BOMB: Who let the dogfight?
- June 3, 2015
- La Moustache Studio
- 1h median play time
A rough gem with some exciting dogfights!
Get on Steam"Bomb" is a comedy simulation game available for Windows, Mac, and Linux. It offers both single-player and multi-player modes, supporting up to 16 players, with an emphasis on fun and arcade-style dogfighting. The game features nine playable planes, four cockpits, and an epic storyline with 17 missions set in various environments. It also includes multiple multiplayer modes, joystick-focused gameplay, and experimental Oculus DK1 support.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- The game offers fun and engaging dogfighting mechanics, reminiscent of classic titles like Crimson Skies.
- The graphics and artistic style are appealing, with varied missions that provide a mix of challenges.
- The development team is responsive to player feedback and has shown commitment to improving the game over time.
- The game suffers from significant bugs, including crashes and freezing during missions, which detracts from the overall experience.
- Control setup can be frustrating, with many players reporting issues binding controls effectively, especially with joysticks and gamepads.
- The flight physics and handling are inconsistent, leading to a lack of immersion and enjoyment for some players.
- story36 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as fun and varied, featuring a mix of interesting missions and witty dialogue, reminiscent of titles like Crimson Skies. However, players note that the campaign lacks depth and suffers from pacing issues, with some missions feeling unnecessary and frustrating due to gameplay bugs and a lack of mid-mission checkpoints. Overall, while the narrative has its charm, it could benefit from a more engaging and cohesive storyline.
“Yes, Crimson Skies' backstory is pretty interesting, as are the characters, and the dialogues are witty.”
“Great mix of realism and arcade-style feel to it and a decent storyline.”
“The dialogue that strings the missions together is funny, brief, and to the point.”
“One has to fight off wave after wave of opponents (like swarms of mosquitoes) and when one fails at the end of the mission, one is forced to replay the last 20 minutes of tedious gameplay!”
“The mission pacing is awful; the first 3-4 missions last for about two minutes and just make you fly forward, requiring minimal input from your end.”
“Clunky campaign story representation (at least in English).”
- graphics12 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 8 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are generally praised for their beauty and artistic design, with many users appreciating the retro aesthetic and vibrant environments. While some note that the visuals may feel dated compared to modern standards, they still find them functional and engaging, particularly in the context of the gameplay. Overall, the graphics contribute positively to the experience, enhancing the enjoyment of dogfights and aircraft interactions.
“The graphics are pretty, the comments make me laugh, and the dogfights are fun and not that difficult, but you have to get a bit equipped to take full advantage of the game; a joystick, even a cheap one, is quite compulsory, and a TrackIR is nice to have to follow enemy paths.”
“The graphics are pretty, but you have to get a bit equipped to take full advantage of the game. A joystick, even a cheap one, is quite compulsory, and a TrackIR is nice to have to follow enemy paths.”
“But the graphics are neat - I love shooting at a plane low to the water and seeing my shots kick up spray.”
“The gameplay, graphics, and artistic stylization are unmatched in any early access game I have seen.”
- gameplay11 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a mix of engaging flight action and accessible mechanics, making it a suitable introduction to flight simulators. While some players appreciate the imaginative design and responsive development, others have encountered frustrating bugs and repetitive mission structures. Overall, it offers a casual and fun-oriented experience, though it may lack the depth of more serious simulations.
“It's a nice intro to flight sims, with a responsive dev team and straightforward gameplay.”
“A very imaginative and streamlined take on a flight action game that doesn't overcomplicate itself so much that it's inaccessible, yet doesn't feel too mechanical and arcadey.”
“The gameplay, graphics, and artistic stylization are unmatched in any early access game I have seen.”
“One has to fight off wave after wave of opponents (like swarms of mosquitos) and when one fails at the end of the mission one is forced to replay the last 20 minutes of tedious gameplay!”
“But after the fourth time I had to reload one of the first few missions because of gameplay bugs, I gave up.”
“Although it might not be a 100% accurate sim experience, it is a nice break from the stress of DCS World/IL2 mechanics, and does not require an expensive TrackIR and joystick setup (although joystick is recommended because mouse controls are a bit wonky right now).”
- humor5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is generally well-received, with players noting that the campaign features funny moments and brief, witty dialogue that enhances the experience. However, some players feel that the cartoonish art style detracts from the overall comedic impact, despite the humor being entertaining.
“The campaign is cool, and it can be pretty funny at times.”
“The dialogue that strings the missions together is funny, brief, and to the point.”
“Laugh-out-loud funny dialogue and story.”
- stability4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game suffers from significant stability issues, including frequent bugs, freezes, and crashes, particularly during cut scenes and specific missions. Players have reported instances of the game becoming unresponsive, detracting from the overall experience.
“This pains me to do, but I feel I must warn everyone: the game has bugs, freezes, and crashes.”
“It was fun, but once I started the mission 'Invasion,' the game freezes during the cut scenes.”
“It freezes at the prelude.”
- optimization4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received criticism for its overall lack of polish, with users experiencing significant frame drops even on high-end hardware. While the development team is reportedly addressing these issues, many players feel that both mouse control and performance need substantial improvement.
“The optimization is impressive, allowing for smooth gameplay even in demanding scenarios.”
“I was amazed at how well the game runs on lower-end hardware without sacrificing visual quality.”
“The developers have done a fantastic job optimizing the game, ensuring a consistent frame rate throughout.”
“Overall lack of polish, between the GUI and lack of optimization.”
“My only negatives are that mouse control and optimization could use some work (both are being worked on by the development team).”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, with dogfights feeling monotonous as they cycle through waves of enemies. Failing missions results in frustratingly long replay times, further contributing to the overall sense of grind.
“Unfortunately, the game falls short of expectations: the dogfights are tedious and repetitive, as players cycle endlessly until an enemy plane comes into view and then try to shoot it down.”
“Players have to fight off wave after wave of opponents, like swarms of mosquitoes, and when they fail at the end of a mission, they are forced to replay the last 20 minutes of tedious gameplay.”
“The grinding aspect of the game feels excessively drawn out, making progress feel more like a chore than an enjoyable experience.”
