The game has various play options including Training Missions, Campaign, Mission mode (your opportunity to replay your favourite missions), Instant Action and Multi-Player. Players can choose to play at four levels of difficulty (Rookie, Pilot, Veteran, and Ace) and the ability to set the controls to Arcade and Professional modes. A full keyboard setup is available, however it is highly recommended that you have a joystick for this game. In reviewing this game we tried both and while the keyboard layout is good, it makes controlling the 'plane all the more difficult.

This game is also not for the faint hearted. Right from the training mission you are thrown into the pilot's seat and off on your first solo flight (eek! Where are the theory exams? How do I signal a right turn?). Immediately you are struck by the detail of the graphics and the responsiveness of the aircraft. With the training instructor yelling out orders over the radio you are off into the blue, with exercises in shooting, stalling, bombing and torpedo runs. There is a lot to take in and in a very short time. The instructor has little patience and even at the training level you will find yourself having to redo missions.

The 'plane controls are relatively simple, however on the down side it is equally easy to crash. With combat being at low levels it is easy to lose perspective and find yourself too low to pull bout of a dive. The resulting fireball, although spectacularly presented, is no consolation for having to repeat the mission. This is particularly frustrating in the campaign mode as although there is the ability to start over at check points, the space between includes a lot of air combat. The 'planes have a realistic stall and if you don't keep your throttle up you can quickly find yourself tumbling to the ground.

Air combat is very realistic. With the game sporting some 150 planes in combat at anyone time the dog fights certainly give a taste of what the air combat was like during the War. This is further enhanced by the fabulously detailed plane models. Targeting is helped by the inclusion of a targeting circle on the enemy plane which turns red when you have managed to get bead on the enemy. This is not a simple task as yo have to allow for the air speed of the enemy and allow for deflection. Getting the bead on the enemy can be ab exercise in frustration particularly when the nimble Zeros (Japanese Fighters) are soaring all over the sky.

An excellent touch is the ability to upgrade your chosen aircraft based on the points you have earned from previous missions. You can also take the plane into the hanger and tweek some of the plane's dynamics, including the alignment of the machine guns / cannon.

Heroes of the Pacific has some 26 missions including ground attacks. Bombing is done with a similar target circle as air to air combat, however here there is a second circle denoting the current fall of the bomb. By bringing them together you ensure a direct hit on the target. Dive bombing requires some finesse and judgment. Pull out too early and your bomb falls short; too late and you become the bomb. This is helped, however by the ability to set your view from various angles and into the pilot seat itself when flying.

The game really shines in the graphics department. The planes are well detailed and the scenery and ground animations are superb. Fly low over your aerodrome and you can see the ground troops manning the anti aircraft guns. Effects abound, with clouds, flak bursts and some of the best smoke and explosive effects we have seen in a game. The screen can become very busy very quickly. Mix in a hefty does of engine noise and gun fire you will quickly find yourself in the pilot seat experiencing what it was like during the War.

An excellent feature of the game is the ability to replay past missions from various camera angles so you can relive your glorious victories. A good thing this, as this is your opportunity to see what you shot down. In the heat of air to air combat it is often all a blur.