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SWON = Underrated

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 9 / 9
Date: July 15, 2004
Author: Amazon User

I don't know WHY this game only rates three stars. No, it's not a straight-on flight sim. No, the graphics aren't the best on XBox. Graphics should take a backseat to gameplay at any rate, and SWON has fantastic gameplay. Easily the best arcade flyer LucasArts has come up with, outstripping the Rogue Squadron series. The vast collection of planes you earn should send any WWII historian and aviation buff into ecstasy (no Corsair, though, sigh).

The plane models are extremely detailed, no problems there. The landscape is a bit bland at times, but specific locations (i.e., the Cliffs of Dover) are instantly recognizable. Other details (explosions, ground vehicles) are simple, but you'll be too busy (and moving too fast) to notice.

The gameplay, as before, is great. Again, it's not a flight sim, so don't judge it as such. Although it is a bit embarrassing to plow into the ground when you're trying to whip around to take out an enemy fighter (whoops). The game's most interesting feature is the time control. You can slow or speed up the flow of time to gain the advantage in a dogfight or to cut down on travel time between target areas. The targeting system helps you lead shots properly, though that can be turned off to see if you're as good as the guys that did this for a living.

The sound and dialogue are all way above par. Every plane has a distinct engine sound, which was actually recorded at an air museum in California. The voice acting is lively but not melodramatic, and helps immerse you in the game. Where the sound really shines, though, is the phenomenal music. I rarely buy game soundtracks, but when I saw SWON's was available, I snatched it up.

The game feels a bit short, though 36 stages is still impressive, and there are several two-player scenarios. (Live subscribers can get even more planes and missions.) The difficulty is above average, also a plus for us older gamers. The replay value is a bit low, but there are always hidden objectives in any given mission. Still, you'll pick it up again after a while because it's just that good. LucasArts and Totally Games, keep up the good work, and hopefully give us another Secret Weapons game sometime soon!

Secret Weapons Over Normandy

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 7 / 9
Date: June 07, 2004
Author: Amazon User

If you love crimson skies you will love this game.Your name is Chase and your fighting Germany Nemisis and Japan fighters during world war 2.In this game you are fighting against the enemys with your allies Russia,France and Britain.If you like a hard video game this is one.Your not only fighting against planes but also gun turrents,tanks,patrol boats,u2 boats,destroyers and others.On a few missions you get to shoot the planes from the ground in a destroyer or turrent but these are few and far between it's mostly fighting from the air.In between different levels you also have challenges.You unfortuanly must play all challenges,all primary,secondary and bonus missions to get the xwing and tie fighter from star wars.It's not always so easy to get to the bonus missions but you can always go into history and play it later and if you beat it you still get the prize and requisitions to upgrade your planes.There are different planes in this game.My favorite is the JU 262 Jet which you will get to fly in level 12 it is incredibly fast.With requistions you can upgrade your planes armor,enjine,amount of ammo etc.Your armor can be upgraded to 4 the same for the other upgrades.As you go thru the game you get different secondary weapons and on some you can choose which one you use on several missions.You get Missiles which can easily take out ground and air targets from a distance,different types of bombs,torpedoes for navel enemies,cannons and other secondary weapons my favorite is the medium missiles.Also you can choose between 1st person view and 3rd from the menu.1st is much harder because you can't see your plane.As with a comparison between crimson skies and normandy crimson is easy I've beat it over 6 times this one is hard because some of the planes fly high over you and you can't reach them or you will stall.Also it is easy to crash in this game if your going for ground targets.I love the explosions they look good when planes,tanks,boats,hangers,anti aircraft guns and others explode.If you plane takes a lot of damage you can fly to the parmoson airfield for repair and get your weapons replintished but landing is tricky and sometimes you can crash or even get shot down while your on the ground rolling to the airfield.Also friendly fire happens.You can accidently shoot down your allies if your not careful althougth the enemies and allies are labled sometimes it is still possible because of so many planes in the sky.Some missions involve you protecting your allies while there taking out targets,etc and some involve specific targets you must knock out.There is all kind of enviroments hear.You get to fight at night with the stars and moon in the background,There is snow cover in the russian missions,mountains,oceans etc.The gunfire sounds pretty relistic.Also you open up mini video movies from the history channel in between missions that tell you what actually happen in WWII with actual footage.Also get the Prima Guide to go with this game it is pretty helful.If you like current jet fighter air games get ace combat 4 which is even better than this one.It even has actual jet sounds and cockpit view.It is the reason I have a Ps2 because it isn't on xbox so I have both consoles.Here is some strong and weak points of this game.

Strenths
Choice between 1st and 3rd person view.
A large variety of planes and secondary weapons.
Nice enviroments.
When you finish you get the xwing and tie fighter from starwars to play in challenge mode.

Requisitions to upgrade your plane are easy to get.
Explosions look good and weapons sound relistic especially bullits.
Training missions to show you how to fly,dogfight,drop bombs etc.
You can call on wingmen to help defend you if you need too.

Weakness
No cockpit view
Planes stall too easily
The game is hard get ready to see your plane shot down many times.
Some secondary and bonus missions are hard to complete

If you like this game also pick up crimson skies.Normandy is very addicting you will love it if you love air combat or war games.

Forget naysayers, this game is fun

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: May 12, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Ok, look, so the game isn't 100% realistic in every aspect. But how many of us are pilots? There are all the major indicators, airspeed, altitude, horizon, etc. etc. just the amount of gauges you need to fly without really knowing how to fly for real.
In any case, this game is fun. It has hard but doable missions that both pose a challenge, and offer a good sense of accomplishment when you finish them.
This game is fun. I liked Crimson Skies a lot, and this is very similar in its mechanics. The historical tie in makes it that much better though. Check this game out, it's worth it.

Looks great and much fun!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: December 02, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I heard that this is not a flight sims game that you all seemed to think. This is more of an action fun game designed for the console rather than the more intense flight sims that's from this company. I find the graphics impressive looking and very detail oriented and easier to play for beginning gamers like me. I'm so hooked. I think you would enjoy this more if you know what the game is intended to do from the sites below. Try out the demo and see for yourself!

Official site: http://www.lucasarts.com/products/normandy/
Mini site: http://www.totallygames.com/games/swon.htm

An excellent game!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: May 01, 2004
Author: Amazon User

If you like the History Channel and you love airplanes, you'll love this game! An incredible amount of fun and the aircraft in the game are amazing. Very addicting gameplay and a ton of missions. Even after you beat the game, you can go back and try to get all the bonuses for each level. Getting these bonuses will often put a new airplane in your hangar. I've beaten the game and I still have a ton of stuff to do, including unlocking 7 more airplanes. An incredible game, buy it!

Very Entertaining

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: May 07, 2004
Author: Amazon User

This game is awesome. It has footage from WW2 and explains a lot of the missions and events from WW2 in great detail. There's even films you can watch about WW2 and each plane in it. The game is really fun and you unlock planes and upgrades and put upgrades on your plane with points you earn for completing missions. As for the missions, they are pretty fun and you got to do a lot of different stuff. Sometimes you got to get in an AA gun and shoot down as many Nazis as you can, sometimes you bomb targets, and you do all kinds of different stuff. This game actually teaches you about WW2 also. Its unlike any other xbox game. This game's also got xbox-live. This game is sweet and you should all pick up a copy.

In a word - FANTASTIC! - The Mechassault of WWII sims.

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: December 29, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I read reviews posted carefully and decided to rent the game first. I am glad I did. I quickly went out and bought it!

I should start by saying that this is the "Mechassault" version of a WWII flight simulator. Great sound effects, excellent graphics, and extremely playable - for quick games or for extended play and DOGFIGHTS! Secondly, I am a huge WWII history reader/airplane, tank, ship modeller/ and avid History channel WWII watcher. If you are a big WWII fan and you enjoy the play of Mechassault, you can't go wrong with this game.

With this said, I understand why this game is not for everyone. Provided below is a summary of the good qualities of the game (subjective - my own opinion) as well as an attempt to objectively desribe the game. I must say for anyone that criticizes the game for not being a flight simulator - is the same as criticizing Mechassault for not being Mechwarrior - they are designed differently. Its that simple - you like it or you don't. I don't mean to sound harsh - it just does not make sense to me to compare the two.

Pros: In short: Graphics, game play (playability), controls, third person view (like Mechassault), SOUND oh the wonderful SOUND!, the planes and finally - HEAD to HEAD DOGFIGHTING!

(1) The graphics are excellent if you are a hard core WWII fan. With this said, the game looks nothing like Crimson Skies - and it should not. No cartoon looking water, or sleek rocks and explosions. This game looks and feels like a color movie of a WWII dogfight may have looked. The details of the planes are spectacular (if you like the look of the game).
(2) The game is very playable - the missions are not difficult on normal settings - I have yet to go back and modify settings.
(3) I enjoy the dogfights for limited play - after a while your eyes are tired. Not the hours of 007 / Halo / Mechassault - I have yet to play online, but 10 to 20 planes online sounds like a bit of fun.
(4) The sound is spectacular - every detail of the engine and gun firing noises (as well as distinctions between the planes) was followed.
(5) The left trigger button allows you to "keep your eye on your enemy" while you turn and manuever. Nice touch.

Objective comments:

Dogfighting is fun - for a limited time - there is only so long that any two people enjoy flying by one another shooting guns. The missions are a bit simple. The movie introductions and journals were interesting to me (subjective) as a WWII fan. I can see why others may just be annoyed by them. The voices were fine as were the missions themselves - a bit of variety, etc. Again, I can see why some may be annoyed by them.

Summary:

It would have been nice to have all planes "unlocked" for dogfighting mode. However, playing the missions enables you to become proficient in your flying/shooting skills and "earning" the planes gave me something to look forward to from time to time as I played the game. Much like Mechassault, I could come home from work, play with the kids, eat, and play a quick game.

All in all, the game is a lot of fun to play. Its not Halo, or Baldur's Gate, or Crimson Skies - its Secret Weapons over Normandy and it is pretty darn good.

I will save you some money

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 3 / 7
Date: December 05, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Yes, if you want some honest advice, here It is "DO not buy this game". I bought it 2 hours ago and i played it for about 5 minutes and i am done with it i will returned it tomorrow.

The graphics in this game are horrible. It looks like te old play station or nintendo 64. I believe that says it all. It's your choice, but in the event you decide to buy it you will want to return it the same day.

Commies!?

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 5
Date: November 17, 2003
Author: Amazon User

... ..

Oh yes, the game. I have played an early build and is is very well done. The graphics are satisfactory at best, but the sound, mutiplay, and control easily make up for that. A rental for most, but if you are a fan of the old Secret-Weapons games or TIE Fighter, this is a must have.

Take a history class before they write a review!!!

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 7
Date: November 24, 2003
Author: Amazon User

At what point during WWII did we fight the "commies"? The answer is never. We were at war with, Germany, Italy,and Japan, none of which are "commies". We were allies with the Soviet Republic, or better known in some circles as the "commies".

By the way the game looks really cool!

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