Combat Flight Simulator 2: WWII Pacific Theater

While there was a glut of WWII flight simulators that began only two years ago � and included Microsoft�s Combat Flight Simulator � gamers looking for action against (or as) the Japanese haven�t had any major simulations to play since Microprose released 1942 Pacific Air War in 1994. Now Microsoft is taking the action to the �other� area of operations again with Combat Flight Simulator 2: WWII Pacific Theater.

The software giant also seems to have learned from its past mistakes, and while Combat Flight Simulator was a decent game, it was generally regarded as being a runner up when compared to Electronic Art�s Jane�s Combat Simulations WWII Fighters or Microprose�s European Air War. Interestingly both those companies have pulled back from the hardcore simulations for the most part, with the Jane�s brand being dropped by EA and Microprose hinting that their upcoming B-17 may be the last �hardcore� flight simulation to take off from their runway. Fortunately Microsoft seems to show dedication to their franchise and this if this latest title is an example, then flight sim fans have lots to look forward to in the years to come.

As stated by the title, this time around the action takes place in the Pacific Theater of operations and focuses mostly on the middle years of the war between the Empire of Japan and the United States. These turning point years were often considered the focal point of the air war in the Pacific and are comparable to the European Theater�s Battle of Britain. The game does not therefore include the later bombing missions over Japan or the last hope when the Japanese began to rely on Kamikaze tactics to prolong the American�s attack and stall the inevitable. Disappointingly, the game also does not cover the early years � including those before the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor � with the Flying Tigers in China, nor are such notable battles as Midway included. However, considering the work that Microsoft has put into this title, there is always hope that we�ll sometime see those eras recreated either by Microsoft or by a third party developer � which did happen with Combat Flight Simulator.

As much of the action takes place in the warm South Pacific, players can expect to take to the skies in a variety of carrier and land-based aircraft from both sides. This time around there are seven new flyable aircraft including the American P38FLightning, F4U Corsair, Grumman F4F Wildcat and F6F Hellcat, and the Japanese NIK2-J George, A6M2, or A6M5 Zero. These planes have been beautifully rendered and CFS 2 looks about as good as any flight simulator to date. The aircraft models this time around feature about four times the detail that gamers experienced in CFS. Each of these aircraft are extremely detailed and players have the option of viewing the action from two cockpit views as well as from a rotatable 3D chase perspective.

The damage models, weather effects and terrain graphics have all been vastly improved as well, and this game even looks better than the last version of Microsoft�s flagship game title Flight Simulator! Like with CFS, players can also import aircraft from the latest Flight Simulator � and again this means that third party developers could make their own expansions and aircraft that could be brought into the game. This alone opens up excellent �what-if� scenarios, as it is widely known that the Germans had sold and attempted to develop jet aircraft plans to the Japanese. Those plans and even one disassembled ME 262 never actually made it to Japan, but it would be interesting to try out the world�s first combat jet fighter against the P38F or Corsair over the Pacific. And since CFS 2 includes carrier-based operations, it would be a lot of fun to try the ME 262 against a carrier and escorts!

Of course what is actually included in CFS 2 should more than satisfy hardcore flight simulation fans and novice flyers alike. The game features the standard campaigns from each side, and this time the action unfolds with the use of 1940s comic book-styled artwork. This obviously kept the production costs down by removing the need for cutscenes that most gamers really don�t watch after the second play anyway, and also helps advance the story in a moving way. The comic art is actually quite dark at times, and it certainly fits with the mood of the game.

In addition to the campaigns, which allows players to take part in series of operations from 1942-1944; there is also a nice assortment of single player missions, free flight without the worry of combat, quick combat missions and multiplayer missions with up to eight players. As with a lot of military flight simulations, the quick combat is really one area where the developers either hit or miss the mark and it is safe to say that Microsoft is dead on. Players have the option of choosing the mission type, from bomber escort to dogfight; choice of planes, both enemy and friendly; and evening setting the time of day and weather conditions. Needless to say, dogfighting is hard enough; but throw in some rain and fog and it becomes a truly captivating experience.

CFS 2 also allows players to set the realism with a sliding scale, and this reviewer generally likes to play the quick combat and missions with about 70% of the realism turned on. This makes the aircraft a bit easier to control and gave me a fighting chance when going up against superior numbers of enemy aircraft. The AI has also been tweaked since the original game and players once again can send �radio� commands to their wingman � although the number of commands is still a bit limited but will probably improve with future titles in the series.

As far as flight simulations go, Mircosoft has learned from past missteps and has created a game that has really set the bar for future developers. The Pacific based action in CFS 2 includes stunning locations that really show that the battleground was truly a tropical paradise, and well-detailed aircraft to take to the skies. This is really one title not to be missed!

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