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While some 89% (ish) of little boys (and a few girls too) dream of being fighter pilots when they grow up, it's a sad truth that only a tiny fraction will ever get to fulfil those dreams. Or maybe it's not that sad, since a higher percentage might reflect an increase in global war.

Whatever - the thing is, flying a jet fighter is (no doubt) incredibly exciting, and most of us won't ever get to have a bash at it. This is but one of the explanations for the enduring popularity of Namco's Ace Combat series. The last version (Ace Combat: Distant Thunder) caught the imagination of legions of gamers, and after a long wait, the fifth in the series looks set to do the same.

Squadron Leader's most noticeable innovation over its predecessors is so important, the game is named after it. Yes, leading a squadron is the order of the day, and there's a great emphasis on communicating with your wingmen. Cockpit chatter was present and correct in Distant Thunder, but it's far more impressive in Squadron Leader: the near-constant verbal alerts, wisecracks and camaraderie helps flesh out the various characters, and really helps you feel like you're part of a group effort.

Increasing this sense of participation, you're frequently required to respond to commands and questions yourself, or even issue orders to your comrades. Both are achieved by simply pressing the appropriate directional buttons, according to on-screen menus - it's a simple system, but it does a lot to enhance the sense of working together. Simply cruising the skies with your buddies is a good feeling, thanks to the feeling of being one of a team.

Once the action starts you'll be glad you've a few mates on your side, too. Barrel-rolling, looping and letting off missiles by the dozen is intense stuff, and at first it can be all too easy to lose your orientation after a prolonged dogfight - even with a multi-million pound HUD system at your disposal. Once you get the hang of it, though, emerging victorious from an aerial duel is a feeling to savour.

Another facet of Ace Combat: Squadron Leader's success is probably the one that'll hit you first. The visuals are fantastic, with highly detailed vistas and incredibly realistic looking planes adding to the excitement. Everything is crisply rendered and moves incredibly smoothly - indeed, the game engine's performance is almost as impressive as the technology you get to fly around in. An astonishingly comprehensive line-up of real-world jets and bombers makes for plenty of variety, too.

If there's one thing that brings all this slick, arcade flying together though, it's the story, which is told through CGI cutscenes in typically lush Namco fashion. There are so many of these scenes, it's little wonder that the wait for the game has been quite so long. Thankfully, fans of the series should find the wait was worth it - the plot has as many twists and turns as the average dogfight.

With the new wingman command options, great graphics and slick arcade playability, Ace Combat: Squadron Leader is another successful instalment in Namco's aerial combat series. Those of you that haven't quite given up on that fighter pilot dream would do well to strap yourself into a comfy sofa and spend a few nights in the cockpit.

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