Microsoft Combat Flight Simulator 2: WW II Pacific Theater

The Good
This is probably one of the better WWII combat simulations of recent years, and is a substantial step up from its predecessor.

Flight realism and characteristics are excellent (especially with a force feedback joystick!) The flyable planes are interesting. Missions are well scripted and exciting. Like CFS1, the game is easily navigated and has a very friendly interface. The cartoon-style set graphics are really snazzy.

Graphics and sound are up to modern standards, but not knock-your-socks-off exceptional.

The Bad
The game really could use more flyable planes. The option to fly topedo bombers, dive bombers and maybe even some twin-engined bombers would have been a real kick.

The campaigns are not quite as dynamic as the box suggests.

The Bottom Line
The most reliable, accessible WWII dogfighter on the market today.

The Good
Decent graphics, decent sound, can be fun at times.

The Bad
Lousy control scheme (with no keyboard command chart supplied!), almost no wingman commands, and, despite the attempt to add a "storyline" to the game, never any real sense that you're an actual pilot flying in the Pacific. I also hate the lack of wind buffeting and/or other visual or aural cues to indicate that you're about to stall.

The Bottom Line
As something of a student of the Pacific War, I really, really, really wanted to like this game. Unfortunately, it can't hold a candle to the far superior European Air War.