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Very fun arcade/sim mix

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 20 / 21
Date: January 22, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I have been waiting a long time for a WW2-based aerial combat game. Rather, I've been waiting a long time for a REALISTIC one. Many of these purported WW2 games go the fantasy route and have Mustangs and Corsairs armed with lasers and other such nonsense. This one is right on the money, with period-accurate weaponry and flight characteristics.

In the campaign mode, you play the role of Lt. William Crowe, USN. You are in flight training during the attack on Pearl Harbor, and proceed to fight your way through all the famous campaigns and battles of the Pacific war, including Guadalcanal, Coral Sea, the defense of Wake Island, the Marianas, the Philippines, Leyte Gulf, Midway, and Iwo Jima. You are able to fly a variety of aircraft, from nimble fighters such as the Hellcat, Corsair, p-38 Lightning, as well as dive bombers like the SBD Dauntless and torpedo bombers like the Devastator.

The gameplay is very fun, although at easy levels the enemy AI is very, very stupid. Enemies will fly as though they just graduated from flight school (which, in a historical context, was pretty close to the truth after Midway) and are easy to shoot down. There's quite a learning curve involved for those who are used to combat flight sims which are more jet-and-guided-missle oriented, since you have to line your enemy up and lead them with your machine guns or cannon. However, once this is learned, combat becomes easier and more fun.

As you advance through the missions, you unlock various airplanes which can be used once the game has been completed on any difficulty level. It's fun to fly as a Zero or even a German Me-262 sometimes! This isn't a highly realistic simulator, however - you basically have unlimited fuel and ammunition, and some things which would normally cause you to crash (like ramming another plane) simply cause damage. However, none of that detracts from the fun factor of this game, which is very high.

In addition, I was very impressed with the ship models used for the game, as well as the realistic-looking landmasses when attacking islands. Iwo Jima really looks like Iwo Jima, with Mount Suribachi at one end, and Wake Island and Pearl Harbor is accurately modeled as well. The Japanese carriers look just like the real carriers did, and aren't just generic representations. The carrier you fly off of in most missions is the USS Enterprise (CV-6) and it too, is accurately modeled, even if it is sometimes inaccurately called the Saratoga.

In summary, this is a very, very entertaining game with good replay value and I highly recommend it.

Beautiful and Awesome!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 12 / 13
Date: May 05, 2006
Author: Amazon User

This is a great action game! Especially if you like airplanes! This game is much better than Secret Weapons Over Normandy. The graphics for this game is really good. The sound and music too. The spinning propeller engine sound is solid. The music is cool, there are cool Japanese themed music with the drum and sharp flute sound. Good voice acting too.

The control is arcadey. Its fluid and the planes behave more like real planes. In SWON the planes all turn on a dime thus acting like Star Wars planes.... The camera mode allows you to look to the side(bearing view), to the back and cockpit view, all which SWON don't have. One thing I wish this game had was a 'closer' super zoom feature which SWON has, this allows you to see the enemy aircrafts VERY up close. The wing flaps and rudder all move when you fly. When you fire cannons the fire spitting effect is really cool! You can give orders to your wingmen, the AI is good. Airplanes can stall out easily but after you get used to the airplanes with attention to speed you will never stall out.

Everything looks authentic and real. The airplanes, armament, environment, missions, etc... There are few short real WW2 video clips between some levels. The missions are fun and NOT overloaded with those 'escort' type missions. You get to shoot up many planes in most missions. Few missions will have you drop torpedos and divebomb on ships and carriers. You will go head to head with few Japanese and one German Ace. Other missions include recon, destroy land targets, etc... I like the main map which shows the world between Japan and USA. However you can't rotate the airplanes for viewing in the hangar. This game is so FUN that I wish it was much longer! Best thing about this game is the replay feature which allows you view the whole mission!

There are many different aircrafts and you can spend earned points to upgrade the aircrafts with different paint scheme. All the famous aircrafts are here, like Mitsubishi Zero, Betty bomber, Aichi D3A 'Val', Ki-61 Randy fighter, Nakajima Ki-84 Hayate 'Frank', Kyushu Shinden, Baka suicide jet, P-51 Mustang, Corsair, P-38 lightning, Wildcat, Hellcat, Bearcat, Dauntless divebomber, P-47 Thunderbolt, B-25 Mitchell, Supermarine Seafire, Hawker Tempest, Yak 3, Focke Wulf 190, Me 262 jet... and various dive bombers, float fighters, torpedo planes, and bombers. All in all about 35 aircrafts. You can use Axis aircrafts in campaign and mission mode when you finish the game. Check gamefaqs.com for FAQS, guides, codes and secrets.

Im a WW2 fan especially airplanes. I have at least one of every Corgi WW2 model/type airplanes. This game really make the diecast come alive!

Make sure to check out the show 'Dogfight' on History Channel, it really gets your wings going. Better yet go visit a WW2 plane museum and attend air shows!

I like this game more than Ace Combat 5. Ace Combat 5 feels like a monorail train ride and Heroes of the Pacific feels like a roller coaster ride. WW2 airplanes has great history behind it, the airplanes do meet their match while modern aircrafts from Ace Combat are used to abuse poor countries or unequals.

Overall a great game, highly recommended. I hope Ubisoft will make a European theatre version of this game soon!

Not a history lesson, just plane dogfighting

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 9 / 10
Date: December 10, 2005
Author: Amazon User

First of all, to hmshood, this is a video game, not a history lesson. For all the detail and information in the game, I think it's pretty good despite the inaccuracies. Second of all, if you are offended by the language in the game, understand the real-life circumstances WWII pilots went through. I don't think minding their language was a high priority when they are a split-second away from dying for our country. There are a lot worse games out there that I am offended by, that kids have no business buying or playing. Your 1-star rating makes this game's overall rating worse than it should be; those of you reading this, please make a note of that if the star-rating affects your decision to purchase this game. On to my review: for many years I have played flight sim games like Ace Combat, and every single one was a modern version where all you have to do is hold down the throttle, wait to get in range, launch a missile, and go on and do other things; not a huge challenge considering the technology and accuracies of today's aircraft and weapons systems. And many flight games for game consoles are like that. For the longest time, I wondered if there was ever going to be a flight game that was all WWII planes. In WWII, the planes were slower, the controls weren't as precise, and the best weapon you had was a set of wing-mounted machine guns that you had to be very accurate with, even when leading a target. In addition, torpedo runs and dive-bombing, a lost art among pilots these days, also test your skills with these classic planes. This game embodies those qualities. While some things are historically inaccurate, I find the difficulty levels, wide range and numerous amounts of missions, and the ability to upgrade planes, more than make up for it; additionally, the bad Japanese voice impressions add some humor, reminding me of when I grew up watching the classic "Baa, Baa, Blacksheep" (aah, you very good, Boyington!). As far as some things I don't like, yes I agree the professional controls are very tricky and tough to deal with; but I find I can do all I need using the arcade controls, just takes a little practice. Secondly, I would like to see the Doolittle Raid added to the historical missions list; watching the movie "Pearl Harbor" and reading about the raid in the history books make the raid more intriguing to me. Third, I would hope this same company comes up with a similar version for the European theater during WWII, where instead of Japanese and Russian planes, you deal with the German ME's, the RAF planes, and the same line-up of American planes (especially the P-51, that thing is a hot rod!). Anyway, that's my two cents. It's a great change of pace to the many other flying games, and something you can play over and over again.

Suprise find

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 7 / 7
Date: October 22, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Haven't heard a lot about this game, but its a gem, most fun I have had in a long time, and lots to do / unlock. Plus it has good online play which you don't see on that many PS2 games.

I have recomended my friends check it out.

Buy This Game!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 7 / 7
Date: March 03, 2006
Author: Amazon User

If you're looking for a good WWII dogfighting game, look no further. Here is the diamond in the rough; Action packed with an excellent story line. I really didn't expect this game to be as cool as it is.
The AI in this game is amazing! Enemy aircraft, ships, and ground units do a very good job of defending themselves against your attempted attacks. Even your trusty tail gunner does a good job of spotting and downing enemy aircraft when you are in the thick of the fighting.
From strafing enemy airfields and protecting U.S. marine troop landings to dive bombing aircraft carriers and torpedoing submarines; this game has it all. I can't stop playing it!

ultimate ww2 air shooter!!!@#$%&*

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: April 16, 2006
Author: Amazon User

BUY THIS GAME! Or you will regret it once they are sold out.
first of all, the graphics are AMAZING. for example: the land masses look so real you feel as if you could reach out and touch them. the air craft look good. and the enemy destruction is cool too. sometimes a wing will fall off after being shot, the plain will take a nosedive into the ground, or it will simply explode!the thrill of dogfighting will get anyone hooked on this game. the game also keeps true to history with real weopons from ww2 aircraft, like guns(cannons), unguided missles, an bombs and torpetoes.ive only played the demo for this game, so i dont kmow the whole expeereance, but just watching the game makes you feel as though you are acualy there.

the best unknown game ever

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: January 18, 2007
Author: Amazon User

I bought this because I love airplanes and got tired of playing fps. This game is very fun and hard at the same time. Shooting down planes isn't that hard. My strategy is aim where I think there going to be instead of trying to follow them. Anyway the graphics are awesome and there are lots of planes. There are 3 game modes, campaign, your normal mode, fight now, where you can get a japanese plane and fight at pearl harbor, or historical where you play in very important parts of the war. in the fight now mode, you can use Japanese planes won from previous levels, bombers, fighters, and anything in between. I can't believe how unknown this is, its a masterpiece for a dogfighting game.

Challenging and great re-play value

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: January 16, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Not often does a flight sim offer the extreme challenge and endurance of "Heroes of the Pacific." This game has great features and is fun to play over and over. The challenging levels keep me coming back. Unique aircraft flight characteristics lend reality to an otherwise excellent game. A long time coming, I can't wait to see what's next.

Heroes of the Pacific

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: January 09, 2007
Author: Amazon User

If you like air combat games even a little, you will really enjoy HoP. I am really into combat flight sims and have played them all. This one is very accurate in detail, the controls are very easy to get used to and use. The enemies are challanging and the game is historically accurate. The game is smooth running and the storyline is better than most others. The planes are well detailed and fly smoothly. This is a tremendous upgrade in WWII air combat compared to secret Weapons Over Normandy. I liked that game but HoP is leagues better.

Best birthday gift.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: January 11, 2007
Author: Amazon User

I bought this for my husband as an early birthday present and he loves the game. It is his favorite game to play right now he even says he likes it more thatn Ace Combat.

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