Sid Meier’s Ace Patrol: Pacific Skies

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"Sid Meier's Ace Patrol: Pacific Skies" is a turn-based strategy game that puts players in command of aircraft squadrons during World War II in the Pacific theater. Engage in tactical aerial combat, manage your pilots' skills and aircraft upgrades, and complete various missions to gain an advantage in the war. This game sequel expands on its predecessor with new planes, campaigns, and features for a more immersive and challenging experience.

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Sid Meier’s Ace Patrol: Pacific Skies screenshot

61%

Audience ScoreBased on 280 reviews

gameplay11 positive mentions

story6 negative mentions

Engaging and fun missions with high replayability.
Great touchscreen support and smooth gameplay on Steam Deck.
Realistic WWII missions with voice acting for pilots and a nice touch of character customization.

Frequent crashes, especially after missions, making the game frustrating to play.
Lack of mission selection and unclear mechanics for upgrades and maneuvers.
Graphics and interface feel outdated, lacking modern fullscreen support.

story
114 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
4%
91%
5%
The game's story revolves around engaging World War II missions where players can choose to fly for either the Japanese or American forces, with a focus on realistic scenarios and character progression. Players experience a sense of continuity as injuries and mission outcomes carry over into subsequent missions, adding depth to the campaign narrative. However, the lack of mission selection and repetitive mission types detract from the overall experience, alongside frequent game crashes that disrupt gameplay.
- “Good story and gameplay.”
- “You can still fail a mission and move on to the next one.”
- “The game consists of many small rounds, so this is also a great game for when you have just a few minutes to spare - do a mission and save the next for later.”
- “The missions are very repetitive (180 are claimed, but they're really a variation on four or five missions with different enemy planes in them), the animations are clunky, and there are endless small boneheaded things that will annoy you.”
- “Another change is that you no longer get to select which mission you fly. In the first Ace Patrol, you could choose between three missions, but in Pacific Skies, the mission is given to you.”
- “As each campaign consists of four missions, you could easily end up flying the same type of mission four times in a row.”
graphics
48 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
63%
19%
Overall, the graphics of the game are widely criticized for being outdated and lacking in quality, with many reviewers noting that they do not meet modern standards, especially for a game released in 2013. Players have expressed frustration over the absence of fullscreen mode and limited customization options, which detracts from the overall experience. While some find the graphics acceptable for the game's genre, the consensus leans towards disappointment, particularly when compared to other titles in the same developer's portfolio.
- “Graphics are well above sufficient for this type of game.”
- “Sounds and graphics are simple, clean, and good enough for this type of game.”
- “Great value, good enough graphics, addictive gameplay, decent sound design, and incredibly fun!”
- “Graphics are outdated, and there is no fullscreen mode.”
- “Horrible graphics, especially for a 2013 game... not only the graphics but the gameplay too.”
- “The graphics look dated and the gameplay is somewhat messy.”
gameplay
33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
58%
9%
The gameplay is generally described as an upgraded version of the first game, featuring solid mechanics and engaging, easy-to-learn gameplay that offers a fun experience, especially for fans of Sid Meier's style. However, many reviews note that it suffers from repetitiveness, dated graphics, and some clunky controls, which may detract from the overall enjoyment over time. Despite these drawbacks, players appreciate the charm and challenge it provides, making it a decent time killer for its price.
- “Overall, the gameplay is about the same; the game takes a lot of the things that were fun about the first game and recycles it well enough.”
- “The mechanics are solid, and the way the game progresses up to a certain point is smile-inducing.”
- “A great fun, quick easy game full of charm and old school gameplay.”
- “Horrible graphics, especially for a 2013 game... not only the graphics but the gameplay too.”
- “Bland, limited & repetitive gameplay is what you can expect from Sid's Ace Patrol.”
- “The graphics look dated and the gameplay is somewhat messy.”
music
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
17%
33%
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many players appreciating the soundtrack for enhancing the gameplay experience without being intrusive. However, some users have reported technical issues that detracted from their enjoyment, leading to frustration despite the positive feedback on the music and sound effects. Overall, while the music is a highlight, it may not be enough to compensate for other gameplay shortcomings.
- “Music and sound effects are overall good.”
- “I really enjoyed the soundtrack in the game.”
- “As any Sid Meier's series that I have played, the music doesn't get in the way of your experience, because it's quietly sitting there in the background and making your gameplay much better.”
- “Broken game. Tried everything in support to get it to work. Waste of money. All I got was some music and a white screen.”
- “As far as graphics, music, and sound effects are concerned, Pacific Skies doesn't offer much beyond the original Ace Patrol.”
replayability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
Overall, the game offers a mix of high replayability due to its fun missions and unique gameplay experiences, particularly for fans of board games. However, some users note that the lack of complexity may limit long-term replay value, suggesting it’s best enjoyed at a discounted price.
- “All in all, a wonderful game with high replayability.”
- “Lots of fun missions with scores for replayability.”
- “Ace Patrol and AP: Pacific Skies are very old board games, Blue Max ported to PC. For those of us who love those kinds of board games, it's a great buy and an awesome game. Simple graphics, but each game is unique, making it very replayable.”
- “Sadly, the replayability problems are exactly the same. Overall, if you see it on discount for 1-2 euros and have nothing to do (seriously, who reads a review on this game?!), then sure, why not.”
- “Not complex enough to merit replayability.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game suffers from significant stability issues, particularly on Windows, with frequent freezes during and after missions that often require a restart. Many users report having to force-kill the game to relaunch it, indicating widespread problems with the software's performance.
- “Very buggy on Windows.”
- “After a mission, it freezes either for a moment before the menu appears or it freezes completely, and I have to restart the game.”
- “The software starts, but you have to force-kill its process in order to try launching again. It's buggy, and there are known issues with the game starting for a lot of folks.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is generally perceived as a lighthearted and amusing experience, perfect for short breaks. However, players have noted a frustrating limitation regarding the save and load functionality, which detracts from the overall enjoyment.
- “A funny little game for when you have a break.”
- “A very nice, funny, and happy game.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly during aerial dogfights, although it is noted as effective for farming cards.
- “This game still makes aerial dogfights boring and tedious.”
- “Good for farming cards.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization of Sid Meier's Ace Patrol: Pacific Skies has been criticized as a lazy cash grab, reflecting poorly on the once-revered development house behind it. Users feel that the game lacks the quality expected from its creators, suggesting a focus on profit over player experience.
- “Sid Meier's Ace Patrol: Pacific Skies is a mobile app that's been dumped on Steam as a lazy cash grab by a once-great but now not-so-great development house that should know better.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The optimization of the game is praised for effectively modeling plane performance and integrating RPG elements seamlessly, contributing to an overall positive gameplay experience.
- “It models the performance of the planes really nicely, and the RPG elements work well.”