Today Atari announced the release on Steam of a significant group of classic flight simulators that will bring back memories aplenty for veterans of the genre.
These include F-15 Strike Eagle and Solo Flight by acclaimed developer Sid Meier on top of Harrier Jump Jet, Dog Fight: 80 Years of Aerial Warfare, and The Ancient Art of War in the Skies.
F-15 Strike Eagle and The Ancient Art of War in the Skies launch today, while the remaining three titles will release next week.
Each will be priced at $6.99.
Bundles will also be available as follows:
Flight Combat Collection — $20.97 (25% off)
- Strike Eagle, Harrier Jump Jet, Ancient Art of War, and Dogfight: 80 Years of Aerial Warfare
Sid Meier Collection — $26.21 (25% off)
- Conflict in Vietnam, Crusade in Europe and Decision in the Desert, Solo Flight, and Strike Eagle
MicroProse War Simulation Collection — $39.14 (30% off)
- Conflict in Vietnam, Crusade in Europe, Decision in the Desert, Solo Flight, Strike Eagle, Harrier Jump Jet, The Ancient Art of War, and Dogfight: 80 Years of Aerial Warfare
If you’re unfamiliar with the games mentioned above, you can enjoy an official description below.
In 1983, the legendary Sid Meier created Solo Flight, the first realistic and deeply immersive flight simulator sporting a design that fundamentally changed how flight simulators to follow would test players’ piloting skills. The game features no autopilot or computer-aided navigation system; players must learn the dial-based instrumentation and VOR navigation to guide their plane to its destination. Solo Flight includes mission-based gameplay where players carefully navigate the skies while managing fuel and cargo loads, as well as proving the aptitude to land their aircraft safely.
In Meier’s F-15 Strike Eagle, players choose their desired mission and then find themselves inside of the sophisticated cockpit of an F-15 fighter jet, fully armed for combat and heading into enemy airspace. Named “Action Game of the Year” by Computer Gaming World in 1985, the game is based on real-life missions carried out by fighter pilots in the 1970s and ‘80s. Meier collaborated with Air Force pilot Bill Stealy to ensure F-15 Strike Eagle’s accuracy, which includes missions in Libya, Egypt, Iran, and more.
Also included in the collection are Harrier Jump Jet, Dogfight: 80 Years of Aerial Warfare, and The Ancient Art of War in the Skies, well-regarded flight simulation games that helped to establish the genre and shape the future of flight simulation video games. Harrier Jump Jet, originally launched in 1992, portrays the R.A.F GR7 and US Marine Corps AV-8B Harriers and features twenty high-action missions across two campaigns. Dogfight: 80 Years of Aerial Warfare, released in 1993, offers a “pure” air combat simulation experience that focuses on aerial combat and technique. It includes a handful of engaging game modes, including a unique “What If” gameplay option that allows players to match fighters from different eras in combat. The Ancient Art of War in the Skies was a unique pick in the genre, marrying map-based tactical war simulation with arcade-style aerial combat. The Ancient Art of War in the Skies delivers hours of compelling playtime with dozens of scenarios and missions.
