Carrier Deck
- June 15, 2017
- Every Single Soldier
- 14h median play time
Get on Steam"Carrier Deck" is a time management game set on the USS Ronald Regan aircraft carrier, where you serve as the Air Officer. Your responsibilities include loading and readying aircraft for military missions, managing takeoffs and landings, and preventing accidents. The game has been updated to version 1.1.2, allowing for more flexible mission launch orders.
Reviews
- Challenging and addictive gameplay that keeps players engaged.
- Solid mechanics and good visuals that enhance the experience.
- Unique concept of managing an aircraft carrier, providing a fresh take on time management games.
- Frustrating pathfinding issues with aircraft leading to collisions and mission failures.
- Limited content depth and repetitive gameplay can lead to boredom over time.
- Bugs and glitches that disrupt gameplay, including issues with mission progression and aircraft behavior.
- story220 mentions
- 9 % positive mentions
- 85 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is largely criticized for its lack of depth, with many users noting that the campaign serves merely as a framework for gameplay rather than a narrative-driven experience. Players engage in a series of repetitive missions with minimal context or plot, focusing instead on managing aircraft and completing objectives under time constraints. While the missions themselves can be challenging and varied, the absence of a compelling storyline detracts from the overall experience.
“The art of managing a carrier deck, configuring aircraft correctly, and sending out a limited number of aircraft on specific missions at the right time will keep you on your toes for each scenario.”
“You are given missions to execute in rapid-fire succession, and you must launch the appropriate aircraft to tackle them as quickly as possible, keeping landing zones clear for incoming aircraft returning from missions or delivering cargo.”
“The campaign begins with a good series of tutorials to get you used to the controls, after which it throws you into increasingly difficult missions.”
“There is no engaging story mode.”
“The campaign has almost no plot, just repetitive missions with slowly increasing difficulty.”
“Campaign is broken and I cannot progress as it keeps indicating 0 stars for missions I have completed with 4 or 5.”
- gameplay57 mentions
- 51 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by solid mechanics and an engaging core loop, making it easy to learn yet addictive, with a mix of fun and challenging elements. However, many players noted a lack of content depth and some frustrating bugs, particularly with aircraft pathfinding and performance issues that can disrupt the experience. Overall, while the game offers enjoyable and fast-paced gameplay, it could benefit from additional content and refinement of its mechanics.
“Quick fun game, easy to learn controls, simple gameplay but it hooks you in to try and beat your top score. Sometimes a simple game is actually more fun than the more elaborate difficult stuff.”
“The core gameplay loop of carrier deck is good fun - balance your aircraft and their capabilities against a range of threats.”
“Gameplay is easy to grasp and strategy is challenging.”
“However, about halfway through it started experiencing consistently repeating performance issues that made it 'gum up', making it effectively unplayable (it's not technically unplayable, but the FPS is so low important gameplay cues can be missed).”
“As for the bugs I mentioned: all your actions are carried out by your deck crew which sounds like a neat mechanic until they get stuck on some random piece of the plane and just stand there doing nothing.”
“However, while the theme might fit the gameplay concept like a glove, the actual implementation of basic game mechanics leaves something to be desired.”
- graphics39 mentions
- 64 % positive mentions
- 28 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally well-received, described as decent to good, with some users noting a nostalgic 2010s aesthetic. While not groundbreaking, the visuals effectively support the game's theme and mechanics, contributing to an enjoyable experience. However, there are mentions of minor graphical bugs and a desire for improved scale and variety in visuals.
“A unique theme combined with beautiful graphics, great music, and even better sound effects.”
“The graphics are super for a small game like this and the developers have clearly put a lot of thought into managing the deck (positioning your aircraft).”
“Graphics are fantastic, so is the sound; a few minor niggles with some gameplay, but it has, for me at least, the perfect mix of simple gameplay, fun, and management.”
“Visuals...2010s era check”
“There are also some embarrassing graphical bugs (mostly related to the hangar view).”
“So.. definitely an older game style.. graphics are not the greatest but it's still an interesting game to play.”
- music18 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews; while some players appreciate the fun and thematic background music reminiscent of "Danger Zone," others find it repetitive and bland, suggesting that it detracts from the overall experience. Many recommend playing external soundtracks, like the Top Gun soundtrack, to enhance enjoyment. Overall, the sound effects and voice acting are praised, but a desire for more varied music is noted.
“It's a fun sorting game, the music is great, low time investment but you can play for a long time.”
“The theme is executed well and the graphics and sounds support it. I'm particularly impressed by the background music; the riff clearly is designed to remind you of 'Danger Zone' without being close enough for Kenny Loggins to sue, so nice work there.”
“A unique theme combined with beautiful graphics, great music, and even better sound effects.”
“Another small gripe is the music.”
“It's repetitive and bland since only one song plays for the entire game on loop.”
“The music isn't great.”
- replayability18 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players praising its unlimited replay value and engaging missions, while others cite bugs and predictability as factors that diminish the experience. Many find it enjoyable enough for multiple playthroughs, but a significant number express concerns about burnout and limited replayability due to various issues. The introduction of new features and improvements in updates has the potential to enhance replayability further.
“Original game, tons of replay value.”
“Awesome game, unlimited replayability.”
“Simple concept flawlessly executed with near unlimited replayability.”
“It's a lot of fun but not very replayable.”
“Thus the replayability is 0.”
“For many, it's worth the $10 even with these issues, but for me and some others, we have kind of burned out due to the issues and lack of replayability.”
- stability11 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is frequently criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs and glitches that disrupt gameplay, such as mission freezes and issues with aircraft navigation. While some players appreciate the concept, the persistent technical problems lead to frustration, requiring multiple restarts and detracting from the overall experience.
“I love the idea of a game about the delicate ballet of an operational flight deck, but the buggy interface makes this more frustrating than fun.”
“Highly buggy, had an issue where the first mission in the game was bugged and could never end.”
“Awesome game, but freezes up like crazy... 106 minutes played - loved it, but I am done with having to restart missions... 5 or 6 restarts - just too much.”
- optimization4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is generally praised, particularly for ultrawide displays, but players report significant performance issues that can hinder gameplay, especially in later stages. While it remains playable, low frame rates can lead to missed cues, making it frustrating for those aiming for perfection. Overall, it offers a worthwhile experience for its price, but players should be prepared for potential performance-related challenges.
“The game's addictive nature encourages players to continuously improve their performance, attempting each level until they've achieved perfection.”
“I have not encountered any bugs or problems, and from what I've heard, the game is optimized perfectly for ultrawide monitors.”
“For €4.99, it can be recommended as a worthwhile game for low-brain performance management, but it may take several attempts to master a campaign mission, so bring a bit of frustration tolerance with you.”
“However, about halfway through, it started experiencing consistently repeating performance issues that made it 'gum up', making it effectively unplayable (it's not technically unplayable, but the FPS is so low that important gameplay cues can be missed).”
“For €4.99, it can be recommended as a game worthwhile for a bit of low-brain performance management, but it can take you several attempts to master a campaign mission sometimes, so bring a bit of frustration tolerance with you.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and unenjoyable, often leading to a loss of initial excitement and satisfaction. Many express frustration with the repetitive nature of tasks, which can feel more like chores than engaging gameplay.
“My options now are to wipe my progress and go through the tedious tutorial again, or go play another game.”
“And they are chores, because quite quickly any fun or satisfaction that you had from the first hour or so of managing the flight deck is transformed into a tedious grind.”
- humor2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game arises from the chaotic and often absurd behavior of supply units and aircraft, which can lead to both hilarious and frustrating situations, especially when they follow illogical paths during critical moments. Players find amusement in the exaggerated antics of the units, such as their tendency to give up easily and the comical delays in getting aircraft onto the deck, creating a blend of chaos and comedy in gameplay.
“The supply units also use the elevators, and this has led to some hilarious but frustrating bugs.”
“Units don't take the most direct path; they instead almost seem to be following the naval aircraft handbook to the letter, maneuvering around deck spaces even if they are unoccupied. This seems reasonable until there are three bomber squadrons and a nuclear submarine bearing down on you, which becomes hilariously insane.”
“When things work, they work well. Aircraft can wait in a queue of sorts and then filter to their spots. However, they also have a tendency to 'give up too easily'. If the spot is blocked for what feels like more than three seconds, they return to their original spot, which has disastrous consequences if their path straddles the runway.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is characterized by intense heat and a gripping sense of immersion, making the experience on the carrier deck particularly gratifying for players. Overall, it is widely praised for its compelling and engaging ambiance.
“The atmosphere of the game is filled with intensity and a great deal of heat, and I'm sure I am not alone in admitting that I find the carrier deck an extremely gratifying experience.”
“Great atmosphere.”
