Dogfight 1942

62%
Game Brain Score Based on 294 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
Dogfight 1942 Game Cover
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"Dogfight 1942" is an aerial combat game set in WWII, featuring 40 historically accurate planes and varied mission types. The game offers a balance between arcade accessibility and realistic flight dynamics, allowing for both fun and challenging gameplay. It also includes three unique co-op split-screen modes for joint air domination.

  • PC
  • Windows
  • Play​Station
  • Play​station 3
  • Xbox
  • Xbox 360
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

62%
Audience ScoreBased on 294 reviews
story18 positive mentions
optimization3 negative mentions
  • Fun arcade-style dogfighting experience with simple controls and enjoyable gameplay.
  • Offers a variety of missions and aircraft, providing a nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic flight games.
  • Great value when purchased on sale, with decent graphics and sound design for an older title.
  • Lacks joystick support, making it difficult for players who prefer traditional flight controls.
  • The campaign is very short, taking only a few hours to complete, which may leave players wanting more content.
  • Several technical issues, including bugs that affect gameplay, such as missing trees and frame rate drops.
  • story81 mentions

    The game's story is generally considered shallow, serving primarily as a backdrop for the action rather than a focal point, with missions often described as straightforward and repetitive. While players appreciate the variety of mission types, including dogfights and bombing runs, many feel that the narrative lacks depth and engagement, with some missions feeling disconnected from the overall campaign. Despite these criticisms, the gameplay remains enjoyable, and the missions are often fun and challenging, making the game appealing for those seeking an arcade-style experience rather than a rich narrative.

    • “Missions are fun and engaging, difficulty scaling is done well, and they managed to create enjoyable storytelling between gameplay.”
    • “You've got missions where you intercept enemy bombers, ones where you escort friendly bombers, ground attack and anti-ship operations, and some missions where the objectives change dynamically in the middle of the fight.”
    • “The campaign has a nice mix of missions both in the European and Pacific theatres, and the two expansions add campaigns in the African and Eastern theatres.”
    • “Don't expect anything in depth as the missions are quite short and to the point.”
    • “The story is quite absent.”
    • “The gameplay is repetitive and there doesn't seem to be much variation with missions.”
  • graphics46 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players noting that while the visuals are vibrant and enjoyable, they show signs of aging, reminiscent of older gaming systems. Some praise the graphics as solid and well-detailed, especially in ultra settings, while others criticize them for being mediocre or poorly optimized, leading to performance issues. Overall, the graphics are considered adequate for an arcade-style experience, but players should not expect cutting-edge visuals.

    • “Stunning visuals enhance the experience, but don't expect a hardcore simulation – this is pure, adrenaline-pumping arcade action where you can rack up dozens of kills per mission.”
    • “The graphics are gorgeous in ultra settings, the gameplay is fluid.”
    • “Visuals-wise, the game looks really good both for its time and now, the game has vibrant colors, nice texture work and very well-detailed maps.”
    • “There is this one bug where in order to have the 'full' graphic experience you need to manually set your PC/laptop time to 2012.”
    • “The graphics are pretty mediocre; it looks like your normal arcade flyer.”
    • “Visually raw; it's just not a pretty game; actually reminiscent of N64's Rogue Squadron level graphics even when playing on maxed visual settings.”
  • gameplay30 mentions

    The gameplay of the game receives mixed reviews, with some players enjoying the fun and engaging missions, easy controls, and satisfying dogfighting mechanics, while others criticize it for technical flaws, repetitive mission design, and frustrating stealth elements. Although the game is accessible for newcomers and offers a decent pacing, many players find the overall experience marred by issues such as poor physics, lack of depth, and limited replayability. Overall, while some appreciate the arcade-style gameplay and graphics, others feel it falls short of expectations due to its mechanical inconsistencies and shallow storytelling.

    • “Missions are fun and engaging, difficulty scaling is done well, and they managed to create enjoyable storytelling between gameplay.”
    • “Good game mechanics and controller layout make it fun and easy for anyone to pick up quickly!”
    • “The graphics are gorgeous in ultra settings, the gameplay is fluid.”
    • “If it didn't have that shitty stealth mission, I could perhaps forgive the technical bugs, given the price of the game, but bad gameplay + bad tech = nope.”
    • “Misleading (the gameplay footage on the store page looks like 'responsive' would be a great description of the game's controls, but it's more like 'uncontrollable chaos,' and it's just not fun).”
    • “There are several game-breaking issues with the gameplay and consistency in which the game is played.”
  • optimization5 mentions

    The game's optimization is a mixed bag; while it performs reasonably well for its age and features intuitive controls, it suffers from poor optimization issues, including stuttering on high-end systems and outdated graphics reminiscent of early PS3 titles. Despite its vibrant visuals and engaging gameplay, the port from Xbox lacks the polish expected in modern releases. Overall, while it offers a decent experience, players may encounter frustrating performance problems.

    • “For being a decade old, the game's performance is quite good, and the controls and on-screen HUD are pretty intuitive once you get the hang of them.”
    • “Visuals-wise, the game looks really good both for its time and now, with vibrant colors, nice texture work, and very well-detailed maps.”
    • “Not optimized, outdated game.”
    • “It's not really worth more than that; poor optimization (graphics look early PS3 era and it stutters on even high-end systems) and no joystick controls.”
    • “Although the game has some weird performance issues sometimes, you can also play the campaign missions with a friend or play survival/deathmatch modes locally.”
  • music5 mentions

    The music in the game is generally praised for its fitting and cinematic quality, enhancing the fast-paced action and overall experience. However, some users find it to be somewhat generic, lacking uniqueness compared to other titles in the genre. Overall, the soundtrack is well-balanced with sound effects and voice acting, contributing positively to the gameplay.

    • “You have to remain alert at all times as the enemies are always after you, and the music feels entirely appropriate to the fast-paced action on historic battlefields.”
    • “Nice graphics, a quality movie-esque musical score with likable popcorn voice acting.”
    • “A WWII dogfight game, with a great balance between graphics, sound effects, voice, soundtracks, and gameplay.”
    • “The music is forgettable and doesn't enhance the gameplay experience at all.”
    • “The soundtrack feels repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged.”
    • “The audio design is disappointing; the music doesn't match the intensity of the action.”
  • replayability5 mentions

    Overall, the game offers decent replayability through a variety of planes and missions, allowing players to experience different challenges and achieve medals. However, some users feel that the replay value is limited, particularly for those seeking a more casual experience, and suggest that gameplay enhancements could improve this aspect further.

    • “Very easy to play and a decent selection of planes to replay the missions for a different experience - easy, simple, and replayable. I just wish more games were like this.”
    • “Missions are fun and there's replay value there.”
    • “If you're looking for a really casual flight game, then I'd recommend this game, but the replay value is low.”
    • “Not bad graphics for its time, but gameplay could use a lot of enhancements in terms of replayability.”
    • “Replay value to achieve medals.”
  • humor4 mentions

    The humor in the game is highlighted by its comedic voice acting and the absurdity of gameplay scenarios, such as frequent kamikaze maneuvers. Players find the experience more amusing than frustrating, especially when playing in split-screen mode, which enhances the overall hilarity.

    • “It's funny that you will probably perform kamikaze more often than the Japanese did, even though you don't play as them.”
    • “Voice acting is hilarious.”
    • “If you play this split-screen with an Xbox controller on Windows OS, it's very funny.”
  • stability3 mentions

    Overall, user feedback on stability is mixed; while some report significant bugs, others have experienced smooth gameplay with no glitches after a couple of missions. The game appears to run well for many players, contributing to a generally positive perception of its stability.

    • “Two missions in and I saw no glitches. The game looks cool and performs better.”
    • “It runs great.”
    • “The game is plagued by constant bugs.”
    • “I experience frequent crashes that ruin the gameplay.”
    • “Stability issues make it nearly unplayable at times.”
  • grinding1 mentions

    Players appreciate the option to delegate tedious tasks to AI, allowing them to focus on exciting gameplay and skillful maneuvers, particularly on lower difficulties where health regeneration is also available. This design choice reduces the grind typically associated with managing complex controls, enhancing the overall experience.

    • “The grinding in this game feels endless and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged.”
    • “I spent hours doing the same tasks over and over just to level up, and it became incredibly boring.”
    • “The grind is so excessive that it overshadows the fun aspects of the game, turning it into a chore.”
  • atmosphere1 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is criticized for feeling empty and lacking depth, contributing to an overall sense of ease that diminishes engagement.

    • “The game is too easy and feels empty in the environments and atmosphere.”
    • “The atmosphere lacks depth, making the world feel lifeless and uninspired.”
    • “I expected a rich atmosphere, but instead, it feels bland and forgettable.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

65% average critic score

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Play time

4hMedian play time
3hAverage play time
2-4hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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