"The Few" on Steam

[DennisS]

This game very much reminds me of the old title Achtung: Spitfire, but with a better strategic layer.

I looked at quite a few videos online, and it does appear to be difficult, unless you micro-manage your fighters. I just purchased it here a few minutes ago..I'll document my impressions here in a bit.

[jomni]

I also bought it.  It's not so bad actually.  But it does get repetitive.

Actually the concerns James raised in his review can be addressed by real world tactics.

1) Not being able to pick a new target automatically is actually good against bombers.  Locking on at a target and chasing it will expose your pilot to the gunners for a very long time.  Not locking will make the pilots perform the classic "boom-and-zoom" tactics.  Downside is a lot micro management.

2) Large flights can be handled in the strategic map.  One must not expect a single 8-plane formation to take them out in one go.  It must be done by assembling several squadrons in the area.  Then let them attack the enemy group one at a time.  Also, the first battle is about shooting down the fighter escort, ideally with Spitfires.  Once they're gone, you can then send in the Hurricanes against the bombers.

[DennisS]

I also bought it.  It's not so bad actually.  But it does get repetitive.

Actually the concerns James raised in his review can be addressed by real world tactics.

1) Not being able to pick a new target automatically is actually good against bombers.  Locking on at a target and chasing it will expose your pilot to the gunners for a very long time.  Not locking will make the pilots perform the classic "boom-and-zoom" tactics.  Downside is a lot micro management.

2) Large flights can be handled in the strategic map.  One must not expect a single 8-plane formation to take them out in one go.  It must be done by assembling several squadrons in the area.  Then let them attack the enemy group one at a time.  Also, the first battle is about shooting down the fighter escort, ideally with Spitfires.  Once they're gone, you can then send in the Hurricanes against the bombers.

This is what I do...and better still, this was the tactics of the day. I like a game that recognizes and rewards good tactics.

Unfortunately for me, I can't recommend this game. There is a bug that pretty much is a game breaker for me. After day four, the Germans simply stopped attacking. I fast forwarded three days, and had ZERO attacks against England. I have quite the fortress now, with wall to wall radar and AA, with multiple fighter squadrons, fit and rested, and .... nothing. I'm not a happy camper. I looked on the steam forums, and apparently, this is a bug that many have seen.

[jomni]

Let's see if that happens to me.  I am now past day 4. 

Here's a video on how I defeated a large raid.

[Greybriar]

The Few is on the GOG.com Wishlist.

I voted for it.  :)

[Nefaro]

This game very much reminds me of the old title Achtung: Spitfire, but with a better strategic layer.

I disagree.   Achtung Spitfire, and the other similar Big Time games, were focused on the turn-based tactics.  The combat in this one is pretty much a casual game.  I'd say "arcade" but it's not twitch enough for that.  I mean... all you do is drag a line towards enemy planes with no other consideration.  This game's focus is management of the air defenses.  There isn't a lot of depth there, either, but that's where the real decisions are.

While The Few didn't hold my attention, there may be a few people who would want such a casual game.  I felt like it was a rather simplistic tablet-style casual game without much historical connection to the Battle of Britain other than the general theme.

[jomni]

Wow! I just managed to change formations in the tactical battle.

Default is the finger tip formation.  I then drag the left most plane to lock on the right most plane.  That will change them to Echelon.  With this, all 4 planes are now able to shoot at the bombers during a turning bounce.

[DennisS]

This game very much reminds me of the old title Achtung: Spitfire, but with a better strategic layer.

I disagree.   Achtung Spitfire, and the other similar Big Time games, were focused on the turn-based tactics.  The combat in this one is pretty much a casual game.  I'd say "arcade" but it's not twitch enough for that.  I mean... all you do is drag a line towards enemy planes with no other consideration.  This game's focus is management of the air defenses.  There isn't a lot of depth there, either, but that's where the real decisions are.

While The Few didn't hold my attention, there may be a few people who would want such a casual game.  I felt like it was a rather simplistic tablet-style casual game without much historical connection to the Battle of Britain other than the general theme.

I will, in turn, disagree with you. Achtung Spitfire was turn based, and essentially, I used the pause mode to segment the turns for this one. Play, pause, give orders, play, etc. I am just deciding the length of the turns, before I pause and re-issue orders. Essentially, it is a turn based game where I set the length of the turns.

As far as dragging lines towards the enemy, you're just not doing it right. You CAN drag a line directly into the teeth of the Heinkel front-end guns, but why would you? Instead, consider dragging your formation off to the side, and carefully position them for a side or rear attack. I have defeated a flight of four German bombers with little or no damage to three of the four attacking Hurricanes.

IF one of your fighters starts getting shot up, simply rotate it our of the lead position, and either send it home, or re-position it.

This isn't a terribly complex game, but for what it does, I think it is pretty good. A little bit better than Sid Meier's Ace Patrol..but that game is pretty good, too!

[Boggit]

I bought it when it first came out. it's quite fun, but nowhere near the same level of detail as Achtung Spitfire! It's a good little casual game. :)

[Nefaro]

This game very much reminds me of the old title Achtung: Spitfire, but with a better strategic layer.

I disagree.   Achtung Spitfire, and the other similar Big Time games, were focused on the turn-based tactics.  The combat in this one is pretty much a casual game.  I'd say "arcade" but it's not twitch enough for that.  I mean... all you do is drag a line towards enemy planes with no other consideration.  This game's focus is management of the air defenses.  There isn't a lot of depth there, either, but that's where the real decisions are.

While The Few didn't hold my attention, there may be a few people who would want such a casual game.  I felt like it was a rather simplistic tablet-style casual game without much historical connection to the Battle of Britain other than the general theme.

I will, in turn, disagree with you. Achtung Spitfire was turn based, and essentially, I used the pause mode to segment the turns for this one. Play, pause, give orders, play, etc. I am just deciding the length of the turns, before I pause and re-issue orders. Essentially, it is a turn based game where I set the length of the turns.

As far as dragging lines towards the enemy, you're just not doing it right. You CAN drag a line directly into the teeth of the Heinkel front-end guns, but why would you? Instead, consider dragging your formation off to the side, and carefully position them for a side or rear attack. I have defeated a flight of four German bombers with little or no damage to three of the four attacking Hurricanes.

IF one of your fighters starts getting shot up, simply rotate it our of the lead position, and either send it home, or re-position it.

This isn't a terribly complex game, but for what it does, I think it is pretty good. A little bit better than Sid Meier's Ace Patrol..but that game is pretty good, too!

Meh.  The air combat strategy part just isn't good.  With no altitude & energy management, for example, it's purely arcade IMO.