Not strictly a bird but very cool.

It's been quite a while since we last took a look at IL-2: Birds of Prey, the first console release in the lauded IL-2 series of flight combat simulators. One of the series' key features is its stunning visuals, but publishers 505 Games have been kind enough to lets us know that the game's audio will be crafted to match. In fact, they're so enthusiastic about the game's sound that they've enlisted actor Joss Ackland to provide dramatic narration, and composer Jeremy Soule for an exclusive, region-specific soundtrack.

Jeremy Soule is an established video games composer whose work has been famously featured in both The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. American fans may be in for a disappointment, though, since Mr Soule's soundtrack will be limited to an exclusive European release - which with any luck, includes the UK version, which is most likely to filter down to us as the Australian retail release.

Both the UK and US versions, will receive narration from Joss Ackland, who is probably best known for his prolific acting work, especially in British television, and for film roles such as in Lethal Weapon and the notoriously poor Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey, but is a respected and appreciated narrator and voice actor. He has appeared in games in the past, with his voice acting forming just about the only positive aspect of the dire Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness.

It's not clear yet who will be producing the non-European soundtrack, or why other territories will receive a different version. IL-2: Birds of Prey releases some time this year on DS, Playstation 3, PSP and Xbox 360 to the delight of flight-sim aficionados everywhere.