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Top Gun (video game)
Encyclopedia
The popularity of the 1986 film Top Gun
resulted in a number of licensed video games that have been released since the film's theatrical debut:
, Commodore 64
, ZX Spectrum
and Nintendo Entertainment System
(NES) (with an equivalent version for Nintendo Vs. Series
arcade cabinets). The Commodore and Spectrum versions were developed by Ocean
while Thunder Mountain handled the PC version of the game. Konami
developed the Nintendo versions. The NES
version was released on November 1987 in North America, December 11, 1987 in Japan and on November 30, 1988 in Europe and Australia. According to Game Over by David Sheff, the NES version sold over 2 million copies.
A sequel, Top Gun: The Second Mission (titled: Top Gun: Dual Fighters in Japan), was developed for the NES by Konami. It was released in Japan on December 15, 1989, In North America on January 1990, and in Europe and Australia on: October 24, 1991.
Piloting an F-14 Tomcat
fighter, the player, as Top Guns main character Maverick, has to complete four missions. Given a choice of missiles, and starting with a training mission, the player is sent after an enemy aircraft carrier
, an enemy base and finally must destroy an enemy space shuttle
. The game had two endings. If the player lost but achieved a minimum score of 50,000 points, a still shot would be shown of the player being presented the Top Gun plaque that was awarded to Iceman in the film. If the player completed all four missions and successfully landed on the aircraft carrier, a scene would be shown of the F-14 taxiing on the carrier and the player waving to the LSO crew.
Gameplay takes place from the cockpi's point of view and consists of two main themes: dogfighting and landing the aircraft itself. For the dogfights, the player is allowed to pick between three missile types each varying in the target locking area they could be fire at. Landing of the aircraft can be particularly difficult as it required the player to control both speed and angle of aircraft. The point of view for the final part of the landing sequences is from the side of the aircraft carrier with the F-14 coming in from the right side of the screen.
helicopter. The third (and final) mission (which has two obstacle courses of avoiding lightning bolts and laser beams) is to destroy an enemy space shuttle.
Aside from the mission mode, the player can also select a one-on-one dogfight mode against seven aces or another player.
The game is noted for its much improved graphics, music during gameplay (which the first one lacks), and more notably for easier carrier landing sequence than the first game.
(opposed to more traditional sprite-based
graphics and straightforward gameplay of the NES version). The game features a two player mode, in single player mode the other aircraft is maneuvered by the computer.
in 1996 for the PC and Sony Playstation, but was an aborted title for the Nintendo 64. It was the first Top Gun game published since Second Mission. It is also the only title to feature any actors from the film, with James Tolkan
reprising his role as a commanding officer (he was called Stinger in the film, but is called "Hondo" here for reasons unknown.) The game's overall plot focuses on the player-character, Maverick, going to combat in Cuba, North Korea, and Libya against a secret group of mercenary pilots called the "Cadre."
and Zipper Interactive
in 1998
. Instead of the F-14 Tomcat, players have the opportunity to pilot the F/A-18E. It was considered to be a complete washout and received bad reviews for its noticeably lackluster design and gameplay.
in 2001
. It was developed by the now-defunct English developer Digital Integration, and published by similarly defunct French publishers Titus Software
.
It was later released for PC and Nintendo GameCube
the following year.
and in a live combat zone. Upon gaining access to each era the academy missions must be performed before moving to the combat zone itself, but whilst the former do introduce new game concepts, aircraft and weapons they are not simple training missions - players must face tough opponents and live fire to succeed. The game features various Navy fighter aircraft and bonus fighter aircraft.
Only the first era is accessible from the outset, and is set in South East Asia, towards the end of the Vietnam War
(erroneously showing the F-14 engaging in combat with North Vietnamese forces, despite never having fired a shot in action during that conflict). During the second era, the action is set in the Persian Gulf States
circa 1990; although the game story does not make direct reference, parallels can be drawn to the real-world Gulf conflicts of that time (such as hunting for Scud missiles and protecting oil refineries). The final era is set within the Arctic Circle
and depicts a future conflict based around disputed borders and a global fuel crisis.
was released on February 23, 2006 in Japan and May 3, 2006 in North America. The game was developed by Interactive Vision, and published by Mastiff Inc in North America, and Taito
in Japan.
The game lets players play through a story-driven campaign (featuring appearances by characters from the film) as well as a set of solo missions and a multiplayer mode that supports up to 4 players. The bottom screen is used as a map and weapons readout. There are two control schemes offered, but there seems to be no difference between them. However, the game was not well received.
was announced by Freeverse.
It is a 3rd person flight combat simulator that uses the accelerometer to pilot the plane around and touch firing controls. The plot involves the Miramar Top Gun School featuring cartoon versions of the film characters, Maverick, Iceman and Viper.
Mobile game publisher Hands-On Mobile
(formerly known as Mforma) have published three mobile phone
games based around Top Gun. The first two were top-down scrolling arcade shooters. The third game takes a different approach as a third-person perspective game, similar to Sega
's After Burner
games.
Top Gun
Top Gun may refer to:* Top Gun is a 1986 film starring Tom Cruise.**Top Gun , soundtrack to the movie**Top Gun , a number of games based on the movie...
resulted in a number of licensed video games that have been released since the film's theatrical debut:
Top Gun
Top Gun was released in 1987 for the PCPersonal computer
A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
, Commodore 64
Commodore 64
The Commodore 64 is an 8-bit home computer introduced by Commodore International in January 1982.Volume production started in the spring of 1982, with machines being released on to the market in August at a price of US$595...
, ZX Spectrum
ZX Spectrum
The ZX Spectrum is an 8-bit personal home computer released in the United Kingdom in 1982 by Sinclair Research Ltd...
and Nintendo Entertainment System
Nintendo Entertainment System
The Nintendo Entertainment System is an 8-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America during 1985, in Europe during 1986 and Australia in 1987...
(NES) (with an equivalent version for Nintendo Vs. Series
Nintendo Vs. Series
The Nintendo Vs. System is a coin-operated video game platform designed for two-player competitive play using the VS. UniSystem or VS. DualSystem, arcade system boards based on the Nintendo Entertainment System. Many of these stand-up or sit-down arcade machines had two screens and controls joined...
arcade cabinets). The Commodore and Spectrum versions were developed by Ocean
Ocean Software
The British company Ocean Software was one of the biggest European video game developers/publishers of the 1980s and 90s...
while Thunder Mountain handled the PC version of the game. Konami
Konami
is a Japanese leading developer and publisher of numerous popular and strong-selling toys, trading cards, anime, tokusatsu, slot machines, arcade cabinets and video games...
developed the Nintendo versions. The NES
Nes
-Localities:In Norway:* Nes, Akershus, a municipality in the county of Akershus in Norway* Nes, Buskerud, a municipality in the county of Buskerud in Norway* Nes, Hedmark, a former municipality in the county of Hedmark in Norway...
version was released on November 1987 in North America, December 11, 1987 in Japan and on November 30, 1988 in Europe and Australia. According to Game Over by David Sheff, the NES version sold over 2 million copies.
A sequel, Top Gun: The Second Mission (titled: Top Gun: Dual Fighters in Japan), was developed for the NES by Konami. It was released in Japan on December 15, 1989, In North America on January 1990, and in Europe and Australia on: October 24, 1991.
Top Gun
F-14 Tomcat
The Grumman F-14 Tomcat is a supersonic, twin-engine, two-seat, variable-sweep wing fighter aircraft. The Tomcat was developed for the United States Navy's Naval Fighter Experimental program following the collapse of the F-111B project...
fighter, the player, as Top Guns main character Maverick, has to complete four missions. Given a choice of missiles, and starting with a training mission, the player is sent after an enemy aircraft carrier
Aircraft carrier
An aircraft carrier is a warship designed with a primary mission of deploying and recovering aircraft, acting as a seagoing airbase. Aircraft carriers thus allow a naval force to project air power worldwide without having to depend on local bases for staging aircraft operations...
, an enemy base and finally must destroy an enemy space shuttle
Space Shuttle
The Space Shuttle was a manned orbital rocket and spacecraft system operated by NASA on 135 missions from 1981 to 2011. The system combined rocket launch, orbital spacecraft, and re-entry spaceplane with modular add-ons...
. The game had two endings. If the player lost but achieved a minimum score of 50,000 points, a still shot would be shown of the player being presented the Top Gun plaque that was awarded to Iceman in the film. If the player completed all four missions and successfully landed on the aircraft carrier, a scene would be shown of the F-14 taxiing on the carrier and the player waving to the LSO crew.
Gameplay takes place from the cockpi's point of view and consists of two main themes: dogfighting and landing the aircraft itself. For the dogfights, the player is allowed to pick between three missile types each varying in the target locking area they could be fire at. Landing of the aircraft can be particularly difficult as it required the player to control both speed and angle of aircraft. The point of view for the final part of the landing sequences is from the side of the aircraft carrier with the F-14 coming in from the right side of the screen.
The Second Mission
In the 1989 sequel, the player assumes the role of Maverick in an F-14 Tomcat as he is summoned for a new operation, divided in three missions. The 1st mission is to destroy the enemy's Tupolev Tu-1601Blackjack bomber. The second mission (which includes an obstacle course through a forest in which the player must avoid crashing into trees) is to destroy an advanced version of a HindMil Mi-24
The Mil Mi-24 is a large helicopter gunship and attack helicopter and low-capacity troop transport with room for 8 passengers. It is produced by Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant and operated since 1972 by the Soviet Air Force, its successors, and by over thirty other nations.In NATO circles the export...
helicopter. The third (and final) mission (which has two obstacle courses of avoiding lightning bolts and laser beams) is to destroy an enemy space shuttle.
Aside from the mission mode, the player can also select a one-on-one dogfight mode against seven aces or another player.
The game is noted for its much improved graphics, music during gameplay (which the first one lacks), and more notably for easier carrier landing sequence than the first game.
The computer game
The version for computers is a one-on-one dogfighting simulator with wireframe 3D graphicsWire frame model
A wire frame model is a visual presentation of a three dimensional or physical object used in 3D computer graphics. It is created by specifying each edge of the physical object where two mathematically continuous smooth surfaces meet, or by connecting an object's constituent vertices using straight...
(opposed to more traditional sprite-based
Sprite (computer graphics)
In computer graphics, a sprite is a two-dimensional image or animation that is integrated into a larger scene...
graphics and straightforward gameplay of the NES version). The game features a two player mode, in single player mode the other aircraft is maneuvered by the computer.
Top Gun: Fire At Will
Top Gun: Fire At Will was released by Spectrum HolobyteSpectrum HoloByte
Spectrum HoloByte, Inc. was a video game developer and publisher originally based in Alameda, California.The company was founded in 1983 and was most famous for its simulation games, notably the Falcon series of flight simulators and Vette!, a driving simulator from 1989...
in 1996 for the PC and Sony Playstation, but was an aborted title for the Nintendo 64. It was the first Top Gun game published since Second Mission. It is also the only title to feature any actors from the film, with James Tolkan
James Tolkan
James S. Tolkan is an American actor, often cast as a strict, overbearing, bald-headed authority figure.-Personal life:He was born in Calumet, Michigan, the son of Ralph M. Tolkan, a cattle dealer, and attended the University of Iowa, Coe College, the Actors Studio and Eastern Arizona College...
reprising his role as a commanding officer (he was called Stinger in the film, but is called "Hondo" here for reasons unknown.) The game's overall plot focuses on the player-character, Maverick, going to combat in Cuba, North Korea, and Libya against a secret group of mercenary pilots called the "Cadre."
Top Gun: Hornet's Nest
Top Gun: Hornet's Nest was released for PC by AtariAtari
Atari is a corporate and brand name owned by several entities since its inception in 1972. It is currently owned by Atari Interactive, a wholly owned subsidiary of the French publisher Atari, SA . The original Atari, Inc. was founded in 1972 by Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney. It was a pioneer in...
and Zipper Interactive
Zipper Interactive
Zipper Interactive is an American video game developer part of Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios and is located in Redmond, Washington. It was founded in 1995 by Jim Bosler and Brian Soderberg. It has created many different games, including the popular SOCOM series of games...
in 1998
1988 in video gaming
-Events:*June — Nintendo releases the last issue of "Nintendo fun club news";*July — Nintendo releases the first issue of Nintendo Power magazine.-Notable releases:*January 8, Konami releases Super Contra....
. Instead of the F-14 Tomcat, players have the opportunity to pilot the F/A-18E. It was considered to be a complete washout and received bad reviews for its noticeably lackluster design and gameplay.
Top Gun: Combat Zones
Top Gun: Combat Zones was released for the PlayStation 2PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
in 2001
2001 in video gaming
-Events:* Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences hosts the 4th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards; inducts John Carmack of id Software to the AIAS Hall of Fame...
. It was developed by the now-defunct English developer Digital Integration, and published by similarly defunct French publishers Titus Software
Titus Software
Titus Software, later known as Titus Interactive S.A., was a long-running French software publisher that produced and published video games for various formats over its lifetime....
.
It was later released for PC and Nintendo GameCube
Nintendo GameCube
The , officially abbreviated to NGC in Japan and GCN in other regions, is a sixth generation video game console released by Nintendo on September 15, 2001 in Japan, November 18, 2001 in North America, May 3, 2002 in Europe, and May 17, 2002 in Australia...
the following year.
Gameplay
The game is composed of 36 missions spread over 3 eras (distinct periods in history), intended to illustrate the history of the Top Gun combat school and its near future. In each era, missions are located both at the Top Gun academy at MiramarMarine Corps Air Station Miramar
Marine Corps Air Station Miramar , formerly Naval Air Station Miramar is a United States Marine Corps installation that is home to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, which is the aviation element of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force...
and in a live combat zone. Upon gaining access to each era the academy missions must be performed before moving to the combat zone itself, but whilst the former do introduce new game concepts, aircraft and weapons they are not simple training missions - players must face tough opponents and live fire to succeed. The game features various Navy fighter aircraft and bonus fighter aircraft.
Only the first era is accessible from the outset, and is set in South East Asia, towards the end of the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
(erroneously showing the F-14 engaging in combat with North Vietnamese forces, despite never having fired a shot in action during that conflict). During the second era, the action is set in the Persian Gulf States
Persian Gulf States
Persian Gulf States can refer to:* Countries in the Middle East bordering the Persian Gulf and sometimes known as the Gulf States: Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates....
circa 1990; although the game story does not make direct reference, parallels can be drawn to the real-world Gulf conflicts of that time (such as hunting for Scud missiles and protecting oil refineries). The final era is set within the Arctic Circle
Arctic Circle
The Arctic Circle is one of the five major circles of latitude that mark maps of the Earth. For Epoch 2011, it is the parallel of latitude that runs north of the Equator....
and depicts a future conflict based around disputed borders and a global fuel crisis.
Top Gun DS
Top Gun for the Nintendo DSNintendo DS
The is a portable game console produced by Nintendo, first released on November 21, 2004. A distinctive feature of the system is the presence of two separate LCD screens, the lower of which is a touchscreen, encompassed within a clamshell design, similar to the Game Boy Advance SP...
was released on February 23, 2006 in Japan and May 3, 2006 in North America. The game was developed by Interactive Vision, and published by Mastiff Inc in North America, and Taito
Taito
Taito may mean:*Taito Corporation, a Japanese developer of video game software and arcade hardware*Taito, Tokyo, a special ward located in Tokyo, Japan*Taito, also known as matai, paramount chiefs according to Fa'a Samoa...
in Japan.
The game lets players play through a story-driven campaign (featuring appearances by characters from the film) as well as a set of solo missions and a multiplayer mode that supports up to 4 players. The bottom screen is used as a map and weapons readout. There are two control schemes offered, but there seems to be no difference between them. However, the game was not well received.
Top Gun 2 for Nintendo Game Boy
Released in the 1990s, Top Gun 2 is a version for Nintendo Game Boy, just like the first game you get to fly in a F-14 Tomcat trying to complete missions against the Soviet Union. You basically try to destroy everything that is moving but for enemy bunkers and tanks. The game offers extra modes and jet fighters like MiG-29 Fulcrum or the others USA F-series, take combats with top enemy aces flying MiGs.Top Gun for iPhone OS/Mobile phone games
Top Gun for the iPhone OSIPhone OS
iOS is Apple's mobile operating system. Originally developed for the iPhone, it has since been extended to support other Apple, Inc. devices such as the iPod Touch, iPad, and Apple TV. Apple, Inc. does not license iOS for installation on third-party hardware...
was announced by Freeverse.
It is a 3rd person flight combat simulator that uses the accelerometer to pilot the plane around and touch firing controls. The plot involves the Miramar Top Gun School featuring cartoon versions of the film characters, Maverick, Iceman and Viper.
Mobile game publisher Hands-On Mobile
Hands On Mobile
Hands-On Mobile is a wireless entertainment company, established in 2001.The company develops, publishes and distributes mobile content via network operators and portals...
(formerly known as Mforma) have published three mobile phone
Mobile phone
A mobile phone is a device which can make and receive telephone calls over a radio link whilst moving around a wide geographic area. It does so by connecting to a cellular network provided by a mobile network operator...
games based around Top Gun. The first two were top-down scrolling arcade shooters. The third game takes a different approach as a third-person perspective game, similar to Sega
Sega
, usually styled as SEGA, is a multinational video game software developer and an arcade software and hardware development company headquartered in Ōta, Tokyo, Japan, with various offices around the world...
's After Burner
After Burner
is a 1987 Japanese flight simulator arcade game by Sega. It is one of the first games designed by Yu Suzuki. The player flew an F-14 using a specialized joystick , and the game spawned several sequels.-Gameplay:...
games.