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Battle Of Britain is the largest release in PSS's Wargamers series, which includes Battle For Midway and Theatre Europe. You control Fighter Command, directing the eighteen squadrons which stood between Britain and the Luftwaffe threat.

The game is an unusual combination of arcade action and a strategy game. Such combinations have had limited success in the past, but this one is most effective. Unlike many strategic games, the 'dead time' spent waiting for the computer to do something is kept to a minimum - there are always orders to be given, or situations to check on.

The incoming squadrons of Luftwaffe aircraft have three prime targets: airfields, radar bases and cities. The game has been programmed to reflect the actual Luftwaffe strategy of the time, but this does not decrease replayability because the computer responds very well to the player's own actions.

One loaded, you are offered several options: a training game (recommended even if you are a strategy game expert or an arcade game buff). 'Blitzkrieg', which reflects one heavy day's mass assault, and the 'Campaign Game', which covers the whole of the Battle of Britain. All these give the player the choice of including arcade action or not, and there are three different speeds at which to play the Campaign Game.

The basic objective is to beat off the Luftwaffe attacks with the minimum of loss (of course!). To do this, the player must launch and direct squadrons from nine airfields, taking into consideration such factors as fuel, ammunition and weather conditions. Squadrons take losses in combat and the game comes across as a highly fluid one, with units shifting constantly and airfields taking damage from bombing runs so as to make it more difficult to land squadrons at them.

The arcade action option comes into play whenever a British squadron intercepts a Luftwaffe probe or when an airfield comes under attack. In the first case, the action is through a simple flight combat simulator with some very smooth graphics. In the second case, the player controls an anti-aircraft gun on the airfield under attack.

The game requires the use of a joystick, both with and without the arcade option. Until movement is performed by placing the cursor over the unit and selecting options with the fire button.

In terms of graphics, the game is attractive and the arcade sequences are smooth but short. The game is played on a map of southern England and the unit markers are clear and easy to read. Status of units and airfields is displayed in a window when the cursor is placed over them, and other messages appear on the top two lines of the screen.

Drawbacks: This is a one-player game with no option to control the Luftwaffe. The requirement of using a joystick seems slightly unnecessary - keys could have been used to obtain the same results, although, to be fair, some of the action is so fast that a joystick is better.

Overall, this is an enjoyable and absorbing game with a good balance between reflex and strategy gaming. Recommended.