphasizes ground attack missions using the A-10’s formidable 30mm Avenger cannon, which can fire around 70 times a second8. Players must learn low-altitude attack runs while avoiding enemy surface-to-air missiles and anti-aircraft fire11. The game includes 10 different weapons systems14 and features both friendly and enemy aircraft and ground vehicles14. Combat realism is balanced with entertainment value, as Dynamix acknowledged that technical inaccuracies were intentional for gameplay purposes1.

Reception

Contemporary Reviews

A-10 Tank Killer received generally positive reviews across multiple platforms and publications, though scores varied considerably:

PublicationScorePlatformDateNotes
The Games Machine96%PCFeb 1990Paul Rigby2
Think Tank93%--“Pure entertainment”1
Zzap90%AmigaFeb 1991Requires 1MB RAM2
Amiga Action84%AmigaJuly 1992Steve White15
Dragon5/5 stars-Dec 1991Hartley, Patricia & Kirk Lesser3
Computer Gaming World4/5 stars-Dec 1989M. Evan Brooks3
Amiga Joker74%AmigaJan 1991Max Magenauer2
Amiga Computing70%AmigaJun 1991Jason Holborne2

Computer Gaming World praised the game, stating “A-10 has much going for it”3, while Dragon magazine awarded it a perfect five-star rating3. However, some reviewers were more critical, with one UK publication quipping: “Mummy, will I be a MicroProse flight sim when I grow up?’ ‘No, son, I’m afraid you’ll only ever be an A-10 Tank Killer game’“1.

Modern Assessment

Modern retrospective reviews have been largely positive. MyAbandonware users rate the game 4.64/516 and 4.44/517 respectively. One 2008 review noted that “it was relatively easy and it was painless to pick up and play in short bursts”11, praising the game’s “fun over realism design choice”11. Old-Games.com described it as “a forerunner of the highly successful flight simulation genre” and “a must-have for all fans of World War sims”9. The game has maintained popularity among retro gaming enthusiasts, with users praising its historical significance and accessibility818.

Development

Origins

A-10 Tank Killer was developed by Dynamix, originally named Software Entertainment Company, founded by Jeff Tunnell and Damon Slye, both graduates from the University of Oregon8. The company was sold to Sierra On-Line in August 19908. The game was initially planned as part of a larger project encompassing aircraft from different eras, but Ken Williams suggested making several games dedicated to single time periods each19.

Production

The development team included numerous talented designers: Lincoln Hutton, David McClurg, Mark Brenneman, Cyrus Kanga, Kobi Miller, Damon Slye, Alan McKean, Bryce Morcello, Piotr Lukaszuk, Jerry Luttrell, Randy Dersham, Christopher Reese, and Nels Bruckner4. Alan McKean also composed the game’s music3. The production team incorporated digitized photos of real actors in flight gear and used a digitized cockpit from a genuine A-101.

Technical Achievements

A-10 Tank Killer was among the first PC simulators to utilize 256-color VGA graphics for 3D environments19. The game supported various graphics modes including Tandy/PCjr, CGA, EGA, MCGA, and VGA, with a maximum resolution of 320 x 2004. Audio support included PC Speaker, Tandy/PCjr, PS/1 Audio Card, Ad Lib, Sound Blaster, and Roland MT-32/LAPC-I4. The game required 512 KB of RAM (640 KB for Tandy systems) and had an installed size of 2.7 MB4. The Amiga version required 1MB of RAM and came on three disks15.

Legacy

A-10 Tank Killer’s success led to a sequel, Silent Thunder: A-10 Tank Killer II, released in March 199610. Combined sales of A-10 Tank Killer and its sequel surpassed 250,000 units by the end of March 19963. The game showed early signs of the quality that would make Dynamix popular with later titles such as Red Baron and Aces over Europe17. GameSpot’s Chris Hudak praised Silent Thunder as “a wicked, clean, no-B.S. combat sim with enough options and realism to hold the serious gamer’s interest,” awarding it 8.5/1010.

The game’s technical issues have been documented by the preservation community. VOGONS forum users have reported specific mouse movement bugs in version 1.5, where “when moving the mouse cursor down or right, it moves very slow” but “when moving it up or left, it moves at normal speed”20. The community has developed fixes for DOSBox compatibility20, ensuring the game remains playable on modern systems21.

Despite being banned in Germany due to its violence level and placement on the ‘Index’35, A-10 Tank Killer remains an important entry in the flight simulation genre. The game’s approach of prioritizing fun over strict realism helped establish a template for accessible combat flight simulators that continues to influence the genre today.

Downloads

Purchase / Digital Stores

  • Currently available through various digital preservation sites
  • GOG Dreamlist - Community wishlist

Download / Preservation

References

Footnotes

  1. Amiga Reviews - A-10 Tank Killer – - Multiple contemporary Amiga gaming publication reviews with detailed scores and technical analysis ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6

  2. AMR Archive Review 32463 – - Archive of multiple contemporary game reviews from various gaming publications spanning 1990-1995 ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5

  3. Wikipedia - A-10 Tank Killer – - Wikipedia article with multiple contemporary reviews and sales data ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10

  4. DOS Days - A-10 Tank Killer – - Comprehensive technical documentation and version history ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10

  5. Internet Archive - A-10 Tank Killer 1989 – - Archive.org preservation page with basic game metadata ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6

  6. Classic Reload - A-10 Tank Killer – - Basic catalog entry from retro gaming website ↩ ↩2

  7. Price Charting - A-10 Tank Killer – - Gaming marketplace pricing data with basic game information ↩

  8. Free Game Empire - A-10 Tank Killer – - Abandonware gaming site with basic game information and user comments ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6

  9. Old Games - A-10 Tank Killer – - Retrospective review providing technical details and historical context ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  10. Wikipedia - Silent Thunder: A-10 Tank Killer II – - Wikipedia article about the sequel with professional review information ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  11. SelfSimilar 2008 Review – - Personal retrospective review from 2008 providing detailed gameplay analysis ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  12. MobyGames - A-10 Tank Killer (632) – - Comprehensive database entry with technical specifications ↩

  13. XTC Abandonware - A-10 Tank Killer V15 – - Abandonware site entry with basic game information ↩ ↩2

  14. Sierra Gamers - A-10 Tank Killer 2 – - Game information aggregating MobyGames data ↩ ↩2

  15. Lemon Amiga - A-10 Tank Killer – - Amiga game database entry with technical specifications and user reviews ↩ ↩2

  16. MyAbandonware - V1.5 – - Abandonware site providing download and user review information ↩ ↩2

  17. MyAbandonware - Original – - Abandonware preservation site with user reviews and compatibility information ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  18. Kotaku - A-10 Tank Killer V1.5 – - Game listing page with marketing description ↩

  19. MobyGames - A-10 Tank Killer (2467) – - Comprehensive database entry with historical context ↩ ↩2

  20. VOGONS Forum - A-10 Tank Killer – - Technical forum discussion providing bug reports and DOSBox compatibility fixes ↩ ↩2

  21. Sierra Chest - A-10 Tank Killer – - Game database entry providing basic metadata ↩

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