Thus there are new planes to fly, sights to see, and things to do. The core gameplay of the Combat Flight Simulator is intact and with this sequel being an improvement, satisfied players of the original will be equally if not more satisfied with this jaunt into WWII naval aviation. And if said audience accepts the cost of entry, another iteration of the title might see the light of day.
Yet for some, the Combat Flight Simulator 2 experience may be a letdown. The gameplay is nearly identical to that of the original, with its focus on fighters and no flyable strike aircraft, and the traditional waypoint/shoot litany. The carrier landings are a twist but from an immersion standpoint, European Air War veterans won't see anything new, and might see a lot less. Skies filled with dozens of aircraft were the norm in European Air War, but although Microsoft claims this is possible in Combat Flight Simulator 2, engagements of sixteen to twenty aerial combatants are the norm in single player missions. Though a small point, the conclusion of the American campaign is a downer and very anti-climactic.
Combat Flight Simulator 2 may seem empty for some players of the original due to the natural trend of expectation. Key gripes about Combat Flight Simulator were about the lack of wingman control, the number of aircraft in engagements, graphics that were good but not cutting edge, performance, realism, and the limited deathmatch-only multiplayer. In fairness, Microsoft made strides in addressing most of these issues, though not as extensively as some players might have hoped for.
One obstacle to the supposed realism is the inability of the wingmen in the game to gain experience. Tucker Hatfield, the program manager, said it was a feature the development team wanted to include, but its priority was not high enough at the time. The individual AI levels are truly noticeable, however, and this does help. A bounced flight of novice pilots just flies straight, or initiates a gentle turn. Veterans or aces, however, will split and then team up against the player. It's also obvious when your wingmen are green because they are appallingly gutless. Losing the starting experienced wingmen you start with, though, means you'll be stuck with the inept replacements, and because they don't get better with time, you'll often feel like the Lone Ranger. Mission records will reflect this, and players surviving a campaign, may sport better than 120 Japanese flags and ground target silhouettes on the side of their Hellcats, while their wingmen, The Three Stooges, share maybe two. Even the smarter wingmen could stand improvement in dog fighting, and are useless at ground attack. And although mid-air collisions are a reality of life, players will groan at the computer pilot crashes, some happening even in non-combat flying.
