- June 18, 2009
- NovaLogic
F-22 Lightning 3
Platforms
About
F-22 Lightning 3 is an action-packed combat flight simulator that allows players to take control of the advanced F-22 Raptor stealth fighter. The game features intense aerial battles, realistic aircraft physics, and a variety of mission types including air-to-air and air-to-ground combat. With stunning graphics and attention to detail, F-22 Lightning 3 provides a thrilling and immersive flight experience for both casual and hardcore gamers.





- The game offers a nostalgic experience for fans of classic flight simulators, with many players recalling fond memories from their childhood.
- Despite its age, the game features a good balance of arcade and simulation gameplay, making it accessible for both casual and serious players.
- With some tweaks and patches, the game can run smoothly on modern systems, allowing players to enjoy its campaigns and missions.
- The game suffers from numerous technical issues, including crashes and compatibility problems on modern operating systems, which can frustrate players.
- Graphics and controls are outdated, leading to a less immersive experience compared to contemporary flight simulators.
- Many players report a lack of intuitive tutorials and guidance, making it difficult for newcomers to learn the game effectively.
- story94 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
The game's story is minimal, primarily conveyed through "situation reports" that provide context for missions, with some players noting that the narrative lacks depth and cutscenes. However, the campaign features a substantial number of missions across various regions, with a mix of objectives that can create a sense of progression, as destroyed enemies remain absent in subsequent missions. Despite its limitations, the game manages to maintain player engagement through diverse mission types and a scoring system that tracks performance.
“The size of the game in terms of content is massive for that time, with several campaigns spanning across multiple missions with interesting objectives and targets at times.”
“Lightning 3 also has a very interesting story, and does a good job of telling it despite there being little more than 'situation reports' to fill in the background for your missions.”
“You work your way through various deployment campaigns and the mission situations build up to a finale mission for each campaign (typically culminating in a nuclear strike or combination bombing/multiple enemy squadron mission).”
“The loadout, it turns out, doesn't matter so much, even if some missions do feel like you're not making any decisions.”
“The worst bug: if you destroyed all enemy radars and missile launchers in every mission of the final campaign (select your wingman to engage enemy), then you can't complete the final mission because you can't receive the voice authorization to release the nuclear weapon.”
“Those developers didn't examine every mission carefully before the game was released.”