Advanced Tactical Air Command Overview
ATAC: The Secret War Against Drugs is a DOS title that integrates strategic command with first-person flight simulation. The player directs a covert campaign against narcotics operations in South America, managing both intelligence gathering and combat missions.
Strategic decisions involve analyzing the enemy's financial pipeline and planning its disruption with minimal harm to civilians. Resources for this layer include reconnaissance flights and information from DEA agents or local rebel forces. The player's base must also be defended from enemy attacks. When targets are identified, orders can be assigned to a squadron of advanced aircraft, such as F-22 fighters or AH-64 helicopters.
The perspective shifts to a first-person cockpit view during missions, where the player pilots through jungle terrain to engage assigned objectives. These sorties involve direct combat with mercenary forces employed by the drug lords, who possess their own formidable arsenal funded by illicit profits. The player can assume control of any friendly aircraft already in flight to assist.
Performance in the strategic management layer directly influences the conditions and challenges faced in the simulation layer, and vice versa. The overall task is challenging, as careless actions that cause civilian casualties can result in expulsion from the region, jeopardizing the entire operation.