Jet (video game)
| Industry | Video game development |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Jet (1985 video game) |
Jet is a combat flight simulator first released in 1985 by Sublogic. Its initial launch occurred on MS-DOS and Commodore 64 platforms in 1985, with subsequent versions for Apple II arriving in 1986, Atari ST and Amiga in 1988, and later for Macintosh and NEC PC-9801 in 1989.
In 1987, an enhanced edition titled Jet 2.0 was made available for MS-DOS.
Gameplay
Compared to Flight Simulator II, Jet provides more straightforward controls while maintaining compatibility with its scenery expansion disks. Players assume the role of pilots flying either an F-16 Fighting Falcon during terrestrial operations or an F/A-18 Hornet for missions launched from aircraft carriers. Gameplay options include free flight practice sessions, aerial dogfights against Soviet MiGs, targeted strikes on both land and maritime objectives, as well as demonstration flights. Combat loadouts allow customization of missile and bomb configurations.
The simulation incorporates authentic jet instrumentation such as altimeter, heading indicator, frame loading gauge, landing gear and brake indicators, fuel gauge, radar display, attitude indicator, and range finder, with the option to enable or disable certain instruments. Steering is controlled via joystick or numeric keypad inputs, while additional keys manage indicators, gear deployment, weapon systems, and pilot ejection. Players can also switch between various viewpoints, including a perspective from the control tower.
Reception
By the end of 1987, Jet ranked as Sublogic’s second highest-selling title on the Commodore 64 platform. Compute!'s Gazette in 1986 commended the game for being a more accessible improvement over Flight Simulator, noting its enjoyable experience on the Commodore 64. The Apple II version was praised for its visual quality but faced criticism due to slow screen refresh rates.
According to Computer Gaming World, Jet was regarded as more of a traditional "game" when contrasted with the more toy-like feel of F/A-18 Interceptor, with both titles receiving recommendations. Nevertheless, a 1994 evaluation assigned its combat mechanics a mediocre rating of just over one star out of five.