OT Wings of Prey First Impressions

[Hellshade 110]

Having only played through a few missions, I can't say anything about the depth or accuracy of the campaign. However in terms of creating the feeling that you are in WWII air combat, I can honestly say that Wings of Prey succeeds masterfully. The graphics are, of course, photo realistic and when combined with a TrackIR and the sound effects of the game, it makes for some fantastic white knuckle flying. While it doesn't appear to offer nearly the options that my beloved OFF does, this WWII sim does offer Arcade, Realistic and Simulation modes which will probably satisfy most users from beginner through advanced PC flight sim addicts. The combats are difficult and intense. WWII air combat is nothing like WWI. I dare say that it would be impossible to try and compare the air combat experience between OFF and WoP simply because it's apples to oranges. If you have the rig to run WoP and any desire at all to fly WWII air combat missions, I think you probably owe it to yourself to download the demo and at least give it a try. Arcade mode is pretty easy, but Simulation is a tough challenge that will probably demand your best skills. It's not just that the sim is beautiful to look at, it plays well too unlike another eye candy WWI game I tried a few months ago. I couldn't help but thinking if OFF had this game engine but all of the rich features and qualities that are in it right now, you'd have to pry the joystick from my cold dead hands.

 

Hellshade

 

 

[Siggi 10]

I suspect if OFF, or any other full-sized map sim, implemented the graphical finery of WoP it would slow to a crawl in the FPS dept. Which is why ArmA doesn't have the graphics of CoD (for example).

[Von Paulus 8]

But even ARMAII doesn't have a map as huge as OFF.

[OvS 8]

Having only played through a few missions, I can't say anything about the depth or accuracy of the campaign. However in terms of creating the feeling that you are in WWII air combat, I can honestly say that Wings of Prey succeeds masterfully. The graphics are, of course, photo realistic and when combined with a TrackIR and the sound effects of the game, it makes for some fantastic white knuckle flying. While it doesn't appear to offer nearly the options that my beloved OFF does, this WWII sim does offer Arcade, Realistic and Simulation modes which will probably satisfy most users from beginner through advanced PC flight sim addicts. The combats are difficult and intense. WWII air combat is nothing like WWI. I dare say that it would be impossible to try and compare the air combat experience between OFF and WoP simply because it's apples to oranges. If you have the rig to run WoP and any desire at all to fly WWII air combat missions, I think you probably owe it to yourself to download the demo and at least give it a try. Arcade mode is pretty easy, but Simulation is a tough challenge that will probably demand your best skills. It's not just that the sim is beautiful to look at, it plays well too unlike another eye candy WWI game I tried a few months ago. I couldn't help but thinking if OFF had this game engine but all of the rich features and qualities that are in it right now, you'd have to pry the joystick from my cold dead hands.

 

Hellshade

 

 

 

Is it 'arena' style air combat? In other words, can you fly away from the action and fly all over the place? A lot of these high-end graphics games do that to save FPS. OFF's entire front is alive with movement the whole mission.

 

OvS

[ConradB 0]

It 's like comparing apples to oranges. Arena style is just that. Fully active front campaign, is completely different.

[Von Paulus 8]

Is it 'arena' style air combat? In other words, can you fly away from the action and fly all over the place? A lot of these high-end graphics games do that to save FPS. OFF's entire front is alive with movement the whole mission.

 

OvS

Like I've said in another thread, it's not hard to hit the borders of the maps. You can leave the action but you won't go very far.

But the smoothness feeling it is not only FPS related or small map related. I'm sure that the graphic engine is really very optimized and well coded. Maybe the motion blur also helps in giving the feeling of smoothness. Probably they are using a few tricks, without having much FPS impact, to create a illusion of smoothness. That's just a feeling.

Edited January 9, 2010 by Von Paulus

[LtCasey 0]

This thing is ahell of a flight:good:! but be aware. for me and my track IR steam version didnt work. had to redownload it from yuplay! Now it works like charm!

 

Immersive!

[Hellshade 110]

This thing is ahell of a flight:good:! but be aware. for me and my track IR steam version didnt work. had to redownload it from yuplay! Now it works like charm!

 

Immersive!

 

My TrackIR worked fine with the version I downloaded from steam.

 

OVS - I don't believe it's an entire live front like OFF has. At least on the single player missions, if you even take too long to complete it - you fail. As I said, you really can't compare the two. Both bring their respect wars alive in their own way. It probably isn't possible - yet - to have the kind of huge map and freedom that OFF has AND the photorealism of Wings of Prey. On the other hand, I didn't think anyone could squeeze the kind of incredible graphics that OBD has out of the CFS3 engine. So who knows? Maybe if OBD ever got their hands on the Wings of Prey engine, they could do the impossible yet again and make a photorealistic war that covers the entire western front. I really don't put anything past OBD. At any rate, I don't think WoP will steal any of OFF's thunder. The experiences are both excellent but entirely different. Hopefully there is no harm in giving it a thumbs up in my first impressions.

 

Hellshade

[LtCasey 0]

My TrackIR worked fine with the version I downloaded from steam.

 

OVS - I don't believe it's an entire live front like OFF has. At least on the single player missions, if you even take too long to complete it - you fail. As I said, you really can't compare the two. Both bring their respect wars alive in their own way. It probably isn't possible - yet - to have the kind of huge map and freedom that OFF has AND the photorealism of Wings of Prey. On the other hand, I didn't think anyone could squeeze the kind of incredible graphics that OBD has out of the CFS3 engine. So who knows? Maybe if OBD ever got their hands on the Wings of Prey engine, they could do the impossible yet again and make a photorealistic war that covers the entire western front. I really don't put anything past OBD. At any rate, I don't think WoP will steal any of OFF's thunder. The experiences are both excellent but entirely different. Hopefully there is no harm in giving it a thumbs up in my first impressions.

 

Hellshade

 

Maybe a donation fund will help? I will donate, definetly, if you guys have a chance to make it work! OFF with that engine

Edited January 9, 2010 by LtCasey

[UK_Widowmaker 571]

Yep...no trouble here with the Steam version and TrackIR either.

Had a 'reasonably' long crack of this Sim today..and I have to say..I am very impressed so far!

The replay facility with it's various views (including action shots) does leave you feeling 'If only' slightly with OFF..(and I dont mean that to take anything whatsoever away from our all time favourite)...but this has always been on most peoples wish list anyway...particularly annoying to find out that CFS3 has the remnants of a replay facility that the money grabbing lot at MS never left in!!)

 

The scenery is of course superb...and in one particular online dogfight I had..I shot under a bridge at 300mph, to try and get away from an opponant on my tail...and he didnt make it through (well...not with his wings still attached anyway!)....hugely satisfying!

 

I too would delve deep into my pockets to have the OBD guys with all their combined talent, produce...not a replacement for OFF...but a compliment to it sometime in the future!

 

As hellshade said, and I agree totally

"The experiences are both excellent but entirely different".[unquote]

[Flyby PC 23]

Looks very promising.

 

But Wings of Prey? Is it just me, or does that not sound quite right?

 

Kinda sounds like something lost a little bit in translation, either that or all the other "Wings of ____" titles were already taken.

 

I like the look of the sim, quite a lot in fact, - but not what it's called.

 

 

That replay facility has me drooling though...

 

I must try out the demo....

[UK_Widowmaker 571]

Looks very promising.

 

But Wings of Prey? Is it just me, or does that not sound quite right?

 

Kinda sounds like something lost a little bit in translation, either that or all the other "Wings of ____" titles were already taken.

 

I like the look of the sim, quite a lot in fact, - but not what it's called.

 

 

That replay facility has me drooling though...

 

I must try out the demo....

 

Before you get too excited Flyby...I dont think you have full replay views in the demo..(but dont take that as gospel)

 

The other interesting thing, is I can run this game maxed out on my rig...but FSX, with it's default 'yuk' scenery.. no chance!...go figure

Edited January 9, 2010 by UK_Widowmaker

[LtCasey 0]

Before you get too excited Flyby...I dont think you have full replay views in the demo..(but dont take that as gospel)

 

The other interesting thing, is I can run this game maxed out on my rig...but FSX, with it's default 'yuk' scenery.. no chance!...go figure

 

Same here! No stutter, just smooth. have you seeen that effect while flying trough clouds? Yepp,...raindrops...draining away from your canopy trough speed. Amazing!

 

But how the hell, do I takeoff the Spit? it´s taxiing, its rolling, its lifting off the ground, and enters a slow roll I can´t exit.................Dig it!

[UK_Widowmaker 571]

Same here! No stutter, just smooth. have you seeen that effect while flying trough clouds? Yepp,...raindrops...draining away from your canopy trough speed. Amazing!

 

But how the hell, do I takeoff the Spit? it´s taxiing, its rolling, its lifting off the ground, and enters a slow roll I can´t exit.................Dig it!

 

The rain effect is great eh?...yes, I crash the spit on takeoff all the time.

 

There are several Historical innacuracies however.

 

The Spit in the Battle of Britain didnt have cannons...and the Hurricane had eight machine guns...not twelve as in the Sim.

Shame you can't fly any German Aircraft...and indeed, you can only fly the Blenheim in training mode.

 

But still a good all round sim imho

[Von Paulus 8]

Shame you can't fly any German Aircraft...and indeed, you can only fly the Blenheim in training mode.

At least in training you can fly german planes as well.

I've just fly from the north edge to the south edge in the Canterbury map, at a average speed of 510Km/h, and it took me 8 minutes. So It took more or less the same from east to west. I'd say that wop maps are around 70x70km. I didn't try with other maps, but probably it's the same. Besides being an immersion killer, it's not bad for small type missions, but for a campaign?.... I bet Storm of War will have bigger maps.

 

Now in OFF what's the average distance that a plane fly in a mission?

[Hellshade 110]

I've had a chance to fly a little bit of the Battle of Britain campaign and I have to say that while the game certainly does NOT offer the kind of free roaming flexibility of Over Flanders Fields, it does a wonderful job of making you feel like you are right there in the thick of the action. The diary entries that are read between missions have good voice acting. The in game cut scenes that are played as the diaries are read give you the feeling of being in a bigger war than you actually are. Rain drops, oil, bullet holes and smoke on the canopes. Shredded wings with holes that literally let you see the ground below you through them. Excellent "chatter" between pilots and base sounds authentic. Beautifully rendered clouds, villages and countrysides. Flak that fills the sky and burning aircraft that impact and explode into the ground below. Harbors, different ships. Army bases filled with tanks and other military vehicles. You are indeed in a small "arena", but Wings of Prey makes that small area so life like and so intense that your focus hardly shifts away from what's happening on the screen long enough to see through the illusion.

 

As has been said earlier, there are a number of historical inaccuracies in WoP. If you are looking for WoP to be an historical encylopedia of the battles it portrays then you will likely be dissappointed. Total accuracy was not the focus of these developers, but nor was mere eye candy. I can think of another flight sim that has great eye candy but it just didn't pull me into it at all. WoP sucks you in with a great sense of immersion. The irony is that besides being about air combat, Wings of Prey and OFF really have just one other thing in common. They are both incredibly immersive but literally for entirely different reasons. OFF uses great graphics, great gameplay, historical accuracy and a huge open world to fly in (not to mention incredible AI), while Wings of Prey uses photo realistic graphics, great game play and just enough accuracy to keep you believing in the small little world they set you in. Over Flanders Fields is still my favorite game but I'm not afraid to admit that I love Wings of Prey too. I heartily recommend it.

 

Hellshade

[+Polovski 460]

It's certainly has the feeling of flight and fantastic visuals. It does feel a little arcade in places, for example some models like the b17 are very low poly looking etc (simple texture for the engine), but makes up for it with great immersion from the rest of the graphics, scenery and effects.

 

I was disappointed with one of bombers I flew that had no cockpit mode (well you can fly from there but have no cockpit graphics around you).

Scenery is stunning in places, but it would need a way to make flights longer for WW1 I think.

[GaryR 0]

At least in training you can fly german planes as well.

I've just fly from the north edge to the south edge in the Canterbury map, at a average speed of 510Km/h, and it took me 8 minutes. So It took more or less the same from east to west. I'd say that wop maps are around 70x70km. I didn't try with other maps, but probably it's the same. Besides being an immersion killer, it's not bad for small type missions, but for a campaign?.... I bet Storm of War will have bigger maps.

 

Now in OFF what's the average distance that a plane fly in a mission?

 

You can fly the BF109's in Online deathmatches too, I was in one last night for an hour.

[Von Paulus 8]

I've never tried the MP part of the game.

How is it?

[Morris 2]

Dear Polovski,

 

STOP playing WOP and please work on P4. (JOKE)

 

sincerely,

 

morris

[Flyby PC 23]

The Spit in the Battle of Britain didnt have cannons...

 

 

A few did, but they had serious problems jamming. These were overcome reasonably quickly, but not in time for the few months which B of B lasted.

 

 

Edit - If I recall correctly, a sqd of Spits with cannon engaged a group of 109's, but had a desperate time with jams etc, losing 4 aircraft to nil in the engagement. The powers that be persisted with cannon however because it was universally acknowledged they needed the extra punch.

Edited January 10, 2010 by Flyby PC

[rabu 9]

I noticed they already have add ons and for only a few bucks, like Rise of Flight, but unlike ROF they are giving you a lot to start with.. a Curtiss P-40E 'Kittihawk'

In an interview with the developer they mentioned a SDK being possibly available in the near future. WWI possibilities?

 

 

It's interesting how smooth this sim is and my system isn't that terribly fast; even with all the action going on and the quite spetacular graphics and damage model that covers just about everything. I wonder if that is just a result of the smaller map area. Wings of War, the WWI flight "game" also was able to do this. Maybe some day there will be a way to load these map areas during a campaign while a dynamic data base that keeps track of what is going on in the other, off map areas and then loads the graphics as you approach or enter the area?

 

Don't like dl purchases though, will wait for a disk and lower price and mean while there is lots in OFF to enjoy.

Edited January 10, 2010 by rabu

[Crossbones 1]

Tried the demo but I can't get my joystick to work with it. I must have missed something at setup or maybe I need to take some viagra.

 

Anyone else run into this?

 

Thanks,

Crossbones

[BirdDogICT 3]

Tried the demo but I can't get my joystick to work with it. I must have missed something at setup or maybe I need to take some viagra.

 

Anyone else run into this?

 

Thanks,

Crossbones

Yes, the joystick setup in the demo was cranky. Some users reported that it didn't save your setup, either.

 

My joystick was sufficiently stiff without Viagra, but took me a while to get it working right. Hard to beat those CH products!!

[Dimus 0]

I tried the online dogfight mode last evening but it was extremely laggy. Planes jumping all over and switching on and off, it was very tiring. Perhaps it was the server I chose. What has been others' experience?