When simulation specialists turn their attention to futuristic fighters, expect real motion sickness. Neil Jackson straps himself in and reaches for the bag

Microprose risk accusations of jumping on the bandwagon with F-19 Stealth Fighter. Falcon, Fighter Bomber and F-29 Retaliator are only three of the current gult of military flight sims on the shelves. It should be remembered, though, that it was Wild Bill Stealey and his boys who started the wagon rolling more than two years ago when Gunship hovered into view on ST screens.

F-19 Stealth Fighter has a massive task ahead if it is to beat Falcon or F-16 Combat Pilot, both older ST sims with staunch supporters. However, like the plane it depicts, F-19 Stealth Fighter is equipped with all the necessary opponent-bashing kit it needs.

Regardless of the design differences, the missions are the same. The F-19 is designed for low-level, all-weather, ground strike and reconnaissance missions. The Stealth Fighter gets its name from its odd, curvaceous shape which reduces the aircraft's reflected radar image and enables it to creep up on targets before they're aware of the threat. Thanks to its comprehensive array of air-to-air missiles, it also has the ability to engage any enemy fighters than get too close for comfort.

Flying the F-19 is straightforward (and with full throttle you'll see what I mean!). It's easy to chuck around and has none of that pedantic, just-twitch-your-wrist-and-crash-the-plane movement associated with Falcon. Flying feels good, especially when using the early warning systems which keep you above 200 feet and allow ample time for evasive action. Uncomplicated flying means you can get involved with the excitement of mission strategy, rather than being occupied with the job of just staying airborne.

Another excellent feature is the weather. This has been done before, but F-19 takes the prize for realism. Great banks of nimbo-strato-cumulo-gobbledigook float above the horizon and you can fly right into them for cover.

A glorious effect occurs when you fly upwards through clouds at night and the sky clears on the topside to reveal a starlit sky twinkling in all its twee wonderfulness. It's enough to make you come over all poetic if you didn't have to keep a look out for those uncultured MiGs!

Dodging the radar requires frequent alterations in course, which prevents a boring "in, drop 'em and out" approach. Waypoint indicators can be re-mapped in flight and autopilots which follow them give you more time to prepare for the dangers ahead.

For beginners there's a training mode that enables you to fly all missions without danger, and the manual supplies a step by step guide for the mission to destroy Tripoli's defences.

Gunship was a game flight sim aficionados used to set their (altimeter) clocks by, but F-19 Stealth Fighter is even better. The game's vector-engine runs much faster than its older stable mate. Thanks to machine code instead of C, it peaks at around seventeen frames a second, more than enough to give the illusion of continuous animation without jerks (and I'm not talking Amiga owners here!)

F-19's graphics make maximum use of the ST's range of colours. Previous MicroProse releases suffered from poor colour resolution because of the limitations of the machines they were transferred from. Extensive re-writing for the ST version of F-19 has produced superb results.

Don't be tempted to think F-19 Stealth Fighter is a Sunday afternoon joyride - because it's not. Quick wits, sharp thinking and forward planning are all essential for survival.

Since MicroProse last released a 3D military flight sim, their reputation for being the best in the field has declined. Recent attempts to hi-jack their crown, such as Fighter Bomber and Falcon, have been shallow in comparison, offering only fleeting glimpses of what is possible with 3D vector technology. F-19 Stealth Fighter has enough strategy and variation to create a longer-lasting impression and proves that MicroProse can still keep ahead of the competition.

Thirty quid seems a lot to pay, but the huge box is stuffed with goodies. There's a well-presented, info-packed manual, colour maps and an overlay for your keyboard, making this an excellent investment. If you have the dosh (and it's only a fiver more than most quality games), then go for F-19 Stealth Fighter. You won't be disappointed!