The sounds are stunning

IL-2 is also interesting for a number of reasons, not least of which is its historical setting.

It takes place on the Russian front of WW2, a theatre so far ignored by games developers.

The star of the show is the Ilyushin-2 Sturmovik, the spiritual predecessor to the modern-day A-10 Warthog.

It fulfilled both ground and air attack roles, and was so vital to the Russian war effort that Stalin is rumoured to have said the IL-2 was as important as bread and air.

It was also the most-produced aircraft of the war, which is surprising as only eight people outside Russia have ever heard of it.

Superior

I have never flown an IL-2, or a Messerschmitt 109, or any of the other aircraft in this game, but the flight models make you feel as if you have.

It just feels "right," in a way most other simulations do not.

You can depart controlled flight if you push too hard, and stall or fall into a flat spin. That a computer programme can model such behaviour so well is a real testament to the developer's superior skills.

You can fly quick missions which pit you against your choice of aerial or ground-based adversaries, or build your own with the extremely powerful and flexible mission planner.

Amazing

You can also fly a campaign as a Russian or German pilot, and there is multiplayer support for up to 32 players.

It is difficult to find enough good things to say about IL-2. Faults? Well, nothing is perfect, but there are no glaringly obvious shortcomings to speak of.

To find this level of quality straight out of the box is rare indeed, and Russian developer Oleg Maddox should be praised for that. For now, this is absolutely the best combat sim you can buy for your PC. Truly amazing.

IL-2 Sturmovik is available now on PC format.