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Spitfire 40 is an impressive flight simulator and aerial combat game that gives you the chance to join 'the few' defending South East England against the onslaught of the Luftwaffe. Switching between the authentic-looking instrument panel and the cockpit view it is possible to recreate how the war must have looked from an air ace's point of view.

There are three modes: practice, combat and combat practice. If you want to avoid the complexities of taking off which takes some time to master you can go immediately into a dogfight training scenario at 10,000 feet.

Getting the enemy fighter into your sights is challenging and the dives and turns are simulated by an artificial horizon that unnervingly tends to put the ground above your head quite frequently. This, it must be said, is due to this pilot's inexperience as in the early stages of combat becoming disorientated is unavoidable.

Destroying the enemy while flying upside down at 5,000 feet may lack a little in style but it is effective. Continued practice shows that the opposition can be brought down with a little more panache and less uncontrollable spinning.

The game comes complete with a very thorough manual that takes you through the principles of fighter flying and gives tips to improve your prowess so that you can progress towards the goal of filling your manterpiece with medals. Overall, Spitfire 40 has enough variety and difficulty to please 'the few' who are dedicated flight simulation buffs and perhaps the many who have so far shunned the lure of the computer cockpit.