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Safety first seems to be the motto with a lot of the computer game launches these days.

If you have a successful game, then launch another version - seems to be the rule. Virgin's Falcon Patrol II conforms with this theory exactly.

In fact, the game is so similar to the first Falcon Patrol that it is difficult to see why Virgin bothered.

In fairness, it is far superior to the original. The graphics are superb, featuring pyramids in the desert and city skylines and the movement of the Falcon Patrol craft is fairly realistic - with vertical lift off and descent, acceleration and deceleration and an authentic profile of the plane as it turns.

One criticism of the Falcon's realistic turning graphics is that they slow the game down. When an enemy chopper zooms past you, you cannot immediately turn and give chase.

To some extent, this problem is resolved with the radar which can be used effectively to improve your performance. Certainly, the radar is not just a graphics frill as it tends to be with too many games that advertise radar as one of the game's features.

The best thing about Falcon Patrol II is the AAMs - the missiles. These are of the air-to-air and air-to-ground variety and speed out most realistically from the Falcon.

Falcon Patrol II is Virgin's best game yet. The trouble is that if you already own Falcon Patrol I, there's not really much point in buying this sequel as it is not sufficiently different.