By:
Hasbro Interactive

The privilege of piloting an F-16C is usually reserved for a select few. It takes physical and mental strength, determination, sharp reflexes and a stomach of steel to be even considered as a fighter pilot candidate. 4 years of college, 6 weeks of boot camp, 11 months of Officer Training School, a 10 year commitment, 20/20 vision and a passed physical are the absolute minimum requirements to sit behind the stick of a Fighting Falcon. Even those who graduate first in their class are placed on a long waiting list. The US Air Force takes every step necessary to ensure that the only people who pilot their multi-million dollar multi-role tactical fighter/bombers are the crème de la crème.

That was then. Today, anyone with $45 in their pocket can experience all the thrill of flying an honest to goodness F-16C without so much as even breaking a sweat thanks to Microprose's Falcon 4.0.

Almost 10 years after its original release, Microprose's Falcon 3.0 is still considered by some as the yardstick by which other modern-day combat flight simulators are measured. Through the help of Pete "Boomer" Bonanni, an F-16 flight instructor and a Viper Driver (the name affectionately given to F-16 pilots by their colleagues), Microprose developed a flight simulator that was on the cutting edge in terms of accurate flight models, realistic mission variables, proper mission execution and graphics.

Just as the competition was catching up, Microprose moves the bar up another notch. "Boomer" makes an encore appearance in Falcon 4.0 and his field expertise, coupled with the advances in PC performance, video and storage technology make it the "new benchmark in flight sim technology". But while Falcon 4.0 is undoubtedly the new flight sim monarch, it's not always good to be the king. Read on to find out what the game brings to the table, and if it's really for you or not.