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Game Information

Release Date: November 18, 2003
Developer: Totally Games
Publisher: LucasArts
Platform(s): PlayStation 2, Xbox, Windows
Genre: Flight Simulation
Players: 1-2

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Synopsis

Flight combat game designed by Totally Games and Larry Holland, the creative force behind the 1991 classic Secret Weapons of the Luftwaffe. In the role of Chase, an American pilot serving with the RAF at the start of the Dunkirk evacuation, players jump into the cockpits of more than 20 different aircraft, including Japanese Zekes, German Messerschmidts and English Spitfires. They're all brought to life with realistic engine sounds, handling and weapon payloads. To balance the extreme realism of the airplanes, the game allows players limited freedom to select the aircraft they want for a particular mission --once they've been unlocked -- upgrade different parts of the plane and select specific secondary weapons.

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Gameplay

In SWON, the player is given the opportunity to fly over a dozen World War II-era airplanes with numerous objectives to complete all across Europe, Africa, and Russia. Throughout each mission (about fifteen in total) you will encounter several dozen enemy aircraft and anti-air guns constantly firing at you. Each mission will also have one or two objectives to complete such as escorting a convoy, blowing up a bridge, clearing the skies for bombers, and/or destroying ships and submarines in the ocean. At first, you will start off with a decent fighter plane flying for the Royal Air Force. After a while you will fly for the Russian army, and in the end the U.S. Air Force. After every few missions you can unlock a new plane or, upgrade your current one with better guns, better armor, better speed and so on. Although their is a multiplayer mode, it does not allow for co-op play and it is only one mode - deathmatch - where you and one player fight against each other.

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Graphics

The part that really shines in this game are the airplanes themselves which are highly detailed and sharp all the way down to the scratches and bullet holes in them. The vast maps you fly in are also pretty detailed to an extent where most will be seen besides the far distance, which will just be blue or black depending on the time of day. The action that goes on occasionally, such as explosions and machine guns firing, are decent. Most of it will look quite pixelated, as you are never really close to it. The framerate also runs extremely smooth leaving for a game that has no issues for the most part.

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Controls

Whilst the controls might be a little complex for new users, it does attempt to give you a very well designed way to learn quickly. The triggers will control the flight of the airplane, the analogs control the steering and altitude, and the buttons will fire the weapons, heal yourself, and drop bombs if needed. Fairly simple once gotten used to, but may take a while for that to happen.

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Ratings

Gameplay: 9/10
Graphics: 7.5/10
Controls: 6.5/10
Overall: 8.5/10