Muzzle Velocity

First impressions are not great. The installation and set-up routines are appallingly outdated and you're left in no doubt that this is a DOS game sitting uncomfortably in Windows. But work your way through the clunky interface and invest hours in the tutorial levels, and the game slowly emerges - and it's surprisingly playable.

Your average WWII sim can feel less like one of the greatest conflicts of our time and more like a game of draughts. Muzzle Velocity builds on the standard point/click/command interface by using 3D graphics to create a feeling that you really are at war.

Most of your units allow you to take control in 3D and drive them about, adding a welcome element of action into what is otherwise a bland strategy game. It's all too tempting to jump into your biggest tank and drive around conducting your own personal war, which is really not the idea. This is about tactics and while you're cruising about blowing up clock towers and mowing down civilians, the rest of the war is being fought-and probably lost.

There's no 3Dfx support and the graphics aren't the best you'll ever see, but they do fulfil their purpose of dragging you down into the battle from the usual sterile map view. The game also overcomes the familiar problem of poor AI that leaves you screaming: "No! Stop pirouetting about and shoot the bloody enemy, you crappy bloody tank!"

If one of your tanks misbehaves you can simply get into the driving seat and shoot the enemy yourself.

If you're not into war sims ther I doubt this game will change your mind. However, if you fancy setting the record straight on all the major battles of the Western Front, with a blend of historical accuracy and full-on action, you could do worse for your 20 quid.