COMBAT FLIGHT SIMULATOR 2: WW2 PACIFIC THEATRE


Flying high over a stunning Pacific

By JAMES ANTHONY

"Tora, Tora, Tora, remember Pearl Harbour!" And, it must be said, it's about time Microsoft did remember the sneak attack by Japan upon the huge American naval base at Pearl Harbour.

It was the trigger to drag America into World War 2 and, for those of us Down Under, brought the daunting prospect of Japanese invasion.

Fortunately, the combination of Australian and American troops stopped the Japanese forces in New Guinea and the US fleets removed all doubts of safety by whipping Emperor Hirohito's boys at the battle of the Coral Sea.

Air power, whether land or aircraft carrier-based, was all-important and the Japanese pilots proved themselves exceptional flyers in some terrific planes.

In Combat Flight Simulator 2: WW2 Pacific Theatre you get the choice of taking to the skies in the superplane, the Japanese Zero, or the killer US Corsair, and get to climb and dive through some truly excellent scenery shooting down some remarkably good looking aircraft. Others available in the campaign include: Japan's Nakajima "George", and America's Wildcats and Hellcats.

If you've played the original CFS, you'll know what to expect - loads of fast action - but also expect to be very pleased with the effort that Microsoft has put into the look of the game and the aircraft.

They are seriously improved and include a very detailed cockpit, with working instruments, and if you take an outside camera view you'll be gobsmacked at just how good the new aircraft skins are.

Damage to planes has also received a burst up the six, with bullets and cannonshells bending metal, blowing pieces off and punching holes through aircraft fuselage.

In addition to the boosted visuals comes a superb new campaign tree that has you following the fortunes of either a young Japanese or American pilot. The campaigns are not the scripted succeed-here-and-go-on-to-the-next-mission ones, rather your results in one will have a random effect on, and determine what happens in the next. This makes for very interesting flying and keeps the whole game fresh and interesting.

There are more than 120 missions to fly and they include those against enemy aircraft, ships, ground forces and even allow you to bomb tank columns or torpedo capital ships.

Combat Flight Simulator 2: WW2 Pacific Theatre will have you pulling on the leather flying cap and goggles and reaching for your parachute. Chocks awaaaaaaay!

ORIGINALITY 75%
SOUND/GRAPHICS 85%
PLAYABILITY 90%
ADDICTION 80%
ENJOYMENT 85%