SU-27 is a hard-core flight simulator that was respected in its time but offers none of the fun extras players have come to expect from their simulations these days. The flight model is impeccable, but the game just doesn't run well on many computers and is far too complicated to appeal to a wide range of gamers (it's so accurate that the instruments in the cockpit are labeled in Cyrillic). Die-hard flight sim fans have many better bargains to choose from nowadays.

Team Apache is a helicopter game on the other end of the realism spectrum, and while it is fun to manage and lead an entire squadron of Apaches into battle, the combat gets dull in a hurry. We enjoyed the weather effects and smooth graphics engine, but there just wasn't enough substance there to maintain our attention.

Steel Panthers III is a turn-based tactical ground combat war game that was hailed in its time for being just the right combination of fun and realism. It's still a decent game, but there are better games out there.

Finally we have People's General, which arguably is the most fun game in the box and certainly should appeal to the widest audience. The subject of this turn-based game is World War III, played out in Asia. It proved to be surprisingly addictive and was granted an extended stay on our hard drive as a result. --T. Byrl Baker

Pros:

• People's General is a fun war game with broad audience appeal
• SU-27 has one of the most respected flight models ever created

• Most of these games are very old and will simply bore anyone who has come into contact with a modern game