The game swaps realism for gameplay

You play a pilot, codenamed Mobius One, who defends the fictitious continent of Eugea but the narrative unfurls around the story of a boy living in the occupied town of San Salvacion.

While most computer game narratives use animated video scenes, Ace Combat eschews this in favour of beautifully drawn stills.

As with any narratives they have to hold attention, but the slightly hackneyed nature of the story means you will soon be skipping past to get to the action.

Thankfully, the game itself is gripping.

While high-speed dogfights are the stuff of films such as Top Gun, in reality most combat in fighter planes is done over vast distances using radar and missiles.

Impressive speeds

Ace Combat sensibly ditches reality in favour of a more exciting experience.

Graphically, the game is very eye-catching.

The landscapes are among the best seen on the PS2 with accurate mountain and canyon features, which fly by at impressive speeds even when the skies are filled with enemy planes.

The visual effects, including shadows and jet wash, are also top notch.

There are 18 levels and 21 different planes to master and the game breaks you in gently.

The main criticism is that the game offers little to tempt those who would not normally get within a 100 miles of a fighter plane cockpit, albeit virtually.

Depth

But for those who feel the need for speed there is much in it worthy of their money.

The gameplay is fast, furious and simple enough to pick up and play, and has enough depth to warrant continued playing.

The single player campaign has some rewarding missions and a head-to-head feature for friends who want to try and shoot each other out of the sky.

Perhaps, a co-operative mode should also have been included to add to the games longevity.

The game has certainly not broken any new ground but does quicken the pulse and all titles should at least aspire to that.

Ace Combat: Distant Thunder is out for PlayStation 2.