Just like I assumed with the Wii, when I first heard the iPhone would have accelerometer control, I thought a flight simulator would fit perfectly on it. Shortly after the App Store launched, Laminar Research released a portable version of their PC flight sim entitled X-Plane. The portable iPhone adaptation actually starts at version 9.0 of the PC version, so anyone who has played with it on the computer beforehand should know what to expect.

First of all, flight sims are not for everyone. If you’re the type of person who wants to get behind the cockpit, dogfight with waves of bogeys and launch missiles at enemy bases, all while attempting a triple barrel-roll backflip, this game is not for you. (But damn, that does sound awesome.) This is for the more modest flight enthusiast who is content with simply taking off, going from point A to point B and landing safely. Sure, on paper that doesn’t sound like the most exciting time of your life, but again, flight sims aren’t for everybody.

For those of you still reading, let’s get into the real meat of this game. Off the bat, you’ll notice a realistic on-screen HUD with accurate altitude, speed, direction and position indicators. While it’s not cluttered with everything you’d see in a real cockpit, it’s perfect for knowing the essentials while flying around. Sliding your finger on the left of the screen controls your thrust, while the right side controls the position of your brake flaps. There are also smaller toggle buttons for landing gear and brakes on the bottom of the screen.