Warplanes: WW1 Fighters
- March 3, 2021
- Home Net Games
- 76h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"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.
PC
Phone
Virtual Reality
Windows
Android
Mobile Platform
Oculus Quest
Tablet
Reviews
- The game offers a fun and immersive experience with intuitive controls, allowing players to physically interact with the cockpit and use hand gestures for actions like dropping bombs and shooting flares.
- It successfully captures the nostalgic feel of classic WW1 flight games, providing a balance between arcade-style gameplay and some elements of simulation, making it accessible for both casual and more experienced players.
- The graphics, while not cutting-edge, are visually appealing and well-optimized for VR, creating an enjoyable atmosphere for dogfighting and aerial combat.
- The game is primarily designed for VR and lacks proper non-VR support, making it unplayable for those without a VR headset, which can be misleading in its marketing.
- The AI and multiplayer components are underwhelming, with reports of very few players online, making multiplayer modes feel empty and less engaging.
- Some gameplay mechanics, such as the engine overheating and the simplistic mission structure, can lead to frustration and a lack of realism, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the game.
- story101 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 81 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is criticized for lacking depth and a cohesive narrative, with many players expressing a desire for a more engaging story mode akin to classic titles. While the campaign features a variety of missions and allows for plane upgrades, the repetitive nature of the missions and the absence of meaningful character interactions 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.
“But it's missing some sort of story.”
“Before each mission, there was a short journal entry to read.”
“This game is begging for a true story mode.”
“Missing a real story & becomes repetitive fairly quick.”
“The only thing it's missing is a more story-based campaign mode, but for the price it's terrific.”
- graphics44 mentions
- 64 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the visuals as impressive and well-optimized, particularly in VR, while others criticize the ground rendering and dated aesthetics. Many users note that while the graphics may not be groundbreaking, they serve the gameplay well, emphasizing immersion and enjoyment over visual fidelity. Overall, the graphics are considered adequate for the game's arcade-style experience, with room for improvement in certain areas.
“With the new graphics update, this game just came alive for me.”
“The graphics are beautiful, and the gameplay is for everyone from auto target to simulation controls.”
“Terrific graphics and feeling of flight.”
“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.”
- gameplay32 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally praised for its fun, intuitive mechanics and immersive flight model, making it accessible for both casual and more experienced players. While some users note issues like the engine overheating mechanic and repetitive mission structures, the overall experience is described as enjoyable, with a variety of planes and mission types that keep players engaged. The game is particularly highlighted for its educational value and team-building potential, especially in multiplayer modes.
“Gameplay is fun, intuitive, and did I mention fun?”
“Really fun flight model and game mechanics.”
“The mechanics in the game are great, you have a squadron of planes of your choosing that you can switch between, and planes with gunner seats you can switch between, allowing you to choose the plane best suited for your task as some bigger missions have multiple targets and objectives such as taking out bombers.”
“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.”
- optimization11 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 18 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
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 not be top-tier, they are well-optimized for performance, ensuring a solid experience across various systems. However, some users noted limitations such as low maximum drawing distance for planes and a lack of certain features like recentering.
“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 at 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 the 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.”
- stability3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is generally positive, with most players reporting smooth performance and minimal bugs. While some glitches were noted in multiplayer missions, they did not significantly detract from the overall enjoyment. The game runs well even on less powerful PCs, making it accessible to a wider audience.
“The game doesn't require a powerhouse PC and runs great.”
“Totally worth the price, with tons of content and runs great with no bugs so far.”
“There were several glitches in multiplayer that affected mission completion, but it was still a lot of fun.”
“The game crashes frequently, making it hard to enjoy the experience.”
“I encountered numerous bugs that disrupted gameplay, especially during online sessions.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
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, which is why a game like VTOL VR, with its complex cockpit and dogfight system, was a little over the top for me.”
“Personally, what I wanted in a VR dogfight simulator was simplicity, action, and replay value. This is 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 feel motivated to replay the game. Once you've experienced the main content, there's not much left to draw you back in.”
“After completing the game, I found that there was little incentive to return. The gameplay doesn't change significantly, and the lack of new challenges makes replaying feel tedious.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate a divide in the emotional impact of the game; some players feel it lacks emotional depth, while others appreciate its ability to evoke strong feelings, contributing to an enjoyable experience.
“It made the game fun and emotional.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the humor in the game to be genuinely hilarious, enhancing the overall fun experience, especially for those familiar with flying games like VTOL VR.
“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.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players feel that the game should incorporate more grinding opportunities, especially as missions become increasingly challenging, allowing them to level up or prepare better without the pressure of completing every mission.
“The game, in my opinion, should allow some grinding even if you don't complete the mission, given how challenging the missions become very quickly.”
“Grinding feels like a chore rather than a rewarding experience, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“The amount of grinding required to progress is excessive and detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
- music1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
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.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its impressive graphics and engaging gameplay, creating a fun and immersive experience for players.
“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 vibrant world and detailed environments contribute to an unforgettable atmosphere.”
