A homage to the most revolutionary flight sim
Although Looking Glass is best remember for the Thief series, for me, the genius of the guys at Looking Glass is best shown by the Flight Unlimited series. The first Flight Unlimited might still be the best aerobatics simulator and trainer ever made. Back in its day it was nothing less than revolutionary both in terms of physics and graphics. So when I got my Flight Unlimited 2 box, back in 1998, I was a bit surprised. I was expecting another game. What I got was San Francisco.
While I have flown many other simulators since then, none managed to capture the wonder and immersion of this game. While screenshots might make you question my sanity, remember that in 1997 this game was the best looking simulator around. It was also unique in the world of simulators, as it depicted just one area, lovingly and intimately rendered, focusing on short flights in small airplanes. It allowed you to learn VFR and IFR rules and instrumentation and no other simulator has since allowed you to plan your trip this well, with paper and pen, on a map. In time, you got to learn most radio beacons, airports, frequencies, valleys and mountains. You didn't just feel as if you were flying near San Francisco, you felt as if you were living there. Hopping around town, visiting some cabin on top of a mountain, landing on a lake, heading out to Pasadena to practice some short landings, or just braving the air traffic near San Francisco Airport, each flight was an adventure. And this was a realistic simulation, yet even a 14 year old kid like me managed to master it thanks to the perfect manuals.
The third FU was even better in most areas, with THE best glider physics ever made (FSX was a joke compared to it) and even a small jet to boot. But the cloudy Seattle just didn't have the same charm as the area around San Francisco. Even to this day, I usually spend my FSX air time around there, but it's just not the same. And no 747 with a hundred switches and 10 displays can skim the lake waters like my De Havilland could.
Back in the 90's, games had a special charm, each title being a world of itself. The quality and innovations of these games makes old gamers like me sound like hipsters, but so be it. And in a time where most games were great, Flight Unlimited 2 was a masterpiece and a personal favorite. Along with Transport Tycoon Deluxe, FU2 shares the first spot in my most played, most loved list.