Developer: All In Games
Publisher: All In Games
Platform: PS4, PC, Xbox One, Switch
Tested on: PC
Red Wings: Aces of the Sky – Review
War has been fought on many fronts, be it on the ground, the seas and in the skies. The most popular setting is the Second World War. The First one is getting more coverage these last years and having to work with older technology from those days surely makes for some interesting gameplay. If there is one thing that was really sad about reviewing Red Wings: Aces of the Sky is that we only were given access to the free demo, while the full game is locked behind a DLC pack. Therefore we only saw the first few missions with one faction, so we based us on the short experience we have gotten that is globally available.
Story
Because the version that we got to try was only three missions long, we never have gotten to see a real storyline. The game takes place during the First World War where you can either play as the Axis or the Allies (not available). You will have to do some missions to destroy the property of the enemy or take down enough planes to clear the mission.
Graphics
The graphics in Red Wings are really nice, with high-quality assets, smooth frame rates and a very colorful setting. The main setting is pretty cartoonish. You notice this with how the plane moves and how goofy the combat goes. The game really gives off this high-quality feel and the graphics go hand in hand with its premium finish. You see the game in the third-person perspective but it would have been really neat to have it also play out in first-person. The faster-paced combat plays smoothly but it could become pretty hectic sometimes. There are also a bunch of really nicely made cutscenes which are perfect if you love those cinematic experiences.
Sound
As great as the graphics are, the sound is equally great. You have this really old WW1 music playing in the background that will sound familiar if you have played other same-era games. Dog fights are intimidating when the bullets are flying around your ears and the planes zooming around you like hungry animals. Even with its cartoonish visuals we feel that the sound design was very authentic.
Gameplay
Red Wings: Aces of the Sky is an air combat game where you must defeat your opponent and destroy objectives to clear out missions and win the war. In the beginning, we had really high hopes for this game, seeing the nice intro cinematic, completing the thought-out tutorial, etc. But after only a few missions we are greeted with a “thank you for playing, please purchase the full game”.
Basically, you either chose to side with the Allied or Axis forces and play out missions to turn the tide of war. This can be done alone or with a friend in co-op mode. In the demo, you can only play the Axis side for three of four missions. The gameplay is thought out, you have your weapons and special skills to give you an edge in combat, from dodging to calling in friends for assists and executing hurt foes.
By completing missions you will earn skill points and with these you can buy upgrades for your weapons, plane and perks. It is interesting to get the best out of your missions because it always costs three points to upgrade. Luckily you can get back to older missions to clear them out on better terms.
The game controls best with a controller, as you will need fast inputs and swift movements. Only a few hits could mean your end, but luckily you can gain health by flying through health pickups.
Conclusion
Red Wings: Aces of the Sky is a game with great potential, and the demo actually shows this, but even for a demo it could have been a bit meatier to lure in potential gamers. The graphics and sounds are great and the gameplay is smooth. If this review has sparked an interest then you can just grab the demo for yourself and try it out and eventually decide if the full game is worth getting.
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