Flying Saucer was a game created in the late nineties for the personal computer that was running the Windows based operating system. Flying Saucer is a surreal little action adventure game that features some bits of a shooter in it, as well. Postlinear Entertainment, a fairly obscure programming company, developed this title. It was published by an even lesser known company in JoWooD Productions Software AG. It offers some bits of mystery and detective themes (as well as numerous others), but it is primarily a science fiction game.
Admittedly, the storyline of Flying Saucer is maybe not A list material. It is definitely something out of a horrible B Science Fiction movie that people still can’t help but to watch over and over again. The gamer plays the part of the protagonist, who is a military pilot named Boon. He is living with his girlfriend Emily. In the middle of what seems to be a nasty, but still routine, thunderstorm, his brother Steven is flying a military mission and is abducted by aliens. Naturally, he can still contact you telepathically so he is able to offer you advice and assistance as you launch your own mission. Your girlfriend Emily also gets abducted by the
same abduct-happy aliens, and Boon can’t take it any longer. He has decided to launch his own independent mission, return his loved ones to their home planet, and kick some alien behind. Boon first goes to Area 51, hijacks an alien space craft (which was not supposed to exist) and sets out after the aliens. He will undertake a total of twenty-two missions while he is trying to find his brother and girlfriend.
It certainly has the makings for a very stereotypical space shooter, with power ups and wave after wave of alien ships charging the user in set formations. Actually, Flying Saucer is a bit better than all of that. The look of the space craft Boon has commandeered, to begin with, is very attractive and sleek looking. The flight physics are very good and realistic, although the shape of the craft is not necessarily so. Flying the “flying saucer” is a challenge, and the user will have to be on his toes to make it work. Moreover, the missions are diverse and well done, making this nothing like a repetitive shooter. Boon will face everything from the alien Cyners to agents of his own military who are angry about him stealing the government cover-up space craft.
This is a surprisingly nice little game. It is nothing overly complex, and if you can get around…or really immerse yourself in…the silly story, you will find a very enjoyable play.
