Warplanes: WW1 Fighters

About

"Warplanes: WW1 Fighters" is a VR game that immerses players in World War 1 aerial combat. It offers a range of gameplay options, appealing to both arcade and flight simulator fans. The game is available on itch.io, with an optional free Oculus or Steam key for certain purchases. Please note that new purchases only include the itch.io version.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

89%

Audience ScoreBased on 317 reviews

story21 positive mentions

replayability3 negative mentions

The VR controls are well executed, providing an immersive and engaging experience.
Gameplay is fun and offers a variety of missions and planes, making it enjoyable for both casual and hardcore players.
The visuals while flying are breathtaking, enhancing the overall experience of dogfighting in VR.

The game can feel repetitive after a while, with missions lacking significant variety.
There are issues with AI behavior, particularly with wingmen not effectively assisting during missions.
The game is primarily designed for VR, making it unplayable without a headset, which may frustrate some players.

story
118 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
79%
3%
The game's story aspect is criticized for its lack of depth and narrative engagement, with many players expressing a desire for a more structured campaign that includes character interactions and meaningful context between missions. While the variety of missions and aircraft keeps gameplay interesting, the repetitive nature of the tasks and the absence of a compelling storyline detract from the overall experience. Players appreciate the mechanics and multiplayer options but feel that a richer narrative could significantly enhance the game's appeal.
- “Campaign is there, with some fun missions with dogfights, bombing runs, sea and land targets, pretty cool.”
- “Before each mission, there was a short journal entry to read. When you were in the air, there were little written vignettes to reinforce the story and emotion (we're talking a couple of sentences to provide context to the fight).”
- “The only thing it's missing is a more story-based campaign mode, but for the price it's terrific.”
- “This game is begging for a true story mode.”
- “Missing a real story & becomes repetitive fairly quick.”
- “If the mechanic is that each mission just is a longer slog against more of the same fodder enemies, with the reward being even longer slogs against more fodder enemies, you have failed to create a game worth playing.”
graphics
48 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
27%
6%
The graphics in the game receive mixed reviews, with many players praising the stunning visuals during flight and the immersive experience, particularly in VR. However, some criticize the ground rendering and overall graphical fidelity as dated or simplistic, suggesting that while the graphics are decent, they do not overshadow the enjoyable gameplay. Overall, the visuals are considered well-optimized and satisfactory, especially for lower-end hardware, but there is room for improvement in detail and variety.
- “The visuals while flying are breathtaking.”
- “The visuals are stunning, and the roar of your engine, combined with the intensity of aerial combat, truly puts you in the pilot’s seat.”
- “The graphics are extremely impressive and the controls are well mapped.”
- “The physics are nonexistent and the graphics are that of a flight simulator from 2005.”
- “It is an arcade flying game for sure... the graphics are primitive, the flight model is simplistic, and it's a jolly good time every time.”
- “Graphics and sound are low grade, but assure smooth performance.”
gameplay
39 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
41%
8%
The gameplay is generally described as fun, intuitive, and immersive, with a solid flight model and enjoyable mechanics that cater to both casual and more experienced players. However, some users noted issues such as the engine overheating mechanic and repetitive mission structures that can detract from the overall experience. While the game offers a variety of planes and upgrade options, the gameplay can become stale over time, particularly in single-player modes.
- “The gameplay is fun, intuitive, and did I mention fun?”
- “So easy to learn and super immersive gameplay.”
- “The gameplay itself is very intuitive, well calibrated, you can adjust realism for more challenge and everybody can enjoy.”
- “This is a potentially very fun game ruined by one simple and unexplainable design choice: the engine overheating mechanic.”
- “If the mechanic is that each mission just is a longer slog against more of the same fodder enemies, with the reward being even longer slogs against more fodder enemies, you have failed to create a game worth playing.”
- “You had the gameplay right, just need to work on the AI and the sizes to make it worth its current price tag of 15 dollars.”
optimization
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
18%
27%
Overall, the game is highly optimized, delivering smooth performance even on older hardware and VR setups, with users reporting impressive frame rates and responsiveness. While graphics may be considered low-grade by some, they are well-optimized for performance, ensuring a solid experience across various systems. However, some players noted limitations such as a low maximum drawing distance for planes and the absence of a recenter feature.
- “Fantastically optimized and runs smooth even on a bit older PC and video card that is VR capable; controls are working perfectly.”
- “Performance was the great surprise - even increasing SteamVR resolution to 200%, I got solid 144 fps in 144 Hz with the Index - that felt like Alyx-class performance or close.”
- “And the game runs smoothly as it is not so demanding on GPU.”
- “I have not noticed a change in performance of my own or opposing planes when damaged.”
- “Graphics and sound are low grade, but they assure smooth performance.”
- “This game was seemingly built with standalone in mind; hence the small file size, optimized graphics, and lack of a recenter feature.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
75%
Overall, the game's stability is generally praised, with most players reporting smooth performance on various platforms, including PC and Quest 2. While some minor glitches were noted in multiplayer missions, they did not significantly detract from the overall enjoyment.
- “The game doesn't require a powerhouse PC and runs great.”
- “Super great game, runs smoothly on my Quest 2 and PC.”
- “Totally worth the price, with tons of content and runs great with no bugs so far.”
- “There are a few glitches in multiplayer missions, which can be frustrating, but the game is still a lot of fun overall.”
- “The game crashes frequently during online play, making it hard to enjoy the experience.”
- “I've encountered several bugs that disrupt gameplay, especially in co-op mode.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
The game offers strong replayability through its variety of airplanes, customization options, and different difficulty levels, allowing players to experience missions in multiple ways. Additionally, the inclusion of multiplayer co-op and potential PvP modes further enhances its replay value.
- “Good format for replayability with plenty of airplanes and customization options.”
- “Only done a few missions, but using different planes and difficulty adds tons of replayability. There is multiplayer co-op, and I've yet to try PvP.”
- “Personally, what I wanted in a VR dogfight simulator was simplicity, action, and replay value. That's why a game like VTOL VR, with its complex cockpit and intricate dogfight system, felt a little over the top for me.”
- “The lack of variety in missions makes it hard to find reasons to replay the game. Once you've experienced everything, there's not much incentive to dive back in.”
- “After completing the main campaign, I found that the game offered little in terms of new content or challenges, which significantly diminished its replayability.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate a mixed emotional impact, with some players feeling the game lacks emotional depth, while others found it to be both enjoyable and emotionally engaging.
- “It made the game fun and emotional.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the humor in the game to be genuinely hilarious, enhancing their overall enjoyment, especially for those familiar with flying games like VTOL VR. The comedic elements contribute to a fun and entertaining experience.
- “It's actually hilarious fun.”
- “I've had some time playing flying games, mainly VTOL VR, so when I first got in, I knew it would be a bit funny.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players feel that the game should permit grinding outside of mission completion, as the increasing difficulty of missions can make progression challenging.
- “The game, in my humble opinion, should allow some grinding even if you don't complete the mission, given how challenging the missions very quickly become.”
- “Grinding feels like a chore rather than a rewarding experience, making the game tedious after a while.”
- “The amount of grinding required to progress is excessive and detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
music
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music in the game can be muted if players find it bothersome, indicating that while it may not appeal to everyone, there is an option to disable it for a more enjoyable experience.
- “The audio track can be muted if you find it annoying, as can the music.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Reviewers highlight the game's impressive graphics and engaging gameplay, contributing to a fun and immersive atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.
- “The graphics are stunning, and the gameplay is engaging, creating a truly immersive atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere is filled with tension and excitement, making every moment feel alive.”
- “The game's world is beautifully crafted, drawing you in with its rich and captivating atmosphere.”