Battle of Britain: Wings of Victory II

We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender."

So said Winston Churchill on June 4th 1940, and indeed later that year the burgeoning British airborne forces, `the Few', were to save the nation from a future of humourless efficiency, soulless cars and leather shorts. Not for the first time, a video game now tries to portray some of the excitement and heroism of this turning point in European history, as GMX Media present Battle of Britain II: Wings of Victory.

In Wings of Victory, you can oversee the entire campaign or pilot individual aircraft. As commander, you give the instructions in a war where every plane, factory, airfield and radar station has a specific role to play and an impact on how the battle plays out. Or if that sounds like a little too much responsibility, you can take to the skies and fight for either side, in legendary fighters like the Spitfire, Hurricane and Messerschmitt, the terrifying Stuka dive bomber, or play as a gunner in the Dornier Do17, Heinkel He111, or Junkers 88 bombers. Your mission then will be to take as many of the enemy down as you can and stay alive to tell the tale.

The entire Battle of Britain campaign is authentically recreated, with thousands of aircraft waiting ready for battle at their historical airfields. A realistic spotter and radar system warns you of impending attack. Weather conditions can affect the efficiency of your spotters, and if a radar post is taken out, it'll leave a hole in your defensive screen. Vectors for interceptors from the nearest airfields are calculated for efficient response to the threat.

A `RealWeather' system brings both historical and dynamic weather to the campaign, and as well as affecting visibility for your spotters, turbulence and weather forecasts are featured. Realistic AI means your foes will hide in the clouds and fly well, or make mistakes, just like you do. Realistic engine and weapon sounds feature, and explosion size, power and appearance are based on actual military test data. Shudder as your plane is hit by projectiles, blink as the sky is obscured by smoke, or on the ground, bark orders at your staff; Battle of Britain II: Wings of Victory is a complete campaign simulator.