To make the game as faithful to the actual style of combat that pilots experienced during the war, Microsoft consulted with pilots from each side of the conflict. The development team interviewed two fighter pilots who flew in the Pacific war, Saburo Sakai and Joe Foss, as well as two veteran naval aviators, Bob Campbell and Mike Weide, who also provided additional carrier operations background for the game. Actual aircraft, including the rare Japanese planes, were photographed at numerous military and aviation museums around the world.

Beyond the extensively researched aircraft that are rendered for the game, Combar Flight Sim 2 also takes advantage of 1940's comic book style imagery in the place of cutscenes that flesh out the story. These images are also somewhat reminiscent of propaganda posters of the era and really do work to invoke emotions. For example, a single panel of a woman in tears being comforted by a relative after receiving the dreaded Western Union telegram is used when the player's aircraft has been shot down. It isn't as visual as an extensive and extended crash sequence – although players will see the aircraft splash down – but it does help make the pilot seem all the more real and it really immerses the player into the distinct felling of place and time.

Pre-mission sequences also include mission briefings and even recon photos, if they are available. The preview beta of Combat Flight Sim 2 contained one mini-campaign where pilots can take part in several single missions from the actual war. While this campaign is much smaller than the ones promised in the final game, the campaign structure is well balanced and the interface is quite easy to use. It might be a little on the “lite” side for some hardcore flight sim fans but it is still very manageable. Of course, successful missions in the campaign mode mean that the player's character can earn medals, promotions and other awards.

Up in the sky the AI offers quite a challenge, although it should be mentioned that many of the single player missions duplicate the exploits of a fighter ace or challenge players to go up against an ace! The campaign missions are also a little less complex than what players will probably face in the final game, but they did give an excellent flavor of things to come.