WarBirds: World War II Combat Aviation
Get on SteamWarBirds: World War II Combat Aviation is a realistic flight simulation game set in WWII, focusing on historical events and demanding actual flying skills. The 2021 edition offers new training options, including CheckOut, CheckRide, and Fighter Pilot Academy, to help players of various skill levels get started. Join a squadron and participate in exciting Squadron Select Series events on most Sunday evenings. This game is not for arcade fans; it requires dedication to learn and master realistic flying and fighting techniques.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game offers a great variety of flight and vehicle choices, allowing players to fly bombers, fighters, or engage in ground combat.
- It has a realistic flight experience, especially when using a joystick, and features a helpful community for new players.
- The training mode is well thought out, providing an enjoyable experience for both new and experienced players.
- The game suffers from outdated graphics and a terrible user interface, making it difficult to navigate and enjoy.
- Many players experience technical issues, including crashes and disconnections, which hinder gameplay.
- The subscription model for online play, combined with an upfront fee, feels greedy and has led to frustration among players.
- graphics11 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have been widely criticized as outdated, resembling mid-90s titles, with many users expressing disappointment in their lack of realism and overall quality. While some players appreciate certain aspects of the graphics and physics, the consensus leans towards a need for significant updates to enhance visual appeal and gameplay experience. Overall, the game's graphics are seen as a major drawback compared to more modern alternatives.
“I think the game needs a graphics update, and some work on gameplay, but if realism, immersion, and a great mature community are important, then this has it in spades.”
“Game graphics are nice, physics of the planes are nice.”
“I'll admit that the flight model, damage model and graphics are better here.”
“Graphics look like mid nineties abandonware.”
“Game they want you to pay monthly to play; the controls are terrible, it has a horrible layout, bad graphics, not realistic whatsoever. Play War Thunder or Arma 3 if you want something more realistic; this game is just junk.”
“Sub par graphics (should be called Warbirds 1996), sub par gameplay.”
- music3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with users criticizing the soundtrack as "horrible" and noting that it can become repetitive and annoying, particularly during loading sequences.
“The music in this game is incredibly catchy and stays in your head long after you stop playing.”
“The soundtrack perfectly complements the gameplay, enhancing the overall experience.”
“I love how the music sets the mood and immerses you in the game's world.”
“The soundtrack is horrible.”
“I tried loading the game again to see if I could get in a plane in single player, and the intro music looped 9 times until I tried to tab out and it decided to work.”
“Oh my god, I have that lousy music going through my head!”
- gameplay2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some users criticizing it as subpar and in need of improvement, while others appreciate its realism and immersive experience, particularly within a mature community. Overall, the gameplay experience seems to be polarizing, appealing to some while alienating others.
“I think the game needs a graphics update, and some work on gameplay, but if realism, immersion, and a great mature community are important, then this has it in spades.”
- story2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The story aspect is marred by technical issues, including a bug that grants invincibility during certain missions and persistent glitches in the mission editor, which complicate the learning process. Overall, these problems detract from the narrative experience.
“The mission editor has a ground glitch all the time, and it takes a while to learn how it works.”
“There is a bug where you will be invincible in the instant action and free flight missions, even with the option disabled.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players appreciate that the game does not necessitate constant in-game purchases or excessive grinding to access competitive aircraft, making progression feel more accessible and fair.
“The grinding in this game feels endless and tedious, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“I find the grinding mechanics to be overly repetitive and not rewarding enough.”
“The amount of time required for grinding to progress is frustrating and detracts from the overall experience.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 200 % positive mentions
- -400 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The monetization model is generally well-received, as players feel that it does not necessitate ongoing in-game purchases or excessive grinding to access competitive aircraft.
“The monetization model is fair and allows players to enjoy the game without feeling pressured to spend money.”
“I appreciate that the game offers plenty of free content, making it accessible for everyone.”
“It certainly does not require continual in-game purchases to upgrade and/or grind to get into a competitive aircraft.”
“The monetization system feels overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending money.”
“I feel like I'm being pushed to spend real money just to keep up with other players.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The optimization of the flight models is highly praised, as they are designed to be as realistic as possible, utilizing actual performance data to enhance authenticity.
“The flight models are as realistic as the development team can make them, based on actual performance data.”
“The optimization of the game allows for smooth gameplay even on lower-end systems, making it accessible to a wider audience.”
“I appreciate how the developers continuously refine the game, ensuring that performance is optimized with each update.”
