Sorry, there's no simulation or practice mode. For replayability, there is a point where the game branches on two different paths though.

If you can find a copy, there is a game using the WC3 engine called Wing Commander Academy. It has no story and is based entirely on custom scenarios. I haven't played it myself though, so I can't attest to its quality.

Wing Commander Academy is based on Wing Commander 2 engine..

Oh wow, thanks! That would have been obvious if I had looked at gameplay footage. I was actually thinking of Wing Commander Armada, which uses an early version of the WC3 engine. It was more muliplayer focused but had several single player skirmish modes. Haven't played that one either.

Thanks for the info everyone! I'm going to check out those titles.

In my opinion, Armada and Academy are not as good as other Wing Commanders. Academy is only a wc2 simulator where you plan your next mission. There is no story in it. That's ok when you do not expect full Wing Commander game. Armada is another story. This game could've been great but it fails in many respects. Strategy is too thin, simulator is too simple, story quite weak. But if you are a true Wing Commander fan, trust me, you will finish both games :-)

Yeah, not sure why there's no simulator in WC4. WC3 has a simulator but you only have a certain number of set missions... probably a gauntlet mission in there though.

Alternately you could look for the WC4 demo that was basically a timed gauntlet mode along with the game's trailer.

Armada and Academy both have a gauntlet mode :D