Aces of the Luftwaffe: Squadron Review
Release Date: July 24th, 2018
Developer: HandyGames
Platforms: PC, PS4 (Reviewed), Xbox One, Switch
Price: $14.99
Aces of the Luftwaffe: Squadron seemed like a familiar game when I picked it up. Aces of the Luftwaffe: Squadron is a fun sequel to the mobile game with lots of new options. This is the kind of game that can be enjoyed with another person in co-op or as a solo player. The tight controls and easy difficulty makes this a good shump for any level of gamer.
Where to start? Games will be playing as a pilot named Steve who exists in a universe where World War II is still ongoing. Steve has 3 wingmen and up to 3 other players can join as co-op. They will serve as wingmen, whose goal is to deal out damage. This reminded me of a lot of shmups from the late 1990s.
The game has decent controls with plenty of firepower upgrades. The game isn’t very precise, meaning the screen gets full of enemies flying, but it feels slower than a lot of shmups where the action becomes too much too fast.
Although the game doesn’t focus on precision, Steve and his plane are not a bullet sponges. Players cannot take very much damage. My only tip, just pour on the firepower and do the best you can to dodge attacks. Destroyed enemies drop medals, and these can be used to upgrade firepower and skill points. Some of the upgrades include passive skills that will definitely make a difference in the long run. The medals also let players take on side missions.
Players can pick from 4 unique pilots, but each them suffer from ailments. Some of these include falling asleep so everyone has to fly slower, going crazy with a blood ailment and flying erratically and shooting everyone. If players can survive this “X” factor, then all of this contributes to their score at the end of each mission. I think of it as an interesting twist to make the game more entertaining or frustrating.
I feel as Aces of the Luftwaffe: Squadron has some appeal if the price seems right and at $15 its not a bad deal. If you are a fan of shmups or going back to the 8-bit or 16-bit era, give this one a chance. If you have played the previous game in the series, give this sequel a chance. Ultimately, I have to recommend this game for newcomers and to hardcore shmup fans.
Thanks to the publisher for letting us review it!
Pros:
Easy to play
Fun co-op
Cons:
Not long enough
Not for hardcore shmup fans