Slitherine

I know this is probably not supposed to be a simulator, but as former flight deck chief some of what I saw was totally unrealistic even looking at it as an arcade game. First and biggest, a plane will never attempt to land if the landing area is fouled. The landing plane will be waved off. Fixed wing aircraft sortie in waves, size depending on the mission. The SAR helo takes off first and will land for fuel periodically during the day for fuel. It's also the last aircraft recovered at the end of flight ops. Landing aircraft will be dearmed in the dearming area, typically facing starboard adjacent aircraft elevator 1. This is where the missiles, bombs, etc. are pinned. An aircraft landing will rarely go right back to the catapults, unless it's there for carrier quals (training). I also didn't see any tanker aircraft represented. Helicopters and S3 Vikings are used for ASW, but if a sub (or surface ship or aircraft) gets as close as depicted in actual combat, the carriers escorts are not doing their jobs. If their is a crash on deck in the landing area, aircraft will divert to a bingo location. I didn't see the crash and salvage guys rolling on fires, or with the crash crane for wreckage.

As I said, I realize this is designed to be fast paced fun, but it would drive me as crazy as watching all the nonsense in the movie Top Gun. It looks great, and maybe the devs will make a serious simulator mode. I assure you it is fast paced in reality, with lots of considerations that can change in a heartbeat. But don't talk to pilots about it, talk to the deck crews. Also tell Agrippa that his "Harrier" on his YouTube video was an S-3 used for ASW. They can stay up quite a long time with their efficient turbo fan engines. Harriers are no longer in use, and when they were they were used by the Marines on Amphibious Assault ships. The F-35C will be their replacement, it's a VTOL/STOL aircraft.

I cringe too when equipment in war movies is just plain wrong with no attempt to use appropriate equipment. The one that sticks most in my mind is Battle of the Bulge. The Germans using M48 tanks, I believe as Tigers and Chaffees for the Americans.... Have a tough time watching it. The same would be true with Patton for me, except the strong acting skills of George C. Scott.

I guess familiarity can breed contempt....

I was half thinking about buying, although one of the YouTube reviews was a bit negative. I now think I'll wait a year and see what the patches bring.

I'm not putting the game down, it is what it is and surely some will find it fun. It just saps the immersion out of it for people like me. The deck animation looks decent, except for the crashes and fires, though though the aircraft taxi speeds are slower in tighter areas. Rarely are aircraft launched one at a time for a mission unless it's a CAP mission. The strike missions are lined up behind the JBD's, while landing aircraft are held in a delta pattern until the next launches get off the deck. I get the impression the devs only looked at operations during carrier air wing qualifications, not actual combat ops. For the price point I guess no one could complain much, but personally I hope it evolves into something more realistic, minus the bone freezing weather of the Arctic, the cold wet soaked clothes of the VA Capes, or the 140 degree deck temps in the Indian Ocean.

This game is what it is, and I enjoy it! Yes, you are right in that it does not operate like a "real deck" does, but it is fun to play.

Thanks for this game.

Jim Merson