Combat Wings: The Great Battles of WWII Preview

As Combat Wings glides over the horizon, with less than a month until it hits shelves we thought it was time we delivered a payload of information about the upcoming WWII flight sim. With the recent trailer’s disappointing lack of gameplay footage, you’d be forgiven for waning interest. But don’t stray, cry City Interactive (figuratively, of course); Combat Wings: The Great Battles of WWII promises, they assure us, to top their ‘Battle of the Pacific’ title, which was moderately well received, despite an unpolished game engine and some dodgy design choices.

City Interactive are a budget gaming company based in Poland; their games generally don’t stand up to the heavy-hitters, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re bad. They’re just cheaper to make, less shiny. But high-end budget gaming is an absolute necessity, particularly in these economic times; I guarantee that Combat Wings: Great Battles of WWII will drop in price comparatively quickly, to the point where even the most irresponsible student can afford it. And I’d be willing to believe that it won’t be half bad either. If Battle of the Pacific is anything to go by, players can expect a thrilling, if a little tacky, arcade flight-sim experience that possibly won’t hurt the pocket.

Not long ago, City Interactive published a press release detailing some of the game’s key features. In it they heavily push the authenticity of the game, but there’s a strong focus on the fun that’s to be had; the spoon full of sugar, if you like, to help the history lesson medicine go down. Take a look;

KEY FEATURES
Triple A:  Aerial Arcade Authenticity

• Pick-up-and-playability.  Explosive arcade action alongside advanced physics and painstaking recreation of actual events and aircraft creates an experience that’s easily accessible but hard to master;
• All aircraft are based on authentic models and all combat missions are representative of actual WWII engagements;
• Accessible behind-the-aircraft view means the game is not a sterile simulation, but an advanced air combat arcade shooter;
• Fun, dynamic battles offer a wide variety of action and most importantly targets to destroy – any given battle will combine dogfighting, escort missions and ground assault;
• Multiplayer aerial deathmatch provides players the chance to test their mettle against human opponents;
• Single-player game modes include Free Flight where players can choose a plane and roam over faithfully created environments, and Dogfight where players can pit their wits against up to nine AI-controlled opponents.

In the same press release, City Interactive also gave us a run-down of the games single-player campaigns, all of which are supposedly accurate representations of the actual manoeuvres that occurred in the skies during the real event. Check them out below;

CAMPAIGN DETAIL
Battle Of Britain
Fresh from training, you have arrived at an airfield on the coast of England in time for the epic showdown with the Luftwaffe during the Battle Of Britain.  Together with your wingmen, you will rise through the ranks by defeating relentless German bomber raids and terrifying V-1 flying rockets.

North Africa
Playing as a veteran, you and you two wingmen will fight above the desert of North Africa, supporting the British Eighth Army in its conflict with the Afrika Korps.  The trio will encounter fierce dogfights over besieged Tobruk, sink German convoys on the Mediterranean Sea, and support Montgomery’s armoured offensive at El Alamein.

The Eastern Front
As a young Soviet pilot you will help halt the Nazi invasion of your homeland during the desperate defence of Mother Russia.  As you prove your skills in the cockpit, you will experience the turning of the tide and soon will be taking part in the final push to Berlin.

The Pacific
Arriving at Midway Atoll immediately before the Japanese attack, you will be thrust straight into the action as you attempt to fend off the might of the Imperial Japanese Navy and its fearsome carrier air wing.  With your wingmen, you’ll fight savage dogfights and take part in devastating assaults on the fleet.

Here at WhatCulture! we’ll be keeping our eyes to the skies to bring you the latest news and updates on Combat Wings: Great Battles of WWII, as payloads are delivered so be sure to check back. The game is released on Xbox 360, PS3 and PC on 19^th February in the UK.

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