Thrustmaster Top Gun

Thrustmaster Top Gun**

Top Gun

**Manufactured By: Thrustmaster

Retail Price: $20-32 **

Review Date:11-10-98

A few years back Thrustmaster renamed some of their controllers. The FCS (Flight Control System) now bares the official, fully licensed Top Gun logo from Paramount Pictures. If you can see past the commercialization of this stick your in for a great ride.

The Top Gun is a quality, no-frills flight stick. It is molded for comfort and is very nice to use with flight sims. I am accustom to having a throttle and rudder pedals; features lacking in the Top Gun. However this stick can easily be expanded by adding the external controllers.

Features -

• Trigger + 4 buttons
• 4 way hat switch

System Requirements-

IBM compatible, game port, Windows 95/98

Price -

At around $30 the Top Gun stick is an excellent deal.

Performance -

The Top Gun is a top performer. It is supported in all the major flight sims either directly or as a 4 button stick with a hat switch. Used in Microsoft Flight Sim98, Microsoft Combat Sim, Plane Crazy, Flight Unlimited II and Air Warrior III no problems were experienced.

Coupled with a CH Products Throttle and Pro Pedals the combination was perfect. As a stand alone flight controller the lack of a throttle is a drawback.

Setup -

The Top Gun easily sets up under Windows selecting the Thrustmaster FCS in the Joystick Panel. You should calibrate and test the stick and its ready for use. No additional drivers are needed.

**Software -

**No software is provided or necessary.

Documentation -

The Top Gun comes with a basic setup guide that will walk you through the entire installation process.

Overall Rating -

The Top Gun is not a feature packed controller. It does have a very comfortable feel and expansion possibilities by adding an external throttle control and rudder pedals. That coupled with its unbeatable price makes it a recommended addition to your flight controller collection.