Pacific Fighters (PC CD)

When I purchased the original IL-2 months ago, I got it cheap and on offer with another sim (namely Silent Hunter II) and I expected it to be a simple un-detailed, single subject, basic combat flight sim as then I believed nothing could beat Microsoft's Combat Flight Simulator series who at the time dominated the market. Now I know how wrong I was, so very wrong. I had not heard much about just how good IL-2 was, but when I installed it and flied - it was stunning... it was just outstanding. Now, Oleg Maddox and his team have added the even more absolutely stunning Pacific Fighters to the series.

I have owned and been flying Pacific Fighters for about a year now, and not once has my opinion of it changed. Despite the fact I had to suffer several weeks before I could properly play the game, the wait was worthwhile when I could finally fly. The wait was because I had to upgrade almost all the computer hardware to run it - at a reasonably significant cost of around one hundred pounds - but then again, our PC was of the simple, non-mass game playing kind, and even now a still fairly mediocre machine runs it nearly always without a glitch. The game continues on the excellent quality IL-2 gave us, with additional enhancements, no matter how subtle. The game runs very smoothly - if you have even the minimum capable hardware.

The scene is set, as in the name of the game, in the ferocious Pacific Theatre of the Second World War where many fierce unstable battles unfold between the brave Allies of the Americans, British and Australians and New Zealanders and the fearless Japanese. There are around forty flyable/playable aircraft (actually, there are only about twenty or so completely different aircraft, it is the great range of different marks and versions which ups this number) each and every one with wonderfully created models, flight models, and beautifully authentic and realistic cockpits. Just a few of these aircraft include the American P-38 Lightning, P-51 Mustang, Vought Corsair, the British Supermarine Spitfire and Seafire, Hawker Hurricane, Bristol Beaufighter, and for the Japanese: Mitsubishi A6M Zero, Kawasaki KI-61, Aichi D3A1 Val and even the Mitsubishi G4M1 Betty.

You can fly in several different campaigns involving all the nationalities and continues the ingenious dynamics and intelligence of these campaigns that we see in IL-2, and betters it. The game interface is fairly easy to use and is almost exactly the same as the IL-2 design. If you own, or are going to own (as am I) IL-2 Forgotten Battles and the Ace Expansion pack then you can merge them, combining ALL the aircraft, campaigns, missions and everything else into one awesome, seamless World War Two combat flight sim, which will be hard to beat by any other developer for years. The scenery also matches the overall quality of the game and includes the best default water we've ever seen yet (if you have the capable hardware). The scenery also differs depending on where exactly you're flying, whether it be the Pacific Islands or Okinawa, or the Coral Sea, performing a difficult but thrilling Carrier landing in a Vought Corsair!

The sound engine is fairly well designed, although it is nothing spectacular, with no particular Merlin engines or Alison or Mitsubishi specific sounds it is a bit flat, but there are some differing engine sounds from aircraft to aircraft and they are nevertheless not 'lawnmower' sounds but are classic throaty piston engine satisfying sounds. Combined with brilliant sound effects on explosions and with gunfire and bullet shots and ricochets it at the very least enhances the level of immersion. The game also includes as standard the online combat and multi-player functions for even more fun, giving players the opportunity to fly and fight against real people and set up their own sessions for maximum gaming experience. There are out of the box a few, often unnoticeable basic flaws, which can be fixed with a few official patches that also add additional aircraft etc. to the game.

Overall it is an awesome game and a brilliant sequel to the unique and outstanding IL-2, and if you have the other programs at hand, it can create one damn awesome World War Two combat sim... and make a perfect present!

It is undoubtedly one of the greatest combat sim's that ever existed - if you're even a beginner to this video game genre - buy it now!

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Thanks for reading my review.
Michael J. Rolph

there is not a better WWII sim in thw world... ever!! this game boasts stunning graphics and fun gamplay and is very realistic. weather you want to take- off aircraft carriers and dogfight in the sky or bomb japan in B-25s... there is something for everyone. buy it.... just amazing

Includes all of Oleg Maddox's great creations: IL-2 Sturmovik, IL-2 Sturmovik 1946, Ace Expansion Pack and Pacific Fighters in the newest version (a minor upgrade available on the net). Very recommendable for real enthusiasts. It is not an arcade game. The simulation is VERY real and if you are not a real pilot you will probably have a lot of trouble understanding what is going on. In fact, even if you are a real pilot, you will have to work really hard to win any victories or even to get airborne from a carrier:-) Good luck.