Air War in Korea: F-86 Sabres vs. MiG-15s.

• Position: MiG Alley game - Software Review - Brief Article - Evaluation

David LL. Silbergeld

Another Interplay & Empire Interactive Simulation winner is MiG Alley, the Korean War and the 1950s, with dogfights over MiG Alley.

Forget the guided missiles of today. This is where the Cold War aces and top guns were born. Skill comes out on top over electronics.

This sim has a lot of flight options that include the F-51 Mustang, F-80 Shooting Star, F-84 Thunderjet, three versions of the F-86 Sabre, and two versions of the MiG-15. Missions can include the following scenarios:

* A bomber escort along the Yalu River.

* "Quick Mission," which allows you to become familiar with all of the airplanes in your inventory.

* "Campaigns," that incorporate air-to-ground support (trucks, troops, trains) or forward air controller-directed missions.

* Lines-of-communications targets, with accurate flak to evade.

* Chinese aircraft dogfights and much more.

The key to this game is not just to out-fly or outgun the enemy, it's to win the war, so you will need to prioritize targets and assign sorties to determine the successful outcome of the whole war, not just the battle. The game incorporates some very aggressive and clever artificial intelligence which will make losers of less than aggressive pilots.

Configuration requirements: Windows 95/98 with Direct-X 6.0 (included in software), Pentium II 300 MHz plus, 64+ MB RAM, 400 MB HD space, 12X CD-ROM Drive, 4 Meg Direct D3D video card with 12 MB RAM, 3D accelerator card, Sound Blaster or better sound card, joystick (Feed-back controls preferred).

For those too young to remember or understand the historical implications of the air war in Korea, Flight Journal Magazine (June 2000, pages 76-83, "Korea: The First Twelve Months" by Warren Thompson) will provide you with all of the historical background that you will need. The article provides technical comparisons of the F-51 vs. MiG-15, as well as the F-86.

These two outstanding jets--the MiG-15 and...