Perfectly serviceable isn’t something we imagine many developers look to achieve when they create their game. But Warplanes: WW1 Sky Aces is exactly that, and nothing more. We ultimately struggle to understand who its audience is. Originally a mobile game …
Perfectly serviceable isn’t something we imagine many developers look to achieve when they create their game.
But Warplanes: WW1 Sky Aces is exactly that, and nothing more. We ultimately struggle to understand who its audience is.
Originally a mobile game repurposed for Nintendo’s console, you can feel its free-to-play origins throughout. That’s not always as bad as it might sound, but we still question this game’s suitability for the Switch.Â
This is a very accessible title considering its subject matter though. It sees you controlling a range of WW1 era planes, fighting enemies both in the air and on the ground.
You get involved in firefights, but have to use certain craft to bomb foes and buildings on the ground too.
Now these planes are generally very slow to control, but that comes with the territory considering the game’s based in the 1910s.Â
What makes this languid pace more palatable are the lock on aiming and fairly satisfying feedback – enemies explode with aplomb, and there were several firefights that were exciting despite our plane having the turning circle of an oil tanker stuck in glue.Â
Sadly though Warplanes: WW1 Sky Aces never really takes flight to become a completely satisfying experience.
Missions are generally very short, and the rewards you receive after each mission are never particularly gratifying.
These are both likely holdovers from the game’s mobile origins, but it all combines to create a title that you can never really sink your teeth into.
As we said, it’s perfectly serviceable – but ultimately there are shooters out there that are a far better fit for the Switch, and just much better games in general.Â
