By Joseph Luster

It’s been interesting to follow the trajectory of Combat Wings: The Great Battles of World War II, a title that has been featured in these pages before but has yet to hit store shelves as of this writing. The aerial combat game, developed by City Interactive, is finally nearing its release on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, so what better time to get primed for the latest attempt at capturing the deadly thrills of dogfighting.

One of the most intriguing aspects of Combat Wings is its attempt to bring the intimacy of aerial war combat to the virtual world. Without the assistance of modern drones, dogfighting meant getting up close and personal, and City Interactive aims to simulate that with its inclusion of Ace Mode. This mode is initiated by holding the left trigger, putting a flight assist mechanic into effect, and steering the player on a blazing trail directly toward the nearest primary objective.

While Ace Mode can also auto-correct trajectory, it’s not a go-to get-out-of-Hell free card during all missions. In some instances it’s disabled, but when used properly it should help enhance that feeling of a screaming opponent lit by the relentless fires of war … if you manage to claim victory, that is. Ace Mode may also help those who choose to play with PlayStation Move motion controls on the PlayStation 3 version. I’m just saying, I’ve tried dogfighting in games with motion controls before, and it ain’t easy!

Those hoping for true multiplayer might not want to hold their breath, but it’s still not entirely out of the question. At worst, the multiplayer component will be axed due to time constraints, as City Interactive is looking to meet its release date and doesn’t want to delay the game any further. It could always be added later, however, and when Combat Wings ships it will include leaderboards, add-on support, and a split-screen cooperative mode.

Publisher: City Interactive
Developer: City Interactive
System(s): Xbox 360, PlayStation3
Available: Q4 2011

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