Review: Wings Over Flanders Fields

Flying Aids

Compared to their modern day counterparts, the aircraft in WOFF are simple affairs and are, by their very nature, reasonably easy to fly, so in terms of pilot assistance, there isn't that much but what there is, is helpful.

An example of this is the map which can be brought up during all phases of flight. The map is extremely useful in that it shows the position of your aircraft, relative to enemy lines. Also included on the map are the locations of friendly and enemy airfields, as well as ground units and other areas of interest. The map also displays your current flight plan with its numerous waypoints. Using another flying aid, this time the autopilot, it's possible for the AI to fly your aircraft to its desired destination. Maybe not that realistic, but certainly helpful, especially when first using WOFF.

       

The final pilot aid I feel I should mention is that of the time acceleration mode. Aircraft during the First World War were hardly speed demons, so flying from point A to B can sometimes be a tedious affair, and for this, the speeding up of time can come in rather handy if you don't want to 'fly' in real-time.

Damage Modelling

Having flown the IL-2 series for some time, one of the areas that I thought was done incredible well in that simulator was the damage modelling. Returning from a mission with scraps of wing missing and the fuselage punctured with a scattering of bullet holes really gave you that feeling of reality. WOFF has perfected that feeling of reality; wings are torn off, engines catch fire, and bullets rip the canvas to shreds. All this, but remember, you have no parachute (a swift reminder that sometimes imitation is better than reality!).

Sounds

Before I talk about the sounds used in WOFF, I think a special mention should be made about the wonderful music score that accompanies WOFF. It has got to be (in my opinion) one of the most beautiful and atmospheric scores I have ever heard in a computer game; BioShock, Oblivion, Call of Duty, just to mention a few, all excel at their music scores and WOFF is no exception. The composer, Matt Milne, has done a superb job at setting the scene, and if you've ever watched Band of Brothers, you'll know exactly what I mean.

       

Getting back to the sounds used within the game, you will find that, just like the visuals, the sounds add a great deal to the world of WOFF. The sounds of the engines are all there, and differ from one aircraft to the other, and once airborne, you will find that creaks and groans from your aircraft will accompany you on your flight. Wind and rain noise has also been included, as has the sound of flak and bullets.

Artificial Intelligence

The AI modelling of friendly and enemy aircraft in WOFF is some of the best I've seen in a flight simulator, as it is prone to both fatigue and moral. This is a great feature, and cleverly done, because if things get too much for your adversary in battle, they will break off the attack and head for home. Preservation is at the heart of the AI, and combat manoeuvres in relation to ground proximity are monitored at all times.

       

Issues

In terms of issues, there were only a few which I think are worth mentioning. The first is in relation to camera views. Maybe it's my setup (or my old age), but I thought the amount of cameras and different view combinations, distracted somewhat from the gameplay.

I also found the absence of a 'mouse look view' (such as 'space and mouse click' in FSX, or 'shift 9' in X-Plane) rather disappointing. If it had been included, it would have added greatly to the accessibility of the sim. I did manage to get my hat switch view working, so as to look around, but for some reason I had to have Scroll Lock on. Apart from the issues mentioned, WOFF performed well, and not once have I had an OOM or CTD.

Updates And Community

WOFF is the creation of a small team, and a team which obviously love what they do. Their passion and enthusiasm for their 'baby' is clear to see, and we, as the end user, are the beneficiaries of all that hard work. WOFF also has an active community with forums and user submitted mods. Many of these mods enhance the level of graphical detail seen in WOFF, whilst others add enhancements such as new maps. One of the mods which enhances the visuals of WOFF is the D3D9 Self Shadowing mod which adds dynamic and moving shadows to aircraft interior and exteriors.

       

Conclusion

The amount of detail which Wings Over Flanders Fields offers to the flight simmer (or should I say historian), is truly exceptional, and to try and sum up WOFF in a short review, is nigh-on impossible.

I hope though, that by writing this review, I can give you an ideas of what WOFF offers. Of course, similarities are going to be made with Rise of Flight (ROF) which, whilst being both fun and enjoyable, does not contain, in my opinion, the depth and longevity of WOFF.

If you've ever wanted to know what it was like for those young brave men to take to the skies, then let Wings Over Flanders Field take you back in time.

Dom Smith
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