Sid Meier’s Ace Patrol: Pacific Skies
- November 4, 2013
- Firaxis
Get on Steam"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.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Simple and fun gameplay that is easy to learn but offers depth for mastery.
- Engaging turn-based combat with a charming style and interesting mechanics.
- Affordable price point, making it a good value for casual gaming sessions.
- Frequent crashes, especially after missions, making the game frustrating and often unplayable.
- Graphics and interface feel outdated, lacking modern polish and options like fullscreen mode.
- Repetitive missions and limited campaign options can lead to a lack of long-term engagement.
- story46 mentions
- 7 % positive mentions
- 87 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The game's story is set against a backdrop of World War II aerial combat, featuring various missions that allow players to engage in tactical dogfights and upgrade their pilots and aircraft. However, the narrative experience is marred by frequent crashes after missions, leading to frustration among players, despite the missions being relatively quick and varied. Overall, while the game offers a nostalgic and engaging tactical experience, the technical issues significantly detract from the enjoyment of its story.
“Good story and gameplay.”
“Both the two American and Japanese factions do dog fighting over land and sea, and there are a few new twists added, like a mission to shoot down a pilot or towers to save one of your crashed pilots from a POW camp.”
“It comes with most of the other features of the previous game, including randomized pilots you can name that can earn RPG traits and maneuvers through experience while fighting randomized missions.”
“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.”
- graphics19 mentions
- 16 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 32 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally considered outdated and below modern standards, with many users noting a lack of fullscreen mode and limited customization options. While some players find the graphics sufficient for the game's style, others express disappointment, especially in comparison to other titles by the same developer. Overall, the visuals are described as simple and lacking in detail, but the gameplay remains enjoyable for those who prioritize fun over graphical fidelity.
“Graphics are well above sufficient for this type of game.”
“It's a lot of fun, plays well, and has great planes and graphics.”
“I play on the PC which works fine, and the graphics aren't bad.”
“Graphics are outdated, and there is no fullscreen mode.”
“The graphics are not up to 2021 standards; some of the maneuvers are ridiculous and not very realistic, and the 'customization' features are very limited.”
“Shameful for a Sid Meier's game to have such 1990's graphics, especially after being spoiled by a lot of his other name-bearing software titles.”
- gameplay16 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally enjoyable, featuring clever maneuver mechanics and easy-to-learn controls that make it accessible and fun. While some players appreciate the nostalgic charm and engaging mechanics, others note that the graphics feel dated and the gameplay can be somewhat clunky. Overall, it offers a mix of simplicity and complexity, appealing to both casual and hardcore gamers.
“Very pleasant gameplay.”
“Easy to learn mechanics allows you to just play.”
“A great fun, quick easy game full of charm and old school gameplay.”
“Graphics are dated and gameplay is cranky.”
“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.”
“But the gameplay is quite complex and unique.”
- stability3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game has significant stability issues, particularly on Windows, with users reporting frequent bugs and crashes that often require force-killing the process to restart. Many players experience problems with the game failing to launch, indicating widespread known issues.
“Very buggy on Windows.”
“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.”
“Still, the game is horrible and buggy.”
- music2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The music and sound effects in the game are generally well-received, contributing positively to the experience. However, some players have encountered significant technical issues, leading to frustration and disappointment, as they were unable to fully enjoy the audio due to gameplay problems.
“The music and sound effects are overall good.”
“The soundtrack really enhances the gaming experience, making every moment feel more immersive.”
“I love how the music changes dynamically with the gameplay, adding an extra layer of excitement.”
“Broken game. Tried everything in support to get it to work. Waste of money. All I got was some music and a white screen.”
“The music is repetitive and lacks variety, making it feel dull and uninspired.”
“I expected a rich soundtrack, but the music feels generic and forgettable.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
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.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some users find it lacking in complexity to warrant multiple playthroughs, others appreciate its unique gameplay experiences that enhance replay value, particularly for fans of classic board games.
“Ace Patrol and AP: Pacific Skies are very old board games, Blue Max ported to PC. For those of us who love these kinds of board games, it's a great buy and an awesome game. Simple graphics, but each game is unique, making it very replayable.”
“Not complex enough to merit replayability.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
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.”
