Aero Elite

I'm probably the most reckless virtual pilot ever, so my preference is for fast-action arcadey fliers. But I do like tricky sim-style missions to straighten me up and fly right on occasion. Aero Elite has just enough of that to keep me high. Stringent pilot-training courses and competitions seem dull at first, but as you unlock cooler aircraft, the fun blossoms. My performance on the especially tricky helicopter tests has pretty much confirmed that I'll never pilot a real-life whirly, but the game rewards patient players who can master the intricacies of flight (Arcade mode offers quicker thrills without all the tests and trials). Dogfighting's quite a challenge, though --fans of Namco's Ace Combat games will cozy up to the missile-spewing, barrelrolling action, but less skilled aviators (like me) might end up reaching for the Eject button. I actually got much more satisfaction enjoying the rich backgrounds, rockin' hair metal, and engaging gameplay in the Pitot Training and Free Flight scenarios; I recommend you do the same. It's a strong rental or worthy purchase for flyboys.