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If you've ever fancied yourself as a pilot taking on hordes of enemy aircraft single-handed then this is your type of game. Fans of the arcade game 1942 will no doubt notice more than a passing similarity, although the enemy seem to have adopted different attack tactics.

You command a Lockheed Lightning Fighter, taking on the waves of Japanese fighters and bombers that come swooping in as you patrol the South Pacific.

You take off from your carrier at the start of each level and land again before the next - providing you survive.

Destroying certain planes give you limited extra firepower or Destructor Smart Bombs. Your plane can also perform up to three loops to get out of those awkward little situations, but you do get an extra bonus for keeping them.

As these are operated by the spacebar you usually end up not being able to use them to any great advantage anyway. The larger fighters take a bit more killing and the bomber almost refuses to be shot down, which means using different strategies on different planes.

Fortunately all is not lost, for occasionally you are joined by another plane which acts as a shield for a while - who said chivalry was dead?

Joystick response is good although I felt the plane was a bit restricted as it is confined to the lower quarter of the screen.

The game is quite addictive, with a definite feeling of "just one more go" whenever you lose all your lives. Graphically the game falls down a bit - the planes are rather uninspiring, especially your own.

The background is quite well designed and scrolling is very smooth, and the planes swoop and turn quite convincingly.

Some planes seem to have the ability to fly backwards (pretty clever, these Japanese!) but this doesn't really detract from the game.

Sound effects are good but an unimaginative tune plinks away in the background. However, you can turn the tune off but leave the sound effects on.

Overall, Screaming Wings is a fairly average shoot-'em-up. It'll keep you occupied for a few hours but the lack of variety in later screens and having only one level means once you have played it a few times the appeal fades.

At the price it's worth trying it out before parting with your money.