B-17 Flying Fortress: The Mighty 8th - PC Games

The B-17 has a crew of 10, each with their own position and responsibilities, and each can be controlled as you might a real airman. Virtually anything you wish can be done, from giving first aid to an injured crew member to bailing out of a damaged aircraft; if you want your ball gunner to take over as navigator, he will do so. As much as flying the plane, commanding the crew is part of the fun of this sim.

The pilots controls are also fully operational so the switches for each different aspect actually work--from magnetos to the fuel mixture--it is all here. Alternatively, you can have the plane operating on AI, so you effectively do nothing, or you can jump in at any point to take control of any aspect of crewing the bomber. Of course, you only have to control the things how and when you want to. Apart from the B-17 you can also pilot a number of escort planes as well as the attacking German fighters. With a range of tutorials and a comprehensive manual and key-map, the only thing limiting your skills behind the controls is time.

B-17 Flying Fortress is probably the most comprehensive combat flying sim available, but supported with a range of AI options, you can concentrate on what you really want to do. The controls are extensive, and do take some time to figure out, but with internal and external graphics to die for, B-17 will entertain you. However, you will require a fairly powerful machine and as B-17 is an intensive simulator, it is perhaps unsuitable for some people's gaming needs. If you are a fan of combat or flying simulations, you must own B-17. This is a seriously good game. --Chris Hall