F-19 Stealth Fighter

On the C64, Project: Stealth Fighter was 'a near perfect flight simulator, succeeding through accuracy, realism, depth and atmosphere'. On the PC it's all so much better thanks to MicroProse's considerable talent in using the host machine's capabilities and surrounding it with top-notch presentation.

F-19 is taxing, though it is surprisingly easy to get to grips with the controls. The planes handle well with uncomplicated controls and simple to use weapon systems. This is an excellent sim for the novice, but expert pilots should not be put off either. If the game is set on a high difficulty level you need to use every trick in the book and push the F-19 (or the F-117A) to its limit. A truly excellent simulation.

Gameplay varies from the nerve-wrackingly suspenseful to the gut wrenchingly exciting as you duck through enemy radar nets and take on the top enemy fighter jocks in a fight for air supremacy. The graphics are absolutely stunning: the ground detail is all there right down to the same individual missile launchers at SAM sites. And it is all as smooth as a baby’s botty. If you are into flight sims, then you certainly won’t go far wrong with this...

Project Stealth Fighter is absolutely superb. The wealth of deatil, fabulous packaging (which includes maps and two technical manuals) and brilliant gameplay makes this an unmissable combat simulation.

Super-detailed, speedy 3D and improved sound effects combine to make a brilliant flight sim, with a whole career's worth of detailed missions to fly and a lot more besides. Superb.

Compulsive, addictive and ruinous to your social life. Only a couple a packages can compare with this. The graphics are quite superb and the manual makes enthralling reading, even if you never go near the game. The only flaw I can see is that a lot of the effect is lost by slower machines using a CGA card. However, faster EGA & VGA owners are in for a airborne treat.

Stealth is the most complete flight sim yet in terms of gameplay. It is as if the plane was built for a game. You have the edge in terms of technology and that is a good feeling, but they have the numbers and even the Stealth’s special powers can not guarantee success. A good pilot is always needed. There is a real thrill when fighters race above your head, while you proceed unhindered and unseen, safe in the knowledge that you have a missile lock on them but they do not even know you are there.

In terms of aircraft specifications and performance, attention to geographical detail, and diversity of mission assignments Project Stealth Fighter far outclasses anything else in the air. Once you have tried it anything else will seem mundane in comparison.

Ein Extra-Lob gibt es noch für eine Funktion, die uns besonders gut gefallen hat: Bei F-19 Stealth Fighter hagelt es nicht nur die üblichen Beförderungen oder Orden, nein, nach jeden Flug werden alle Geschehnisse ausführlich bewertet – purer Balsam für die Motivation. Kurzum, das Spiel zählt ohne Zweifel zu den absoluten Top-Simulationen!

The same engrossing gameplay as the ST, and a graphics mode to suit every PC. Not as hot a sim as LHX, but an excellent package nonetheless.

An impressive sim, made even better value by the usual stack of bumph found inside Microprose's packages, F-19 Stealth Fighter offers an informative and exciting look at the USAF's sneakiest piece of kit.

There are loads of missions, a huge, informative manual, and above all the chance to get really deeply involved. The old adage "the more you put in, the more you get out" is a dead ringer here - read up on all the intricacies and this game will reward you with hours of absorbing fun.

The Spectrum version is both graphically and sonically sound. The wire-frame graphics are well constructed, with the occasional sound effect (like the chatter of machine gun fire or the whoosh of a missile release) adding to the atmosphere. Accuracy is up to the usual MicroProse standard, F-19 Stealth Fighter is certainly worthy of consideration from Speccy flight simmers.

You really have to play this game taking each separate mission as a challenge, since there are no pre-written campaigns like in other sims. Some might resent this, but the makers of the game knew that they needed something to make the players keep coming for more, and that's a sophisticated scoring system where every pilot (you can have many at the same time) can get promoted or decorated if he does good; and you're encouraged to play in high difficulty levels because you get higher scores. The ultimate goal for a F-19 pilot is being awarded every decoration including the Congressional Medal of Honor, and reaching Brigadier General rank.

F-19 Stealth Fighter has class written all over it. The graphics are pretty good, if not quite as glossy as the recent competition, though they are fast and the round-the-plane views are excellent. For those who want a strictly fly, shoot, have fun game then the Ocean sim is more in your flight path. On the other hand, if you want a superb, sophisticated, enjoyable, complex and action packed simulation then you want a copy of F-19, a sim from the people who really know about sims.

Auf dem Amiga macht die Flugsimulation "F 19 Stealth Fighter" eine gute Figur, auch wenn das Prinzip "Take off, Bombe werfen, Landen" auf Dauer etwas langweilt. Die Umsetzung ist weitgehend identisch mit der Atari ST-Version: Die Grafik ist flott und weitgehend ruckfrei, dafür sind die Sounds etwas dürftig.

Schneller als das AT-Vorbild und mindestens genausogut spielbar – die Programmierer haben sich nicht darauf beschränkt, das Programm einfach "rüberzuziehen", sondern eine sehr gute, eigenständige Version programmiert. Am Spielverlauf selbst hat sich nichts geändert: aufsteigen, Bombe werfen, Gegner anstürmen, heimfliegen.