This is one of those games where you just can’t get enough! I have played many war games in my time but this one stands alone when it comes to gameplay. From the minute it loads you have the feeling that you are a Wartime Ace (no pun intended!) and that the missions success or failure all depends on you and your strategy.

First I have to point out that the aircraft in this game are perfectly in tune with the real deal. My father in law is a WWII vet and when I showed him the game he was amazed at the accuracy of the aircraft as well as the gameplay. So much so in fact, that he has logged in more than a few hundred hours already as well as telling us more than a few hundred war stories of his own!  Folks, it is just that kind of game. You do not need to be a Vet or even a war game lover to get the most out of this game.

You begin this game as a green American Pilot right out of the Academy. Your formidable foes are have an edge on you as they are vets of the Thousand Year Reich as well as Hirohito’s Pacific Empire. They have been around the block more than a few times and trust me, defeating them is no easy task. Ace flying as well as intense strategic planning on your part is essential from beginning to end. When you are in training mode make sure you make the most of it. Not only will it give you a good handle on complete control of your aircraft but I loved the dropping of torpedoes.  

You are given a choice of aircraft to perform your mission and believe me, the aircraft choices you are given is absolutely incredible both in realistic model and performance power. Some of your choices include the high end of aircraft which include the P-51 Mustang and British Spitfire to the low-end aircraft US P-40. Each cockpit is also designed to be unique to the aircraft you choose. A note here on the aircraft: although I felt like I could conquer the world in the Spitfire, I equally enjoyed the P-40. It is one of those situations where gamers preference comes in but I recommend you try as many as you can as I think you will find that each one handles a little differently thus giving you a wider scope of gameplay.

Not only are you given some very impressive choices when it comes to your aircraft but you are also given the times of day you wish to play in. This may not seem like much but believe me it really makes a difference in how you feel at the time of play. I highly suggest that you try more than one time as it really can give you a different feel of the game. My favorite was early morning as I felt as if I was getting a definite edge on my enemy, almost as if I was lying in wait to take them down.  Another feature I have to point out is the Live Cam. This is your camera, controlled by you, to see just what damage you may have done once you drop that dreaded bomb. As it whistles from the sky, you hold your breath as you see if you hit your target or hit thin air. You actually find yourself crossing your fingers as you watch it land. When it misses you get that “man, how could I miss feeling’, but when you hit you get that “Yes, Yes, YES!! Feeling and it is a feeling that it hard to describe!

Gameplay: 8.9
This will give you some serious and intense gameplay. No lagging moments whatsoever. Strategy is everything and you will get plenty of time to become the Flying Ace you always knew you could be.

Graphics: 8.9
One look at the Aircraft’s says it all. No expense was spared when it came to the total design of this game. Everything from authenticity of the aircraft to the sounds of war to the flyers themselves is incredible.

Sound: 8.9
The sound is clear and absolutely perfectly aligned with the theme of the game, war and destruction. Dark and somber which is what you expect and what you get.

Difficulty: 9.2
This game is consistent throughout when it comes to difficulty. When you find yourself in wartime you must have good in-depth strategic planning at all times. Training mission is no slouch and you are given good rigorous training to keep you on your toes at all times.

Concept: 9.3
War games have been around for a long, long time but never done at this level. True to form on aircraft as well as live cam, which really gives you that extra wartime, feel as well as grit of the teeth.

Multiplayer: N/A

Overall: 9.1
Now I know I have really focused a great deal on the authenticity of the aircraft but that is only because it is so impressive. When you are playing a wartime game you want to have that feeling that you are actually at war and that it is vital that you destroy and conquer your enemy. You want to feel as if you are in complete control of your aircraft, feel that bomb being dropped but more importantly feel as if your enemy is formidable in all senses of the word. This enemy is indeed formidable and winning this war I promise, is no walk in the park. Snoopy, watch out, a Flying Ace is in town!!