If you enjoy Military Simulation games, and in particular, aircraft sims, then this just might be the one for you. But be prepared, you don't learn to fly one of the worlds most technically advanced airplanes in just a couple of hours. If your looking for a "turn it on and start shooting" type of game, this isn't it. However, if you want access to every switch, instrument, indicator, and of course, every weapon, on this plane then this IS your type of game. To say the least, it is very involved, but rewarding once you get through the training.

Flanker 2.5 is one of Ubi Soft's Super Saving Series games and is a re-release of Flanker 2, it does include an extensive list of upgrades and fixes from the previous version. The first thing you will notice when you open the CD case is the lack of an instruction manual, maybe this is because it is a Super Saving Series game, maybe because it is a re-release, either way it sure would have been nice to have had one, but rest easy, the manual IS there on the CD. It is in PDF format and you can read it onscreen or print it out, but if you print it, be sure to have 234+ sheets of paper ready, yup its that big! Now you know why there was no printed manual! After you spend some time in the manual, it will be time to climb in and take this bird for a spin. First you are going to have to spend some time setting up your joystick, buttons, and response levels. It takes some time but has to be done to be able to play.

Several Introduction and Training Videos, will get you up to speed fairly quickly. If you have never played this game, I strongly suggest you go through all the training first. Once the training is done you will then be able to enter into one of the missions, or use the mission editor to create your own missions. Now the fun really begins, dogfight with other aircraft, or engage ground targets, from either land based airstrips or from the deck of an aircraft carrier. Give commands to your wingmen, deploy counter measures, keep an eye on your radar, and hope you can remember what all the gauges and instruments mean, what the heck is that blinking red light and why is it buzzing? Is this button for counter measures, or does it lower the landing gear? Oh crap! Was that a seagull or a missile that just went whizzing past the canopy on the right side? EJECT, EJECT!  Man what a RUSH!

The game uses a really nice 3D engine that give you a very good sense of reality, space, and speed. The graphics are all of very good quality, some of the visuals are spectacular. This game gives you a very nice selection of aircraft, terrain, missions, and graphics selections. There is a mission editor also that you can create your own missions, add targets, change terrain, set your own wingmen and enemy aircraft, you create it, you fly it! There is an in-flight prompter, that will let you know when you are trying to land too fast, angle of attack is too low, ect ect. It can be set to either English or Russian.

I do have to return to my opening statement, this game is complex, it is NOT an arcade type flyer. If you are looking for something to play quick, keep looking, however, if you are willing to invest the time to learn to fly this game, you should be pleasantly surprised with the realistic Gameplay provided.

Installation: Easy,.... Setup: Moderate

Gameplay: 8
Good solid Gameplay, many missions to choose from, many options from controlling your wingman to creating your own missions. Controls are complex, but then so is flying the real plane. A lot of replay value here, and it's fun.

Graphics: 7.5
Again, a good solid game, graphics are not "Cutting Edge" but they are far from the worst. They are enough to make things believable and give you a good sense of reality.

Sound: 7
You may have to make sound adjustments in the options screen to set things up the way you like, I had to fiddle with it quite a bit before I got it to where I wanted it (are you sure you want to listen to your prompter in Russian?)

Difficulty: 9
This is a complex combat flight simulator, and even after you learn to control the plane, it will get very hectic trying to remember all the controls when you get involved in a dogfight! The learning curve for this sim is quite high.

Concept: 6
While I like flight sims, the concept has nothing new to add. There are many many sims out there, they are all about the same, engage other aircraft, or targets on the surface, either you fly for the West or the East. Each has mild differences in their interface but that's about it.

Multiplayer: 6
Multiplayer is available on-line. There is already site set up for the game (go through the UBI-SOFT site) but remember that this game is a re-release and the gamers usually move with the tide, and with Lock On Air Combat now out, there may not be as many playing this on-line.

Overall: 7.5
This game gives a good solid bang for the buck (Super Savings Series games are pretty cheap in price, this one is around $10). Nice flight performance, and decent graphics, added with the editor, give you plenty of replay options. Complex controls will challenge you. Realistic Gameplay, aircraft, and terrain.
Ovaldog says "Worth the Price"