The new flight simulator holds a lot of promise, but also a number of fundamental problems that hinder the full enjoyment of the game. Inadequate feedback when firing, small sights and frequent game crashes are just some of the challenges players face. Still, the project shows great potential and s worth following its further development.
Overall evaluation
I can't recommend this product at the moment, even at 18 Euro. Although there is a lot of potential in it still needs a lot of work. In short: add it to your wishlist and follow its development if you are willing to deal with the problems mentioned.
Gun feedback problems
Feedback when shooting is minimal, which is a big problem. It's almost impossible to tell if you've hit your target. For example, when shooting at a number of fuel tanks, I couldn't tell if I hit, missed, or needed another try. Introducing a hit indicator would solve this problem.
A similar situation exists with guided weapons - did the shot hit the target? If I can't see the target falling, I can't be sure.
Sight problems
The sight is too small. Even when it calculates gravity correctly, which is a plus, without visible tracers to help accurate shooting, using anything but basic weapons with high cadence is very difficult, even on ground targets. It would be great if the sights were modified, or if alternate styles were added.
As an example, Elite Dangerous offers different types of sights. I if nothing changed, all they would have to do is increase the size of the existing sight, which is still too small. More visible sights would also help.
Problems with scale and visual clarity
The scale looks inaccurate. The ground targets are too small, which increases problems with the difficulty of combat. Combined with the lack of visual clarity, enemy ground objects merge into a clutter of HUD markers and tiny blobs. This makes finding enemy anti-aircraft facilities or other targets nearly impossible.
While targeting prioritization is fine, enemy bases still turn into a vague cluster of markers that don't provide the information you need.
User interface and ship selection
The user interface has a few flaws, including a number of scrolling boxes and yellow text with small print that I find difficult to read. While the style fits the focus of the game, it shouldn't be that difficult to understand the functions of each weapon.
The ship selection could also go through a revision to easily compare stats or filter by role.
Controls and customization options
I would have liked more customization options for the controls. I like the flight model, but controlling the throttle with the controller is inconvenient. I'd like to see automatic throttle centering, like Ace Combat for example. On the positive side, everything can be remapped, but a deadzone option would be a plus.
Stability and performance
Unfortunately, the game crashes a lot (CTD). Sometimes the game crashes 3-5 times before I even get to the menu, which is not a good sign. However, once the game starts, performance is excellent and runs smoothly. So the main issue is stability when starting up.
Conclusion
Despite the negative points mentioned, it is obvious that this is a work in progress project, with a lot of care and talent put into it. My experience may be individual - maybe I'm just bad at the game. Who knows, your experience may be different. The developer has done an amazing job for such a small team and I look forward to returning to it after a few updates and seeing where it's gone. If the development holds up, this could become one of the acclaimed indie air games like Sky Rogue or Project Wingman.
