Developer: Looking Glass Studios Publisher: Global Star Software System Requirements: 486Dx2/66 (recommended 486/100 or higher) 8Mb of RAM 12Mb of Windows 95 Virtual Memory 32Mb of hard drive space 2x CD-ROM drive SVGA Video 640-480 256-color Windows Compatible Sound Card Windows compatible joystick Control yokes and rudder supported Da Introduction: Many of us have dreamed of flying high above the earth, doing crazy stunts at insane speeds. With five planes, Flight Unlimited tries it's best to do this. There are tons of options and a tutorial mode. It may seem though, that this game is old and outdated. Does it hold up to today's standards? Da Installation: Here is where the problems begin. The auto start feature sure looks pretty, but... when you press the start button, nothing happens. The auto start shuts down... but where is the installation? I had to physically explore the CD for the install file. Sloppy, sloppy, sloppy. Da Graphics: When I first started playing, I thought the pre-rendered backgrounds looked awful. Eventually I stumbled into the option menu and kicked up the resolution. While helping out the backgrounds a bit, they still stick out like a sore thumb. Looking like a badly painted backdrop, these backgrounds definitely don't get the job done. The planes, however, look a little better. Still very, very ninety-fiveish. The graphics are old and outdated. But, looking at 1995, they would have looked good then. The menu system is innovative, yet poorly executed. Using your mouse to move around, you can select all the different modes. The walls, floor, and models look as though they are bitmaps. Da Sound: The best part of the game. With rumbling sounds for the planes, and a voice for the instructor, this part of the game is definitely above the rest. It's lacking music, but it's a flight sim right? Da Gameplay: Here's where I felt the game really stumbled. The controls are sloppy and I couldn't even get the game to use my joystick. All I had were problems. Obviously, with a flight sim the most important part is to provide the easiest, most realistic environment available. I couldn't stall the plane. Even when I pointed the nose straight up and lost all speed, it wouldn't stall. Unfortunately, the outdated nature of this game really shows. It's hard to turn the plane. The joysticks are so old that I didn't even recognize them. Since the game wasn't designed for the keyboard, it only made it harder. Having to use the Num-pad, the game at least has a good key layout, if nothing else. The planes were hardly responsive, and with only five, I didn't feel much difference except for the different body. One plus the game has going for it are the different modes. There is an extensive training mode which teaches you everything you need to know, from staying level (almost impossible to do on a keyboard), to landing. With the ring mode, which challenges you to fly through different courses and test your skills, it was handled decently, but the controls hinder it horribly. Finally, there is the free-fly mode where you can choose where to start. Starting on the taxi-way is amazingly hard as you try and get onto the runway. Or you can start on the runway, which too is hard. Finally, you can just start out flying, which is probably the easiest mode, as the other two take extensive practice. Da Conclusion: Designed back in 1995, this game was the standard then. Now it's a game that you should just avoid. Not worth any amount of money, stay away. There are other flight sims for you to choose. And this one shouldn't even be close to touching your list. Da Ratings: Graphics: 3/10 Sound: 5/10 Gamplay:2/10 Tilt: 2/10 Kae Sphilps@hotmail.com