Red Wings: Aces of the Sky is a WWI arcade style flight combat action game. Use your unique skills to take down your opponents, develop your deadly pilot aim, and become the true ace of the sky. Witness the birth, rise, and fall of the Red Baron, Manfred von Richthofen - the ultimate German hero of the first World War, credited with 80 victories. Become a part of his squadron or his arch rival. Choose one of more than 10 historical warplanes of the Entente Powers or the Triple Alliance. Fly into a unique mix of historic events and over-the-top, comic book-style adventures...

Take to the skies in a rickety WWI plane

For the most part while playing Red Wings: Aces of the Sky I had a total blast. Unfortunately, what I hoped was going to be an engaging battle game soon started to show a few cracks. The biggest issue for me was that for some reason the developers, to break up the gameplay a little, added levels where you need to fly through checkpoints to collect fuel. If you are not quick enough between checkpoints then you have to restart the level. These parts of the game I found rather odd and detracted from what was otherwise an engaging and fun experience. In fact I pretty much quit the campaign mode after finding one of these levels just too frustrating to complete.

There are two main story modes you can engage in - both of which pretty much have the same missions. Fight on the side of the Germans (the Triple Alliance) or the Allies (Entente Powers) in World War I. Although you never feel like you're progressing in any meaningful way in shifting the tide of war. It just feels like lots of mini battles and challenges that aren't really linked together. It might have been more interesting to have made the story integral to the levels.

Fight on the side of the Germans (the Triple Alliance) or the Allies (Entente Powers) in World War I

There's the ability to switch planes and customise your skill tree. The skill tree ability is rather well managed as you can reset it, which comes in handy when you suddenly find yourself on a level where your previous loadout just isn't getting the job done.

As well as the main story mode, you can also engage in battle modes. Here you have the option to play survival (complete wave after wave of enemies before time runs out) or Vs (where you can play against your friends). Unfortunately Vs mode is only local play - there's no online support.

I really wanted to enjoy this game but sadly, despite a huge amount of potential, it all falls at the first hurdle. It's fun for a couple of hours and then you realise how shallow the gameplay is.

6

Darren Rea