UFO

UFO is a video game in the simulation genre developed by subLOGIC and published by subLOGIC originally released in 1989. It is currently playable on DOS.

One of the most unique flight simulators ever created, UFO lets you pilot a flying saucer from outer space (although the box cover image looks more like a stealth fighter to me). The game description at MobyGames says it all about this intriguing title that, unfortunately, looks better on paper:

Using the 3D terrain modeling system designed for Bruce Artwick's famous Flight Simulator series, subLOGIC has created an entirely new flight simulator: UFO.

The user controls a UFO (with controls unlike any ground vehicle), which drifts and skids around the Earth with the power of standard thrusters or a gluon disruptor propulsion system, avoiding detection by humans (it can use its translucency to become invisible to radar), in search of fuel for galactic ships of its species. You can return to your mothership and exchange the recovered fuel for additional supplies. (Your mothership's tractor beam can also be used to capture terrestrial aircraft... hmmm...).

The controls are similar (but different) to those of a helicopter. You can control the amount of antigravity; you can pitch, roll, and yaw; you can thrust forward and backward, up and down, and side to side. (Thrusting up and down is preferable to the less precise use of antigravity, important during docking.) For advanced flight, it is possible to use antilaminar transducers to completely eliminate drag (important to prevent the hull from overheating), and to use the aforementioned gluon devices to 'fly' forward (but watch out for the spinning top!).

Other options are available, including landing capsules, illuminator beams, probes, gravitons, shields, teleportation. UFO is also compatible with subLogic scenery discs.

When the novelty wears off and after you have played with all the options, UFO becomes a more or less standard flight simulator that is a bit harder to understand than ground vehicles. However, it is still a lot of fun, and the guesses and assumptions that subLOGIC uses for the physics model are quite impressive and reasonably realistic. Recommended.

Note: unlikely as it may seem, the concept was revived in 1997 with Software 2000's Flying Saucer, a 3D flying saucer simulator released only in Europe. The near-complete CD-ROM version is on the site, so be sure to check that out as well.

It is possible that we have multiple downloads available when different versions exist.