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[XiaNaphryz]

Platform: iOS (Universal)
System Requirements: iOS 5.1 or later, supports iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPad 2, iPad (3rd generation), iPad (4th generation), iPad mini
Genre: Turn-Based Strategy Simulation
Developer: Firaxis Games/2K Games
Download size: 189 MB
Release Date: Should be out now in all territories!
Supported Languages: English, Italian, German, Spanish, French
Game Center support: Achievements (52 total), Leaderboards

This is the first game project since Sid Meier's Gettysburg that Sid Meier has spent most of his time actively contributing as both lead designer and as a programmer.

The game is a turn based simulation of WWI-era dogfighting - you maneuver your planes around the grid through the available move options based on position, the last move the plane had taken, altitude, etc. You'll automatically fire on an enemy when in range, and can cause more damage if you're approaching a target from behind.

As pilots gain experience they learn more advanced maneuvers and can gain upgrades to their aircraft. As you progress through the campaigns, you get new pilots and planes for future missions.

More gameplay info posted by Sid Meier on the 2K Games Ace Patrol forum:

What is the gameplay like?

Again, thanks to the Pocket Tactics forum for this discussion:

Q) Well...let me ask you a bit about the gameplay. From the screen shots, I surmise that the game allows you to choose which maneuvers you want each of your planes to make; the objective, of course, being to get into a side or tailing position so you can shoot down the opponents. Is that right?

A) Mostly. You do get to choose what maneuvers you want each plane to make, and you can choose to move your planes in any order during your turn. Each pilot has a set of maneuvers they know (everyone starts with basic skills, then upgraded pilots learn more maneuvers as they gain kills), but the current state of your plane (banked, altitude, speed, etc.) will also limit what maneuvers you can make that turn.

Early on, you definitely want to get on your opponents' sides or tails. You can shoot from the front, but you do more damage from more favourable positions, and of course they can't shoot at you if you're behind them unless they have a tail gunner (which some planes do).

Later, however, some opponents have skills like the Immelmann (which you can learn, too) which allow them to flip their plane around during a single turn--and shoot while they're doing it. These ace maneuvers can be devastating, so sometimes you want to make fly-bys from the side rather than trying to hang on their tails the whole time. This is where the game gets really challenging, because now you need to take your opponents' skills into account and plan ahead for them. Often, it only takes one bad move to turn advantage into disaster.

Q) Does the game take any other factors into account (e.g., altitude)? It doesn't look like it from the screenshots, but I'm not sure. If not, is the game mostly about trying to get into firing position? Any other objectives such as bombing?

A) Altitude not only matters, it's critical. If you look closely at the first screenshot you'll see a line with dots underneath each plane. The dots tell you how high each plane is. In general, being higher lets you do things like dive (and move an extra hex) or make more sophisticated maneuvers (can't do them when you're too low). Large altitude differences also reduces the damage a plane takes from enemy fire.

Beyond that, the game is mostly about jockeying for position. There are bombing missions, but you're always the escort, never the bomber.

Honestly, as I mentioned in a prior post, this game reminds me so much of Ace of Aces (and all the other game books in that series). That's a good thing, as far as I'm concerned!
Ace of Aces was the first thing I thought of when I first saw the game, too, although that was simultaneous turns, and this is alternating. Still: fun!

Planes available:

The nations include these planes...
British:
- Airco DH2, early 'pusher' style aircraft with a wide forward firing arc.
- Sopwith 'Pup', a light and maneuverable precursor to the famous Sopwith 'Camel'
- Bristol fighter, an unusual two-seater fighter plane with a rear gunner.
- Sopwith 'Camel', one of the best know WWI aircraft. Tricky to fly but extremely maneuverable.
- SE5a, fast and stable with good all-round performance.

German:
- Fokker EIII 'Eindecker', an unusual single-wing fighter. Introduced the propeller sychronized machine-gun.
- Halberstadt DII, sturdy and maneuverable fighter airplane. Inline engine.
- Albatros DII, two machine guns, fast and strong.
- Fokker DRI, the Red Baron's famous 'Triplane', light, aerobatic, and extremely maneuverable.
- Fokker DVII, excellent all-round perfomance and climb rate.

American (generally adapted French and British planes)
- Nieuport 'Bebe', small, light and maneuverable.
- Spad SVII, fast and strong, 150hp engine, one machine gun.
- Sopwith 1-1/2 Strutter, two-seater multi-role aircraft with read gunner.
- Sopwith Triplane, inspired the German DRI, light and very maneuverable.
- Spad XIII, Extremely fast and strong.

French
- Nieuport 17, light and maneuverable, heavily armed for its time period.
- Hanriot HD1, agile and easy to fly. Also used by the Belgian Air Force.
- Nieuport 24, engine upgraded to 160hp, maneuverable.
- Spad XIII, Extremely fast and strong. 220 hp inline engine.
- Nieuport 28, two forward firing machine guns, light and agile.

There are also unique bomber and reconnaissance planes for each nation.

Price: Free + IAP (free download gives you access to the first 5 missions of the British campaign and access to multiplayer, no ads either - think of the free download as a demo version)

IAP details:

The first IAP is the campaigns. Treat these as unlocks for the full game. It's $0.99 to unlock the British campaign, $1.99 for each of the American, French, or German campaigns. Or you can buy all three (non-British) campaigns for $3.99. I haven't had the chance to dive deeply into the other nations yet, but I believe what you're really paying for is the *planes* each nation gets, and the ability to play as that nation. The mission types look to be the same. (The planes certainly fly differently, though, and there's something like 120 different missions total.)

The second IAP is the aces. There are 8 aces (2 for each nation) at $0.99 each, or the All-Aces Pack for $4.99. Each ace gives you a (presumably) historical skin you can apply to your craft (purely cosmetic) and adds a new possible perk to the pool of available perks (you already get 10 or so perks from the regular game, without ever buying any aces). A pilot only ever gets to choose one perk; your squadron leader gets it at the start and your other pilots get one if they reach 7 kills. These extra perks are completely unnecessary to beat the game. I bought the pack, and I'm enjoying the variety, but you don't need it at all.

The third IAP reduces recovery time for pilots (field hospitals, etc). Your pilots can get temporarily knocked out of action (damage, injury, or capture) for a certain amount of missions (anywhere from 1 to 5), you can pay $0.99 to bring them back into action immediately and build medical facilities to reduce the amount of time you need to wait for recovery in the future. Each facility purchased increases the recovery rate by 1 mission. Note that you won't get the option to purchase this IAP unless you have a pilot knocked out of action. This is totally unnecessary, as long as you're willing to accept the consequences of failure (which happens a lot) - running out of pilots means having to skip missions until you have pilots available, which may result in you failing the campaign and having to start over.

So essentially, you can spend $4.98 to get all the campaigns and you'll be set in terms of the full game experience.

Also, quick warning regarding the free version:

WARNING: If you get to the end of the free ace patrol campaign and you don't agree to buy the campaign it wipes your progress. I wanted to back out to see the store and when i purchased the rest of the british campaign and the 4 pack of campaigns my progress seems to be gone.

I don't mind playing it again. Just a warning for others.

GAF impressions:

Just downloaded it this morning and...It's pretty damn good! It's a turn-based strategy game using WWI planes. Even though you're playing on a board of hexes, you still need to deal with various elevations and cloud cover, and 'cause you're a plane, you need to be constantly moving. I've only done four missions thus far and I've unlocked a few upgrades and a wing lady.

Edit: Actually just finished the first campaign, which is only about 5 missions long. Afterwards, you can pay to unlock various other campaigns. You know what Sid? Fair enough. I'm digging the game and will buy the entire British Campaign, you crafty sunnovabitch.

I played a lot over the week-end, great game!

My only problem with it is that it's very easy to hit the wrong "button". Happened to me a LOT.... I always have to zoom in everytime to make sure I hit the right now. Not gamebreaking but still annoying.

Ace Patrol is pretty damn fun. Only have played for twenty minutes but quite good so far. Lots of upgrades for your pilots and interesting aerial combat as a result. Evn minor cosmetic things for your planes and pilots are neat. Really fun so far, but still early.

I just finished the first five missions of the British campaign and it seems to be really great. My tactic of hiding (camping?) in the clouds seems to be working well against the Germans so far. The engine/weapon upgrades for good mission performance are a nice inclusion. Little things like the visible season changes at the airfield as campaigns wear on, aircraft by the runway upgrading to the latest planes as time progresses etc are all nice touches.

The game is everything I was wanting it to be so far. It won't be for everyone but if you're into TBS, you should definitely check it out.

All I'd ask for now is a dynamic campaign with some degree of resource management.

I barely saved one of my pilots. Had the guy flying across the map to avoid death while the other guy attempted to tail the enemy pilot. Like a bawse.

Well I guess a true boss would not have gotten his pilot in that situation anyway...

Ace patrol is good. Once we get some async multiplayer going its going to be a lot of fun.

Full dynamic campaign, RPG pilot progression, plane upgrades... this is basically Red Baron 3D meets XCOM.

Links
App Store: https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/sid-meiers-ace-patrol/id583000830?mt=8
2K Games forum for Ace Patrol: http://forums.2kgames.com/forumdisplay.php?161-Sid-Meier-s-Ace-Patrol
Launch Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K595IvpxOu4
11 minute developer demo at IGN: http://www.ign.com/videos/2013/05/01/ace-patrol-developer-demo

 

[Count of Monte Sawed-Off]

I may have to get this. I used to love Dynamix's Red Baron, and I generally like Sid Meier's strategy game, so why not.

 

[MThanded]

I dropped 5 dollars to get all the campaigns. Game is a lot of fun. Can't wait to play some multiplayer.

 

[suedester]

An android version would be nice!

 

[flowsnake]

Everyone in this game looks so happy (based on those screenshots at least)

 

[Sinatar]

I'm definitely looking forward to giving this a look this weekend, Sid Meier is one of the greats.

 

[MThanded]

I'm definitely looking forward to giving this a look this weekend, Sid Meier is one of the greats.

Tom got injured. He has that "I'm injured" smile

 

[sparky2112]

Great job, OP, considering you just threw this thing together. Thanks!

 

[XiaNaphryz]

Everyone in this game looks so happy (based on those screenshots at least)

It's because they get to fly around instead of having to be stuck digging trenches!

 

[Snuggles]

Downloaded. I'll just treat this version as a demo and pay for the additional campaigns if the first few missions tickle my fancy. Lotsa good stuff on iOS lately.

 

[Heel]

How can these monsters offer parts of the game a la carte or bundled at a discount instead of charging $10 for the whole thing up front? I mean...lowering the barrier to entry? I won't fucking stand for it!

 

[dream]

Thanks for making an OT, XiaNaphryz. This game is surprisingly great (though it shouldn't be surprising, considering its pedigree), and I think everyone should play it.

It just feels like a classic Sid Meier game in the best of ways. I feel like I'm playing this on a 486.

 

[legbone]

games like this make me wish i had an ipad or iphone. cool looking game. wonder if the red baron makes an appearance? i could see a wwII version being awesome also.

 

[XiaNaphryz]

i could see a wwII version being awesome also.

Hell, this could be applied to something like Wing Commander or Star Wars for some space dogfighting.

 

[see5harp]

It's really sad that games like this are set to destroy gaming next gen.

 

[dream]

It's really sad that games like this are set to destroy gaming next gen.

Turn-based strategy games with RPG-style upgrade systems?

 

[Pristine_Condition]

Just bought in to the rest of the missions. Game is SOOOOOOOOO good so far. Perfectly scratching this strategy fan's itch for a new iOS game.

Thanks to the guys in the iOS thread for recommending this, and good job OP for realizing that it deserved its own thread and getting it slapped together.

My favorite thing so far is the flexibility of the game to adapt to different play styles. I've got another friend playing this at the same time, and he's taking a pretty different approach from me, (I've been more defensive and ambushy, while he's playing more aggressively) but he seems to be having just as solid an experience.

 

[see5harp]

Turn-based strategy games with RPG-style upgrade systems?

It's just a bad joke. Apparently all of the free to play, in app purchases has completely ruined the iOS app store and will spell the doom of both MS and Sony AAA games next gen.

Me, I'm super down for this.

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=555680

 

[dream]

It's just a bad joke. Apparently all of the free to play, in app purchases has completely ruined the iOS app store and will spell the doom of both MS and Sony AAA games next gen.

Me, I'm super down for this.

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=555680

Ah, I've completely lost my ability to detect sarcasm in mobile gaming threads.

I just think of this stuff as being throwbacks to the old shareware days. Get a chunk for free and if you like it, pay to get the rest. I think it works especially well for games like Ace Patrol just because it's so good that buying the rest is a no-brainer.

 

[see5harp]

I really think it's a good model and hope that games that do it well are rewarded financially. These games need as large of an audience they can get in order to ensure longevity of the online component. If you want the full experience you can pay for it all up front with a one time discounted purchase. I fine with that.

 

[XiaNaphryz]

Thanks for making an OT, XiaNaphryz. This game is surprisingly great (though it shouldn't be surprising, considering its pedigree), and I think everyone should play it.

It just feels like a classic Sid Meier game in the best of ways. I feel like I'm playing this on a 486.

I know what you mean - you can tell Sid had a really active hand on this one. I was considering putting in some sort of subtitle in the thread topic about this being Sid's first major project he actually worked on, but couldn't think of something that would fit in the space remaining.

 

[Sinatar]

I know what you mean - you can tell Sid had a really active hand on this one. I was considering putting in some sort of subtitle in the thread topic about this being Sid's first major project he actually worked on, but couldn't think of something that would fit in the space remaining.

Sid Meier's Sid Meier's Ace Patrol |OT|

 

[sparky2112]

Anyone playing this on a first gen iPad?

 

[XiaNaphryz]

Anyone playing this on a first gen iPad?

Would it even run on a first gen iPad?

 

[sparky2112]

Would it even run on a first gen iPad?

Right. It's the only one not listed in the reqs, and it's the only one I have.

 

[vagabondarts]

I am interested because of Sid Meier and WWI, but cautious because of iOs...


It seems like based on your impressions that it doesn't abuse IAP and have magic currency (I hate that)

 

[captainwhat]

I am interested because of Sid Meier and WWI, but cautious because of iOs...


It seems like based on your impressions that it doesn't abuse IAP and have magic currency (I hate that)

No currency. The free app is the demo. You pay for the game.

 

[vagabondarts]

No currency. The free app is the demo. You pay for the game.

Ok. I'll bite.

 

[MThanded]

So uh what do you do when you lose 3 pilots? I'm not paying to save them. Guess I need to start the campaign over.

 

[MoGamesXNA]

I was up until 3am playing Ace Patrol. Ugh. This feels worse than a hangover.

I wouldn't recommend the game btw. The core game is great but it's riddled with IAPs and the game design is focused on creating situations where you have to spend $1 to get your pilot out of hospital in order to fill the roster to continue a campaign.

Shameful game design. It's sad to see Sid's name on a title of this nature.

 

[XiaNaphryz]

So uh what do you do when you lose 3 pilots? I'm not paying to save them. Guess I need to start the campaign over.

I was up until 3am playing Ace Patrol. Ugh. This feels worse than a hangover.

I wouldn't recommend the game btw. The core game is great but it's riddled with IAPs and the game design is focused on creating situations where you have to spend $1 to get your pilot out of hospital in order to fill the roster to continue a campaign.

Shameful game design. It's sad to see Sid's name on a title of this nature.

If you're short pilots, you just choose a mission, then choose Skip Mission. The campaign will count it as a 0 point mission.

You don't need to pay to continue the campaign, just be prepared to live with a string of 0 score missions and the front lines being adjusted accordingly until you get pilots back. You know, like an actual game. Riddled with IAPs? What?

 

[XiaNaphryz]

Started the British campaign over at Ace difficulty. Feels like a good starting point if you're comfortable with these sorts of games. The ace perk where you have a chance of a one-hit kill is pretty nifty combined with power maneuvers and a few ace maneuvers like the Immelman or Split-S - generating as many shot opportunities as you can to try and let the perk trigger has seen some success. If there's an obvious setup to wait a turn or two though and get into really good position I'll go ahead and take it.

Really loving the missions where you can take your whole squadron with you. Trying to setup your wingmen so they can cover your ace is so satisfying when it all comes together.

Too bad you can't save/share replays. Replays need more work before that though I'd think - timeline scrub and some camera controls would be nice.

 

[chris121580]

So far this is my iOS game of the year. Absolutely fantastic and the right way to use free to play just to give you enough of a taste to want more. I'm not even a turn based fan but this is awesome

 

[Bossman]

It's a pretty good game but it's a shame that all the campaigns are basically the same. The only things that change are the planes and pilots.

 

[MoGamesXNA]

It's a pretty good game but it's a shame that all the campaigns are basically the same. The only things that change are the planes and pilots.

I found this disappointing too. If you buy the British campaign for $1 you have the entire game.

That said, I am enjoying playing through the campaign again with the German airforce. A combination of Fokker DR1's (maneuverable) and Albatross D2's (fast) provide a nice array of combat options. I wouldn't recommend spending the extra money though.

There's a great game hidden in there. Hopefully we'll get the real thing without the IAP rubbish and in it's complete form on Steam at some stage.

Really loving the missions where you can take your whole squadron with you. Trying to setup your wingmen so they can cover your ace is so satisfying when it all comes together.

This is definitely a highlight. Especially if you're outnumbered and manage to even up the odds by luring planes into your AA or exposing their six to aircraft hidden in cloud cover.

 

[XiaNaphryz]

Sid Meier's Sid Meier's Ace Patrol |OT|

Sid Meier's Ace Patrol |OT| His name is actually on this one for a reason

 

[XiaNaphryz]

So based on some new information regarding the third set of IAP, I've updated the OP:

The third IAP reduces recovery time for pilots (field hospitals, etc). Your pilots can get temporarily knocked out of action (damage, injury, or capture) for a certain amount of missions (anywhere from 1 to 5), you can pay $0.99 to bring them back into action immediately and build medical facilities to reduce the amount of time you need to wait for recovery in the future. Each facility purchased increases the recovery rate by 1 mission. Note that you won't get the option to purchase this IAP unless you have a pilot knocked out of action. This is totally unnecessary, as long as you're willing to accept the consequences of failure (which happens a lot) - running out of pilots means having to skip missions until you have pilots available, which may result in you failing the campaign and having to start over.

Lemme know if this is incorrect, I haven't purchased it to verify myself.

 

[commish]

Game looks good...

 

[see5harp]

Eh..tried a few missions last night. I don't really love the graphics, animations, or overall look of the game. It does seem like well suited for a phone game, however and it seems much different than what I expected. What I don't like is not really having a grasp of the enemy range like I would know with most other turn based games. I don't feel like a lot of the time I'm not sure whether I should slow to coordinate attacks with multiple planes or whether slowing would put my just outside enemy range. I'll stick with it, but I'm not sure I'll pay for this.

 

[Zeouterlimits]

Hmm, those requirements do not mention any of the iPod Touchs...

 

[kottila]

It's a pretty good game but it's a shame that all the campaigns are basically the same. The only things that change are the planes and pilots.

Wish i read that before I bought all the campaigns

 

[RustyO]

So, to clarify...

British pack unlocks the British planes/pilots and the one and only campaign.

Other countries pack unlocks the French/German/American planes/pilots; so that they can be used on the campaign.

So there is only one campaign?

 

[mcfrank]

Really digging this game so far. It is exactly what I want from an iOS game, perfect for pick up and play or long sessions on the couch. I am playing on an ipad 3rd gen and the retina graphics look great with no frame rate drops. This game is a great example of what iOS is good at and I can't wait for more like it.

 

[Versipellis]

In the same vein there's SteamBirds, a free browser game. Similar setting (WW2 instead of WW1), similar (but simpler) gameplay:
http://armorgames.com/play/5426

They should do a Star Wars themed version, since the boardgame alredy exists.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=rOtnhlR1eAY#t=15s

 

[subversus]

played this today a bit. Shareware model is alive and kicking on iOS.

I've played three missions so it's a bit early to judge but I liked that dogfights aren't as straightforward as I thought they would be. The key is to predict where the enemy will go and position your plane right which isn't an easy task.

edit: it seems that it has some IAP as well.

 

[TunaMarshmallow]

I'm so fucking annoyed that I can't play this on my 5th Gen iPod Touch. What could possibly be the reason?

 

[Neuromancer]

Neat game, I finished the campaign with a decisive Allied victory.

So, to clarify...

British pack unlocks the British planes/pilots and the one and only campaign.

Other countries pack unlocks the French/German/American planes/pilots; so that they can be used on the campaign.

So there is only one campaign?

Seems to be the case. The other IAPs have very misleading names as they really are just new pilots and skins, and not whole new campaigns.

 

[jstevenson]

how the hell did I miss this game?!

 

[XiaNaphryz]

Neat game, I finished the campaign with a decisive Allied victory.

Seems to be the case. The other IAPs have very misleading names as they really are just new pilots and skins, and not whole new campaigns.

They just released an update that gives more differentiation to the different countries. Whether this is enough for people to go for them is up to them.

Added Special Nation Abilities:
- British pilots can perform one extra high-G maneuver
- German pilots earn their special ability after only two victories
- French pilots avoid capture after forced landings
- American pilots return from injuries one mission sooner

 

[XiaNaphryz]

New update is live.

http://forums.2kgames.com/showthread.php?251631-Sid-Meier-s-Ace-Patrol-1-4-goes-live-today

• Over 60 NEW missions spanning four nations (50% more content added to the game!)
• New missions include things like flying bombers and recon planes, taking on a squadron of fighters solo, and shooting down heavily protected key targets
• General enhancements to improve playability

Sid made these additions in response to players' feedback about the game.