Incoming

We're suckers for simplicity, and there was nothing quite as straightforward as the original Incoming. One of the first PC games to require a 3D card, it combined outstanding Technicolor visuals with a return to the days of pure arcade shoot 'em up action. Up, down, left, right, and fire: a game you could control from the joystick without engaging too much of the grey matter.

It was clearly a labour of love for Rage, and the fact that they've endorsed Instant Access' mission disc speaks volumes for the quality of this title. The plot's totally redundant and plays second fiddle to 48 new levels of adrenaline-inducing destruction and mayhem. As with the original (which you'll need to play this update), you get to control an army of static and free-roaming land, sea and air-based combat vehicles, each of which displays subtly different characteristics - from the manic and almost uncontrollable anti-aircraft guns to the sedate and lumbering fighter bombers.

While there's some superficial variety in the mission briefs, they boil down to a good excuse to exercise your trigger finger in what is essentially an all-out blasting frenzy. There are a few subtle and welcome innovations, the best of which is that allied forces assist you by joining the fray at critical points in the action, which is just as well because the enemy AI has been ramped to the max. To begin with the opposition craft gleefully meander into your sights with a lemming-like anticipation of their doom. But within a very short space of time the aircraft, in particular, deftly twist and dodge your attacks, adding tremendously to the challenge. It's incredibly addictive, and earning new craft while accessing later levels means it's rewarding too - a superb update of a genuine classic.

Incoming, a straightforward port of the PC game of the same name, would strike most console gamers as a fairly bland military wargame. While this may not be too far from the truth, Incoming manages to be a surprisingly entertaining diversion from the usual run-of-the-mill Warhawk-wannabe. Running at an extremely high 40-50 frames per second, the graphics in Incoming are a sight to behold. From the moment you take control of a supercharged anti-aircraft assault cannon, to the point where you take the reins of a gunship equipped with the latest assortment of high-tech weaponry, you'll gasp at the detail found in the game engine. High-resolution textures abound and some truly sweet light-sourcing dress up the intense combat with all sorts of technological eye candy. Fortunately the gameplay is just as appealing, with each level composed of 10 mission parts. In the first part you may control an AM, while the second will put you in the seat of a chopper. A large number of vehicles are available, with tanks, jet-fighters and all-terrain vehicles fueled up and ready to go.

The action is relentless and there's no such thing as a quiet moment as your command headquarters constantly barks orders and mission objectives at you.

While the game may lack a little bit of personality, once you see it in action, it will take a cold heart not to see the appeal in this title. Although no announcement has been made as to the exact U.S. launch lineup for the Dreamcast this fall, it wouldn't be too surprising to see this excellent title among the first wave.