Previous Next

U.S. Gold software has flooded onto software retailers' shelves in an attempt to bring 'the best of U.S. games' to a wider market in this country.

Much of it would be more realistically described as 'U.S. Old'. Solo Flight is an exception. This is a realistic flight simulator in which you deliver the U.S. Mail.

The graphics are good, but not as good as the screenshot on the back cover which looks to be from the Atari version! Sound, however, is rather feeble, the engine chugs happily as you rev it up but other noises are noticeably absent.

You control a light aircraft which is shown on the screen, complete with shadow at low altitudes. The airports are shown as outline shapes only but the perspective shift as you approach or take off is quite convincing. The awesome-looking mountains on the front cover are very disappointing, being represented as blob-and-line drawings on the screen. When you crash or complete a mail run your progress is shown as a line plotted on a map of the territory you cover.

An instrument panel features altimeter and engine speed dials and various fuel, heading, pitch and climb rate indicators.

After about two hours' play, it was possible to take off and land every time on the easier levels, more fun was then derived from taking the plane to its ceiling, increasing air speed to maximum and diving at full power to a satisfyingly fatal crash.