TOP GUN

If you like flying games with some top notch graphics and smooth frame rates, Top Gun should fit the bill. Similar to Days of Thunder, Top Gun has a soundtrack reminiscent of the movie as well as a storyline that is presented preceding each mission. In general, this is a well-presented and creatively packaged game.

Visually, Top Gun looks great and has detailed environments for the mission flythroughs. These include flying out to sea, speeding across deserts, and swerving through canyons. Also, overhead views and animations of your fighter as its entering a mission (e.g. landing on a battleship, driving along a landing strip) are used and add to the feel of the game.

Using a tilt-based maneuvering system, Top Gun has 10 missions with only the first mission, the training mission, unlocked. Each is locked or classified until the preceding mission is completed. The missions are as follows:
Mission 1: New Recruits
Mission 2: Foreign Relations
Mission 3: Rules of Engagement
Mission 4: The Iceman Cometh
Mission 5: Bombs Away
Mission 6: Flash in the Night
Mission 7: Advanced Training
Mission 8: The Golden Goose
Mission 9: Of Rebels and Mavericks
Mission 10: The Art of War

Prior to starting gameplay, you can choose a handle or name (don’t worry you can change this later if need be), and this name is used throughout the story presented in between each mission. It’s through the story that you receive your mission objectives, which by the way can be vague.

Top Gun has a medal and achievement system that tracks various things such as skills acquired, numerous kills, ability to escape danger, and mission accomplished based on resources. For example, when you successfully complete training, you receive the Air Force Training Ribbon. What I don’t like with the medal and achievement system is the requirements for each are classified so you have no idea what is required beforehand for a medal.

In terms of gameplay, the calibration is automatically set for you, but you can recalibrate by pausing during gameplay. Ideally, a sensitivity control would have been a nice addition. Maneuvering your aircraft using tilt works fine, although it can be sensitive. You have two primary weapons: vulcan cannon (left side) and sidewinder missiles (right side). With the sidewinders, up to four can be launched at a single time, but keep in mind, there is slight delay between missile launches. With any aircraft shooting game, there is a straightforward targeting mechanism with a reticle, and Top Gun is no different. For me, the controls work well, and I don’t have any issues maneuvering and firing. In fact, they work smoothly with no lags. What is missing is a throttle or speed brake for boosting speed. To me, it’s an oversight especially if you’re chasing down enemy fighters.

At the bottom of your screen is a sort of health bar. Your fighter can take up to 8 hits, and for every hit, the health bar shrinks accordingly. What is interesting is the Danger Zone. When you’re in danger of being hit by weapons fire, a Danger Zone box will flash in the relevant area. Initially, it’s pretty easy to move out of the way, but by Mission 3, most of your screen will be filled by Danger Zone boxes, and so far the best maneuver is to move side to side to avoid the incoming missiles. When your craft is hit, you eject and start the mission again.

Honestly, I haven’t found destroying targets particularly challenging especially when I’m relying on sidewinders. The challenge comes from the Danger Zones and dodging them. To sum up, Top Gun is a well-packaged aerial 3D shooter. I’m somewhat disappointed that it only has 10 missions, but having said that, I think you will have some fun with this.

You shoudl do an update and add this thing where you can fly anywhere just for fun and not attack or be attacked! Please do that

The closer to the edge, the hotter the intensity! Seriously though this is undoubtedly the best $1.99 I've ever spent. Even when the price is raised this game will still be worth way more than whatever the heck a "peggle" is.

Buy it now your phone bill cost more than this then buy F.A.S.T. Best airplane games period. Don't listen to these other negative fools it's a $2 game what did you expect.

I will double the stars if you make two easy fixes to the code: add an option to reverse the vertical control axes (like almost every other flying game already offers) and add a motion sensitivty calibration control (again, a standard iPhone game option).

Usually i hate flying games, but I have to say that the controls and accelemeter controls are even better than FAST. To pull up, recalibrate with you device AT AN ANGLE! Try different positions, becuase I've tried it straight up and down and it doesn't work but when I lean it forward, it does. Also, to destroy the ships and turrets on the ground you have to lock on them, and then you have to shoot them like 20 times. I had to go threw the loop for so long, becuase they don't die in one hit. So as long as you are locking on it, you hit it, u just need to hit it again.

Iceman is a little harder on me but I think it's because he sees something in me. He's starting to respect me but grudgingly. Fairly true to the film sans the homoerotic overtones. Great, polished game, especially for the price. Get it now!

I say it's perfect because the game seamlessly combined amazing graphics on a fast-paced action, with controls that perfectly suit the iPhone/iPod Touch. It's what the typical hardcore gamer turned casual gamer will love. And I also don't see how this won't appeal to some hardcore gamers that represent in my opinion a minority of iPhone/iPod Touch users. People would complain how this is an on-rails game, but I applaud the developers for choosing to do so. I see so many high profile games at the App Store who have always made graphics a top priority, and then end up with clunky controls, framerate problems, and boring gameplay. I believe that in making this an on-rails shooter, framerate got a big boost, and the controls worked perfectly. If this game was an open-ended flight sim ala-Ace Combat, I assure you, with the iPhone/iPod Touch, this wouldn't have worked. People have to stop forcing this device to compete in the hardcore gaming area with other handheld devices. The Danger Zone gameplay was a great concept to integrate, which makes you react quickly and move around the screen. Before playing the game, the only thought that held me back was if the game was too easy. And upon playing the first few levels, I assure you it is quite a challenge. Danger Zones pop out everywhere, sometimes leaving just one clean spot on the screen. The controls need some getting used to, but once you get the hang of it, it's so cool flying around and avoiding missiles and making revolutions while strafing. Music is also top notch. One glitch I noticed though is that sometimes the music is no longer playing once you start your next mission. Overall I highly recommend this to everyone who needs some fast action on his/her device that anyone can play and enjoy. I just hope that other high profile developers will follow suit, and focus on smooth gameplay and how it compliments the iPhone/iPod Touch, rather than just boast on pushing the device's graphic engine to the limits.

Best app ever I love it

Omg this is the best air force related game. I luv Xplane when I'm looking to acualy fly like a real piolit but when it comes to action or adventure this game takes the cake!!!

Fun app for 1.99. Trouble avoiding missles to top of screen.

This game has great visuals and I was so excited when it got released for download. BUT, why can I not land my plane on the aircraft carrier? This was the best and most challenging part of the game from back in the NES days. Also please correct the controls or at least allow us to choose our control scheme. When I turn the phone left, I want the plane to flip to the left!

Please get us an update to this potentially wonderful game soon!

Sickest app ever I love it

Worth 2 bucks I guess. Needs a Y invert option desperately.