Sid Meier’s Ace Patrol: Pacific Skies (Nov 2013)

[JudgeDredd]

Patience young padawan....I haven't got that far yet so I'm not sure. I didn't read up on it - bought it out the gate because I enjoyed the first one so much

[Barthheart]

iOS version should be out Thursday. I'll be picking that up to.

Gus, not really. You play the fighter jocks and are just protecting the bombers of various types.

In WWI Ace Patrol, you do give orders to the bombers.

Yeah, but they are not your pilots just nameless crew. And "bombing" is just flying over the target. You do get to strafe trains and trucks though...
So far I haven't seen any mission where you control the bombers.... but I've only played a bit...

[ArizonaTank]

My initial impression is that the game is more of a tweak than an advance. 

I'm halfway through the US Army campaign and played some of the US Navy.  I was starting to think that the AI had actually been dumbed down....since my first fights were so easy.  But then I ran into Saburo Sakai.  His one Zero took out two of my best Buffalo pilots in a long grueling fight.  The AI literally ran rings around me.  It used clouds, turning ability and altitude to its advantage.   I didn't really see that in the first game.

I do miss being able to pick my missions.  The new game seems to put me on a rail...at least with the old game, I had the illusion of mission choice.

I like that the WWII aircraft are more powerful and have more maneuver options.  Also that they can be more deadly.

Overall, I get the feeling that Firaxis decided to go for a quick win on this one...the game could have been so much more.  But for $4.95...what am I complaining about?  Also to be fair, the game may still hold some surprise for me.  Still it's a great value and I am very happy with the purchase. 

But without visible, incremental improvements in features, I am not certain I would buy the next one.

[jomni]

At least there's an option to have only male pilots.
Also permadeath option is interesting but scary.

[Barthheart]

Yeah permadeath makes the game more interesting and harder.....

[JudgeDredd]

+1 on what ArizonaTank mentions - especially not being able to choose missions. But - it was £3!

I've heard that a few times re the female pilots. You know what - it never even occurred to me to be bothered by it. I know it's not historical - but then again it's a game not a history lesson. And yes - I know the battles and timeline are historical. And I do get that a wargame based on WWI is kind of "historical" - but it's a game - it's not teaching history.

Is some wee Johnny somewhere going to come away thinking women flew in WWI? Possibly. Did it ever happen? I haven't the faintest, though I'd likely err on the side of caution and say no. But I don't think it would fix in wee Johnny's head that females took part in flying during WWI.

To view females being in this game as ahistorical I think would be like viewing Black Adder Goes Forth and believing everything in there. One is a game. One is a comedy show. Neither is a historical lesson and nor should they be viewed upon as such.

I'm off now  ;D

[jomni]

I don't like the new art scheme.

I prefer the cartoon cell-shaded drawings in In Ace Patrol WWI.
With defined lines and vibrant colors.

In Ace Patrol Pacific, the planes look like cheap plastic models.


The pilots look like bob heads.

[eyebiter]

.

[GibbyG]

Yeah permadeath makes the game more interesting and harder.....

I wasn't a fan of the women pilots but it wasn't a deal breaker.  It was the lack of KIAs that had me not really playing.  So from reading this thread I assume that the new one has that option?

[Barthheart]

Yeah permadeath makes the game more interesting and harder.....

I wasn't a fan of the women pilots but it wasn't a deal breaker.  It was the lack of KIAs that had me not really playing.  So from reading this thread I assume that the new one has that option?

Yep, you can toggle permanent death on or off. When On you pilots are lost to you if they get shot down. Really sucks now when you loose an ace!

[jomni]

Is there an exploit?
I have damaged planes, I switched to another plane and switched back immediately.
The damage is gone.

[smittyohio]

Yeah permadeath makes the game more interesting and harder.....

I wasn't a fan of the women pilots but it wasn't a deal breaker.  It was the lack of KIAs that had me not really playing.  So from reading this thread I assume that the new one has that option?

Yep, you can toggle permanent death on or off. When On you pilots are lost to you if they get shot down. Really sucks now when you loose an ace!

Do you get a green replacement pilot or are you permanently down a man?

[jomni]

Haven't tried. My captured pilots don't give up their slot. If dead pilots allow you to recruit a new one, that would be nice.  I prefer a green pilot than a wasted slot any day.

[Barthheart]

You get a new green pilot.

[DicedT]

Can you repair damaged airplanes?

One of my four pilot is dead. How do I get a replacement?