This flight simulator is so amazing that it can hardly be called a 'game' - many real airline pilots use this software to help them train. And the graphics!!

I still remember when I first came across Flight Simulator, many years ago. My uncle, a pilot, let us watch him use it. He said that us kids weren't allowed to play it because this was a "real, serious program" and not just a game. We were amazed by the controls, the stick-line graphics and the fact that it really was like you were flying.

Fast forward to the 2004 version. You can fly in just about any location you want - from Alaska to Hawaii to small east coast islands! Plug in your nearby airport and take off in any sort of weather, on any kind of plane you can imagine. Sure enough, the richly detailed landscapes below you will be very familiar! There are trees and shrubs, rolling ocean waves that crash onto the beach. I took off from a small airport near my house and sure enough, the small hotel by the airport was clearly visible from the sky!

Not only do they have current planes, but they also include a wide variety of historical planes as well. Learn just how much of an effort it was for the Wright brothers and Lindbergh to make their achievements! There are many built in scenarios for you to play with, from reproducing those historic flights to doing scheduled trips around Hawaii and other gorgeous locations. Sure, doing the flying is fun, but enjoying the scenery is half the delight!

If you're new to flying, don't worry at all. There are now built in video training programs with real flight professors. You also get step by step tutorials in every aspect of flying a plane. And since all of the instruments and concepts are 100% the way they are in a real life plane, you might be inspired to continue on with real pilot's training once you are comfortable with this system. Many pilot students use Flight Simulator regularly to help them remember concepts and techniques!

Highly, highly recommended for ANYONE who has ever dreamed about flying a plane. The software is simply amazing in so many ways, and such an achievement compared to the early days of flight sims, not so very long ago.

Buy Flight Simulator 2004 from Amazon.com