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Those scenes were running through my mind as I played War Wings (available for Android and iOS), a surprisingly fun multiplayer aerial combat game for mobile devices.

Admittedly the harsh realism of airborne battles isn’t really apparent in this game – the average life expectancy of a Spitfire pilot in the second world war was just a few weeks – with War Wing’s sole purpose simply being to entertain.

Employing classic arcade dynamics, this online-only game sees players battling it out in four-on-four dogfights, using a ticket-based system to keep track of who is leading the tables.

Teamwork is essential – constant movement is necessary to track opponents, pursue them across the skies, rain fire upon them, and then evade at great speed while ensuring your fellow fighters are doing the same.

The skies are suitably small and most battles are short and sweet. No face-off lasts more than a couple of minutes, so it is ideal for pick up and play. Visuals are impressive given the speed at which the game runs, with detailed fighter planes sailing smoothly across the heavens with no lag apparent.

War Wings is free and, going against the trend of money-hungry mobile games, it doesn’t reel you in before insisting on further payments to continue playing. Plenty of upgrades are available for your planes, but they are often unlocked through battles. Obsessive fans can purchase improvements if they want, but it never feels mandatory.

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While it is not exactly Dunkirk in video game form, War Wings is fun, friendly and easy to pick up, making it well worth a download.