iPhone App: Top Gun

June 1st, 2009

= 4 stars

You’re a new recruit flying a supersonic fighter jet on various intense missions in this flight simulator action game, loosely based on the movie.

The Good

• The game is a flight simulator using the iPhone’s accelerometer and multitouch, and it’s pretty satisfying. Tilt the iPhone to move your plane, and tap to fire weapons — a vulcan cannon on the left and guided missiles on the right, to be launched when you properly target an enemy. Appearing often and adding to the challenge are “danger zone” rectangles that you must avoid — they indicate enemy guided missiles headed toward you. These smooth, responsive controls are the best part of the game, and your plane has a weight and velocity as you zoom over terrain at high speeds.
• Satisfying 3D graphics, with your perspective just behind your plane as you zoom along at high speed. Explosions result in smoke that you then fly through, and you’ll notice if you’re hit by enemy fire.

The Bad

• Doesn’t really feel like Top Gun the movie. Tom Cruise must not have licensed his likeness, because the cut scenes featuring Maverick and Iceman are laughably cartoony (see below). Meanwhile, the game itself could be any flight sim. Luckilly, the background music does feature a cover of Danger Zone.

Conclusion

Despite not evoking Top Gun the movie, this is a solid flight simulator game. I’m having fun with it.

iPhone App Store Link: