Top Gun: The Second Mission

It seems a guy like Maverick just can't stay out of trouble. He's back again in Top Gun: The Second Mission, picking up exactly where he left off. Well, maybe not exactly where he left off. Because of certain disciplinary problems, he must go back to square one - warrant officer - to earn his Top Gun rating once again.

There are actually two ways to play Top Gun: The Second Mission. If you feel you need the practice, you can work your way up through the ranks at the U.S. Navy's famous Top Gun fighter school. If, however, you're ready for serious action, you can go ahead and tackle the most dangerous assignments. Of course, these assignments aren't practice runs, but real missions against the most advanced fighters, bombers, and surface ships the enemy can throw at you.

Konami has made several changes from the original Top Gun, and they're mostly for the better. The graphics are improved, and control over your plane is much easier and more realistic. You can now roll the F-14 Tomcat, which is a big help when avoiding the numerous air-to-air missiles you'll find heading your way.

On the control panel, the most conspicuous change is the elimination of the fuel gauge. We're not sure why it's gone, but at least that's one less thing to worry about as you haul your 37-ton bird through the skies.

The biggest change in Top Gun: The Second Mission, though, is the fighter school. In the original Top Gun, the combat missions were everything. This time, by attending fighter school, you can compete against the other hot pilots vying for the coveted Top Gun honor. It's a tough competition, but if you can get off the first shot, you have a great chance of moving up.

Unless you plan to become a naval aviator sometime soon, Top Gun: The Second Mission may be your best bet for getting behind the stick of a Tomcat. Although this game is not a full-featured simulation of the Navy's top dog-fighter, it certainly has all the action you'll want.