The game's historical leanings are not only present in the storyline, but in the game play as well. The combat in the game, while familiar to anyone with experience in the genre, is also reminiscent of WWI and WWII action footage, with enemy fighters dropping in and out of your targeting reticule as you maneuver to draw a bead on them. Performing a bombing run on an enemy cruiser feels like leading a squadron of biplanes to down an enormous, albeit heavily armed, zeppelin. The ad copy for Starlancer promises "the drama of a great war film," and looks like it's going to deliver.

Many of the missions seem like the standard fare, but there are a few surprising twists sure to be thrown in, like one early mission where you must locate a black-box by the sound of its beacon alone. Novel diversions like this should help set Starlancer apart from other similarly themed games.

The graphics are gorgeously rendered, and complemented by awesome lighting effects. Nothing lightens up a battlefield like a chain of bright explosions erupting across an enemy carrier.

Ship design is bulky and solid looking with a few sleek exceptions, which contributes to the retro-futuristic feel of the game. This is also complemented by the great sound effects and inspiring soundtrack. Compare the sound of a firing laser cannon with the staccato of a hard-ammo weapon, and you won't even have to hear the sickening thud of a floating body hitting your cockpit to be impressed with the attention digitalANViL is paying to the game's audio.