I completed WC3 and WC4 without much sweat, using the two easiest difficulties... Sometimes trying the harder skill levels and sometimes winning. I've heard that WC2 is a pretty hard game, and I'm not that good at flight sims. Also, I don't own a joystick. Would it be a waste to buy WC1 and 2?

Is there a difficulty setting?

No, there is no adjustable difficulty. But the games are different from a lot of modern games that failing a mission isn't the end of the world. In fact, in WC1 you can lose in almost every sector and still win at the end of the game. WC1 is my favourite of all of the Wing Commander games, and I'd highly recommend it for the price of admission.

Ok, once you know what you're doing, WC1 and 2 are not THAT hard. They're not easy, either, but they can be completed without too much trouble if you keep at it.

The addons are another story. The two WC1 addons are really, really hard because they usually put you up against overwhelming odds, usually in ships that ,under normal circumstances, are way too underpowered for those missions.

WC2's addons, thankfully, are not nearly that hard. I'd say they are a little more difficult than the main game, but with the exception of one mission (that being the final mission of the first addon) you're usually given the proper tools to deal with your problems.

Thanks for help. Wish I could give you all points for solving my question, but oh well...

The screenshots doesn't promise much of a game. Cockpit is waaaay too big compared to the windows - how can you see anything if the cockpit is in the way? Anyways, I'll probably my way through it, just for the plot. Thanks again.

It kinda depends on the fighter you are flying. Some of them have small windows intentionally to make it seem you are in a 'cramped' fighter. Some have larger windows to give you that feel you are in one with a better cockpit. It's cosmetic styling for 'atmospheric' reasons.

However, between your radar and HUD there is enough cues to point you in the direction of enemy fighters. You can manually set 'nearest enemy fighter', or navigation point, HUD will show you which direction to turn the ship to. So you won't get 'lost'.

Also keep moving, don't be predictable, make it hard for the enemy to target you, because at least the starting fighter can't take much of a beating.