Hot on the heels of its simulation of the Eastern bloc's most closely-guarded aeronautic secret, Domark is about to do it again. This time the object of developer Simis' attention is the MiG 29M Super Fulcrum, top secret successor to the MiG 29 and a machine which no Western expert has as yet clapped eyes on.

According to information apparently gained from Simis' connections in the trade, the new updated MiG features 'fly by wire' technology, enhanced engine power and, thanks to a few new elements of body design, superior aerodynamics and even greater manoeuvrability.

But it's not just the plane that's changed. Second MiG around, Simis has scrapped the original

In terms of aircraft manoeuvrability and the relative complexity of the overall mission, MiG 29M Super Fulcrum is a definite step up from its predecessor. It's obvious that a lot of thought has gone into providing a genuinely different flying experience and using the campaign system to improve the long-term lastability of the game. The complexity of the landscape too has been improved - it still doesn't create the kind of visual feast you'd get, say, from MicroProse's F-19 Stealth Fighter, but there's definitely a lot more to look at, observe and admire, particularly the fractal landscape features which create a more realistic feeling of movement.

The sound too, which consists mainly of excellent engine noises plus one or two melodic tunes are definitely atmospheric. In-game presentation, one of the original MiG's primary shortcomings, has been boosted too. There's now a proper weapon selection screen, a whole army of jazzed-up menus and plenty of digitised pictures to break up the action.

It's still not up to the high standards set by Super Fulcrum's competitors: there's no training mode or auto-pilot and none of the opportunities to specify the quality of your opponents or make life easier by giving yourself unlimited weapons or fuel.

Even the campaign map, for example, can only be accessed mid-mission if the plane happens to be landed at an airfield. This means that despite the outstanding technical accuracy, MiG 29M probably won't appeal to quite as broad an audience as other more comprehensive sims (Flight Of The Intruder, for example).

However, the fact remains that - apart from its predecessor - there's nothing else quite like it: it's nice to see a politically neutral flight sim for once and if you're after a technically impressive flying experience Soviet-style, MiG 29M is hard to beat.