Tell me more about that detailed mission planning...
For the full-on gaming experience you'll want to assume the role of Supreme Air Commander and manage the entire UN air force in support of your ground troops. You'll have to pick all the targets you want your squadrons to go after and this needs to be done on a twice-daily basis. Then you'll want to jump into a plane of your choice - and there are several to pick from - and go and do the mission yourself.

And what's that like?
Absolutely splendid. The preview version we've played is excellent, the ground looks superb, there are loads of little graphic effects - such as your plane's exhaust - and flying a plane's a whole load of fun - even if they're twitchy to start with. There were a few things wrong with the beta version we played - crashing was difficult for example, but we've got every faith Rowan have tidied up all the loose ends.

You're impressed then?
Certainly are. Even Future Gamer's resident flight sim fan Andrew Ashwin went 'Wow!' when first presented with MiG Alley. There are even multiplayer options to enable up to eight players to take part in head-to-head network play. Then there's the mission builder which enables you to fly your own sorties.

Scramble!
That's an old arcade game, you fool.

Chocks away?
You can have that one. Only just though.

*1500 kilometres of terrain to fly over
*Scaleable involvement enables you to take part in dog fights or orchestrate the entire UN offensive
*There's a mission builder too
*13 different and authentically remodelled aircraft
*You'll have to be into your planes