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It's so incredibly risky, you shouldn't even consider it. You'll be out on a limb, no one to protect you, and it could live with you for the rest of your life. Many have tried - but few have come back with even a vestige of honour and dignity.

Okay, so you insist on being an actor in a Mega-CD interactive movie. Don't say I didn't warn you. Here's one... Tomcat Alley. It's like that Tom Cruise movie, er, Top Gun. They were even going to get Kelly McGillis, but she's doing panto. Listen big mouth, you can forget your Stanislavski - You basically take to the skies and blow the crap out of anything with wings. But it's a serious movie, you know? It raises issues. Pity no-one will appreciate it as art.

Developed as an original interactive movie, Tomcat Alley's scenario is very Top Gun in flavour.

Down all the designated targets and return alive from each mission.

Lucky Tomcat pilots use an advanced HUD (Heads Up Display) that oversees all the functions normally associated with joysticks and flip switches. The icons on the HUD are ranged in columns on either side of the display.

1. Small Missiles
   These are the standard sidewinders armed for missions. Your plane carries up to 15.
2. Large Missiles
   More powerful, these missiles are retained for larger targets. They take longer to 'lock-on'.
3. Air/Ground
   This control toggles between air and ground targeting.
4. Radio
   Occasionally you need to respond to a message from base or your wing-men using this control.
5. Camera
   Activate recording on reconnaissance missions with this icon.
6. Evasive
   Your Tomcat comes filled with electronic anti-missile technology. It's activated from here. You are limited to nine 'evasives' per mission.

The game is a mixture of reflexes and non-interactive film. First select a 'waypoint' from the HUD, then one of the enemies to chase. You'll see a plane in front, which you try and 'lock-on' to with your crosshair. Split-second timing is needed to successfully shoot down a MiG. Miss and they might have a chance to shoot you.

To make you feel you're flying with real buddies, and not just dummies in uniform, the 'goodies' have personalities. These are developed in the video sequences between missions. Your navigator, Dakota, has the serious hots for the hotshot female of the squadron, Ratchet. Watch his pathetic attempts at getting a date. There's also a bullish commander, who looks like Father Dowling.

Missions vary from taking out bombers to getting pictures. Later missions lead on from their predecessors. One involves taking out a bridge you already protographed. It's sometimes necessary to fly a rescue mission if your wing team is brought down.

It's hard not to be impressed by Tomcat's brilliant FMV scenes, and some of the action scenes rival those of Top Gun. However, as is becoming the norm with these "movies on CD", it's only a matter of time before the links become repetitious and it comes down to the gameplay to save the day.

This time, though, things are a little different - Tomcat Alley is quite an addictive blast. Granted, there's not a massive amount of interaction on the player's part, but the atmosphere generated by the conversations between your wingmen add a sense of urgency to the missions. Similarly, although most of the blasting is just a matter of putting a crosshair on a target, this is never as easy as it sounds and adds to the challenge.

This still isn't the perfect CD game, but it's a lot closer than Sega have got before...

Interactive movie time again, but this one's more like interactive MTV. The film cutting is slick and fast, with brilliant use of the Mega-CD access.

Also, the Cinepak FMV shows another gradual improvement in quality. With the standard limitations of the format, it's not hugely interactive, more a reflexes game.

I would have been happier if you had a chance to select various evasion routes rather than be presented with a limited number of avoids. However, it's an original concept, executed well and once more inferior CD hardware comes up with something better than the tawdry CD-i can manage.

Graphics 92%
P. Best Cinepak FMV ever? We like to think so. Fast cutting of scenes and convincing Special FX.

Sound 91%
P. In the air, the confusion of battle is simulated by great FX.
N. The music is appalling 'Rocky Movie' style stuff. CD quality is sometimes poor.

Playability 76%
P. Fast and rather furious to begin with, it strikes you as interactive Top Gun.
N. Limited and slightly repetitive gameplay over the succeeding levels.

Lastability 69%
P. By mission four the 'window' of tolerance is very narrow. Much practice will be needed.
N. The active elements of the game are limited.

Value For Money 77%
P. A full CD of video of a reasonably high quality.
N. Showpiece games like this are more of a games-player's luxury.

Overall 75%
The Mega-CD surprises once more with a technically impressive showpiece. But the qualms about lasting value remain.