While the ground forces are under AI control they are there for you to see and interact with and you will see them fighting when you fly over battle areas. Ground attack missions will include the use of bombs, rockets, and napalm.

In active battle areas you'll see troops march to positions using the safest avenue of approach, then attack or defend them. Armour and artillery are present and you'll see their fire.

Troops will even react to the presence of UN aircraft. Communist troops may try to hide or scatter for protection. CAS missions should be great, though there are new challenges, like figuring out if you attacking a UN or a Communist held position. Luckily, Mosquito liason aircraft patrol the zone and can help you out.

MiG Alley includes the modeling of the Forward Air Controller (FAC), and you will sometimes be directed to your target with smoke markers. You can even interact with the FAC after a bombing run if you need another go.

MiG Alley: Gear Down

Naturally MiG Alley will offer full radio comms with your wingmen and ATC. While the menu system isn't complete in the beta I have some of the voice is in place and is nicely done. The final will have more voices in place so that you can distinguish your wingman and a separate flight.

F80C Shooting Star

Better yet, I've been experimenting with Game Commander and have found it is PERFECTLY suited to this type of comms control. In fact, in MiG Alley I've been testing it with views as well as comms and have found it very reliable.

Click to continue

Zoom Out Cockpit View

The difference when using voice control is astonishing. The feeling is much more immersive. I tell my wingman to "BREAK LEFT" and he responds, and I haven't had to look for keys or remember where the command is programmed. Obviously, this works beautifully for answering queries or comms with the tower or FAC as well.

Take to the Air

My first flight was a free flight to get a sense of the Sabre itself. The feeling of flight in MiG Alley is great, although the early Sabre jet is not a forgiving aircraft. I've encountered some nasty spins, but I've also taken out a few MiGs without much practice (on high realism but low AI settings, that is. For more on the flight model see last year's interview.)

In my next flight I chose a simple "target practice" routine where I was on the tail of a MiG 15. My speed on entry into the mission was excessive, however, and I passed the Mig in a couple of seconds, whereup he decided to that turn about was fair play. My Sabre bore the scars of his efforts. After repeating the mission a couple of times and taking some shots of the action I evened the score.

Padlock on MiG 15

Damaged Sabre

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