

Send to repair shop when requested and then leave the plane at the repair shop.Ħ. Send to gas pump when requested and then leave the plane at the gas pump.ĥ. You are going to create a big circle of planes, and all planes are moving one space to the right.ģ. Be sure to have four parking spaces available. My question is, can I go back and do that even after I've already cleared all the levels? Or can you only get it the first time thru? Ok, now I have a question: I understand that to get the Stingy Maniac award, I need to clear an entire level/island without buying upgrades. When you can keep the planes happy, the VIP Runway will rake in the money! In general, my approach was to get the maximum number of gates (not upgraded, at first), the VIP Runway, and the fog & ice removers. So when you feel stuck, try different combinations of upgrades, and notice how the goals change try to keep the goals low while giving yourself as many advantages as possible. But on another stage, upgrading the plane will actually *lower* the goal scores because the larger planes' lack of patience can put you at a disadvantage.
#Airport mania 2 wild trips stingy maniac award upgrade
So in one stage, buying the plane upgrade will raise the score needed for 3 stars (because the upgraded plane will make more money).

But what's different here is that the scores required to meet the different goals will shift depending on which upgrades you choose, and *how* they shift changes from stage to stage. That's true in most time-management games. The key to getting higher scores/goals lies in strategically choosing your upgrades. (It may be obvious to some, but it took me quite awhile to figure it out.) Woooo! Having accomplished that feat, there's something I thought I'd add for folks still on the quest for stars. So I finally this morning got my "Heavenly Assistance" award - ie, I got 3 stars for every single stage. I achieved the Supreme Score ($125,000 is required I got $144,040) using the following upgrades: VIP Layover Space, New Gate C, VIP Runway, and Regional Jetliner (new plane). The only drawbacks to the experience are minor, and it's an excellent resource management sim that'll capture your afternoon with ease. There's also a low and slow progression of difficulty, allowing you to master the game quickly but offering less challenge until later.Īirport Mania is a breath of fresh air in many ways. With a solid interface, excellent visual style, and unique setting, I think the game could have afforded to take a few chances here and there. It's almost as if the game was afraid to veer too far from its established (but highly entertaining) core idea. The shop introduces a few upgrades, but these don't change the experience very dramatically. AWWW!!!įuzzy wuzzy planes aside, Airport Mania is built around a very simple time management construct and rarely strays from that premise. They even hum while waiting for passengers. Is "cute" a strong enough word? Not sugary sweet cute, but airplanes with big eyes and goofy smiles certainly qualifies as adorable. Painting allows you to change the color, forcing you to decide if a pit-stop is worth the matching bonus or if being on time is a better reward.Īnalysis: The most immediate draw to Airport Mania is its visual style. Match like-colored crafts to gates and you'll earn a bonus. Each gate has a color, each plane has a color. Once you gain the ability to paint planes, a new level of complexity opens up. Between each of the game's 84 levels you'll visit the store where you can buy new structures for your airport or upgrade existing ones to be faster/better. Sometimes a plane will be carrying urgent cargo and must take priority over other flights, while other times weather conditions will alter your plans. The basic structure of the game is simple and only a few events come along to change things around. Sometimes a plane will need to re-fuel between groups of passengers, in which case you simply direct it to the repair station. Then it's back to the runway to take off once again. After touching down, direct planes to an empty gate where passengers are unloaded and new passengers boarded. Planes appear at the top of the screen, flying back and forth until you tell them which runway to land on. And unlike real airports, you can actually have flights arrive on time or even early! All of this is accomplished with a simple interface and airplanes that are too cute for their own good.

Instead of serving cake or pizza or sandwiches, your job is to direct airplanes, load passengers, and make sure everything runs smoothly. Airport Mania from South Winds Games is a time management sim that drops all the trite settings and food-related themes we've grown tired of in the genre.
