I bought this game right when it was released, but I suppose I forgot about it for a while, while I had plenty of other games to play. Two months have passed, and today I finally realized it was time I tried it.... and damn! It's actually a fun game!

Having Sid Meier's name in the title, I expected this game to be heavy, super-deep and difficult to learn, kinda like Civilization, but it's actually pretty simple, intuitive and easy to get into. I've only been playing for a few hours, and while I'm sure the more advanced missions and the harder difficulty levels can make the game very challenging and complex, it's very begginer-friendly on 'easy mode', so I'm quite happy that for once, I put my ego aside and started with the lowest difficulty level (I usually choose "Normal" or whatever the medium difficulty level is called).

Ugh, not sure how to summarize this, so I'll just go grab something to eat. C'ya. :P

This little gem is actually quite intereresting. Made for smart phones and Tablets originally but ported to the PC and beamed into our collective HD using the magic that is STEAM Ace Patrol is about two things. Biplane Hex Combat and more importantly fun.

Gameplay is basically this. You pick a nation (UK, France, Imperial Germany or America!) and each nation has a selecton of randomly generated pilots with aeroplanes of the era and you dogfight the enemy using a turn based hex combat system. Your squadron can have up to four Pilots who fly a series of randomly generated missions over four different offensives against NPC pilots who like your own can be captured or forced temporary out of the war to repair their damaged crates. Both friendly and enemy squadron Pilots unlock RPG-esqe skills, upgrades for their planes and learn special manauvers that give them the upper hand in combat. Oh and as the offensive progresses so does air technology for both sides. You might be flying easy one moment and then the enemy has a fancier crate with another set of wings and a bigger gun to keep you on your toes!

Combat itself is pretty simple, get a good shot under or behind the enemy plane whilst not exposing yourself to the dangers of their wingmans guns or AA gun fire. You are graded with a score system that is tied to the general STEAM achivements and online leaderboard for said game. To increase the score obviously you'll have to ratchet up the difficulty level (or be lucky enough to get a Pilot with the DOUBLE SCORE ability).

The other feature to keep you playing again is once you complete a Offensive with a certain nation the first time you unlock famous WW1 Ace Pilots with their own biplane livery schemes.

Bugs wise I've only encountered one and that sometimes you have some trouble clicking on a hex, this gets really fiddly when your Pilot has a million manuvers and you really don't want to select the FORCE LANDING one. I expect this is to do with it being more of a Tablet game really. Also, some of the art assets are slightly bland (Don't get excited about seeing the Offensive Victory screen more than once) despite the fact they did their best locked more or less in a single location.

Is it worth buying though? sure, why not if you want a addictive but slighty short turn based aeroplane game . But for the best value get it in a Sale and make sure you pick up the rather decent WW2 Pacific Campaign sequal at the same time.

Don't be thrown by the "Sid Meier's" part. This is a game that you can pick up and run with in a coffee break, but will still draw you in for the long sessions. Originally made for mobile devices, it's short sweet and simple. this is reflected in the price, so it's easy to buy with no regrets. The Graphics aren't amazing, but they don't leave your eyes bleeding. Things kinda look like the things they should look like, and the style reminded me of "WINGS" waaay back in my Amiga days. The controls are fairly straightforward, and the icons make it obvious. (a twisty arrow beside you means "roll this way" an arrow curling upwards means "Climb" etc) so there is no need for a long training mission, just enough to check you can click and tell how to shoot the enemy. The different factions and their planes are given special commands or abilities which fit in without intruding (some turn faster, some have better guns, etc)
If you see it on sale, remember that you can download it faster than you read this review. I guarantee it'll make a train journey fly past, (especially in 2-player hotseat mode) or make a nice break between "serious" games on your rig at home.

turn based ww1 warplane strategy game.

it was ported from mobile devices, but better than expected.
sure the visuals look ugly, it has simple sounds and music, but all menus and gamemechanics work without any problem.

the game combines short campaigns, easy controls, four different nations and a few rpg elements into an interesting little time-waster.

i had fun playing it and its for sure worth the 4,99€!

Such a nice little strategy game.
Sid meier's are always good ...