B-17 Flying Fortress : The Mighty 8th Redux
- January 25, 2024
- MicroProse Software
- 40h median play time
"B-17 Flying Fortress: The Mighty 8th Redux" is a WWII air combat simulator that puts you in the role of a B-17 bomber crew member. Experience the intensity of flying through anti-aircraft fire and fending off enemy fighters on dangerous bombing missions. This redux version enhances the original game's engine to support DX 12 functionality, providing a remastered experience for fans of the classic title. Take control of different crew roles and lead your team to victory or defeat in fierce aerial combat.
Reviews
- The game successfully brings back the nostalgia of the original B-17 Flying Fortress, with updated interiors and widescreen support.
- The developers are actively working on improvements and updates, showing commitment to enhancing the game experience.
- The gameplay offers a unique blend of crew management and flight simulation, allowing players to experience the challenges of a B-17 mission.
- The game is plagued with numerous bugs and glitches, many of which were present in the original version, making it frustrating to play.
- The user interface and controls are clunky and outdated, leading to a poor user experience compared to modern standards.
- Many players have reported game-breaking issues, such as crashes and unresponsive controls, making it difficult to recommend in its current state.
- story105 mentions
- 3 % positive mentions
- 94 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The game's story revolves around the harrowing experiences of B-17 bomber crews during World War II, immersing players in realistic missions that evoke a strong sense of nostalgia and respect for historical aviators. While the narrative potential is rich, many players report significant technical issues, including bugs and crashes, which detract from the overall experience and hinder mission completion. Despite these challenges, some players find themselves deeply engaged in the unfolding drama of each mission, feeling the tension and stakes of navigating enemy territory and managing their crew's survival.
“With each mission, I found myself transported back in time, flying alongside fellow aviators, navigating through enemy territory, and braving the relentless onslaught of enemy fighters and anti-aircraft fire.”
“As I guided my B-17 Flying Fortress through the tumultuous skies of war-torn Europe, I couldn't help but feel a profound sense of admiration and respect for the real-life heroes who flew these missions, knowing that their courage and sacrifice paved the way for freedom and victory.”
“And as I completed each mission and honored the memory of those who came before me, I felt a profound sense of gratitude for the opportunity to pay homage to the heroes of the Eighth Air Force.”
“The training missions, same as the original, are broken in redux.”
“Couldn't get past the training missions as they were bugged.”
“The game isn't cooked enough to be sold; training missions bugged for me 5 times, then on a real mission my crew just disappeared for no reason.”
- graphics58 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game have received mixed reviews, with many players noting that while the interior models and UI have been significantly improved, the external graphics remain outdated and lack the polish expected from modern titles. Users appreciate the high-definition resolution and some graphical updates, but express disappointment that the terrain, clouds, and aircraft models still resemble those from the original game released over two decades ago. Overall, while the game shows promise with its gameplay, the graphics need further enhancement to meet contemporary standards.
“They just released a graphic overhaul of the exterior models, and that in itself is a game changer.”
“The interior graphics rework is lovely, and the much higher resolution looks great. I'm looking forward to seeing the other updates.”
“So far, I've found this game to be a very promising remaster of the original, and from what we've seen already of the new graphics, I'm very excited to see what's coming in the future.”
“The graphics in this game are terrible and that makes all the difference during a bombing run.”
“Outdated external graphics - planes, land, sky - everything looks the same as in the year 2000.”
“If you played the original game, or are a big fan of B17 games, go for it, but be aware there are some bugs, and graphics aren't up-to-date.”
- stability22 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability has been widely criticized, with many players reporting frequent crashes, bugs, and unresponsive controls that hinder gameplay. While some acknowledge improvements since its initial release, the overall consensus is that it remains too unstable and glitchy for a smooth gaming experience, particularly in early access. Users express frustration over the game's unreliability, with many unable to complete missions due to persistent technical issues.
“Was looking forward to this game; however, it either crashes on startup, the controls don't respond, or the game freezes up.”
“There's nothing more frustrating than spending an hour on a mission, fighting your way to the target, nailing it dead center, fighting your way out, taking damage, barely making it back to the English coast...aaaaaand the game crashes. There are still a lot of glitches and bugs to work out.”
“It's extremely buggy and missing features from the original release, such as the ability to check the weather and attack alternate targets. Bugs are everywhere; I have no ability to use the look left or right when in gun positions, my joystick's hat switch isn't recognized, and fires and explosions from aircraft or bombs hitting the ground are missing most of the effect.”
- gameplay19 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the realistic mechanics and updates made by Microprose, while others criticize it for being buggy and reminiscent of outdated designs. Despite improvements in graphics and gameplay features, many users feel that significant issues remain, such as frustrating mechanics and bugs that detract from the overall experience. Overall, while there are clever concepts and potential for enjoyment, the gameplay still struggles with execution and modernization.
“Now the team at Microprose has brought this back with a number of updates to the graphics and core gameplay functions.”
“It still has older graphics; however, the gameplay is really good and realistic.”
“Update: Microprose has continued to update this title, revising the old textures, gameplay mechanics, etc., and are making strides in bringing this game to the modern era.”
“They introduced new bugs that tarnish the entire gameplay experience.”
“Not ready for prime time yet, still too buggy and stupid mechanics that need to be addressed from the original release, like enemy aircraft smashing into you in head-on collisions that are way over the top, and also crashes in time skips and changing stations quite a bit too.”
“It is one thing to want to remake a classic game, it is quite another to ignore 30 years of interaction design improvements to create an absolute disaster of cumbersome game mechanics out of nostalgia.”
- optimization4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Overall, optimization has seen some improvements, particularly in performance and control binding, with joystick sensitivity issues addressed and AI behavior enhanced. However, some users still report performance problems, including stuttering during view transitions, indicating that optimization is not yet fully realized.
“Optimization is horrid.”
“Performance issues.”
“The only stuttering that I have experienced has been when I've switched from the cabin view to the action view.”
- music2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The music in the game has been criticized for technical issues, particularly the jarring audio transitions in the menu, where the sound shifts abruptly between speakers with a noticeable click during loops.
“Seriously, these devs need to fix the musical chairs that take place at 20,000 feet.”
“The menu music flops back and forth between the left and right speaker with a loud click every time it loops.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers highlight a significant improvement in replayability compared to the original game, noting its potential for fun and engaging experiences. While not flawless, the game offers ample opportunities for players to revisit and enjoy it multiple times.
“I can see the potential, and while not perfect, I think the promise is there for lots of fun and replayability.”
“The game is infinitely more playable than the original ever was.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users express a strong sentiment towards grinding, often describing it as a tedious and repetitive task that can detract from the overall enjoyment of the game.
“Grinding feels like a never-ending chore that takes away from the enjoyment of the game.”
“The repetitive nature of grinding makes it feel more like a job than a fun experience.”
“I find myself spending hours grinding for minimal rewards, which is incredibly frustrating.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy is perceived as increasingly exploitative, resembling a quick cash grab with little commitment to ongoing support or content development.
“Starting to look more and more like a quick cash grab with no follow-through.”
“The monetization system feels exploitative, pushing players to spend money to enjoy basic features.”
“It's frustrating to see so many paywalls in a game that could be great without them.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players report experiencing intense emotional reactions while playing, often feeling genuine panic and heartache during critical moments, despite knowing the characters are fictional. This highlights the game's ability to evoke strong feelings and immerse players in its narrative.
“I know it's just a game and these aren't real people, but holy crap, the horror of watching that in a game and the heart-wrenching panic I felt, willing those guys to bail out, sure felt real.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers find the humor in the game to be amusing, particularly noting the contrast between its comedic elements and the retro, 16-bit style graphics, which adds to the overall charm and hilarity.
“The humor in this game is absolutely hilarious, especially considering that most of the characters look like they're from a 16-bit era.”
“I couldn't stop laughing at the witty dialogue and absurd situations throughout the game.”
“The comedic timing and clever puns really elevate the overall experience, making it a joy to play.”