hardest thing about this game is to actually register it to be able to play it ... the rest is a nice WW I flight SIM
SUMMARY:
- graphics/vid: 8.5/10 -- very nice indeed; even if you have to lower the landscape render quality it will still look great.
- audio: 7/10 -- I had some minor audio problems right at the beginning of the training missions; the rest is of an average to slightly above average quality.
- gameplay: 8.5/10 -- the learning curve could be steep for people who never played, more or less realistic SIMs, but this game includes really nice training missions where one can master the basics and beyond, before jumping in to the singleplayer or career missions. In general, the missions include several types of combat assignments in an area of roughly 50,000 square miles: air dogfights, ground attacks, baloon attacks, escort, and interceptions. Mission loading times are somewhat on the excessive side and controls setup is awkward. Under some angles/perspectives planes seem to *lack* their heft and appear toy-ish.
- multiplayer: YES.
- replay value: 9.5/10 -- considering that the game has a multiplayer component plus its own and free mission editor (included with the game) the replayability is theoretically unlimited.
- DRM/Registration: 1/10 -- one of the lamest activation schemes ever seen.
- Other: internet connection required not just to activate, but also every time you want to play (pretty bad idea); strong possibility that you will have to pay for extra airplanes if you want them (this is bad planning since the game is released and no clear plan for future fleet expansion has been set (check the developer's forums around July 7 to find out more).
Overall, RoF is a WW I flight simulator that is well done, maybe somewhat less realistic but generally more fun that the typical product in this somewhat niche genre. From the point of realism, the RoF is no match for something like the excellent but extremely painful to learn *DCS: Black Shark*, but it does have lots of visual and fun appeal besides being a unique and rare SIM where you actually fly biplanes during the WW I. In short, if you are a flight SIM fan, you need to get this (maybe once the price dips) and on the other side if you have never shown any interest for flight SIMs you probably need to skip this or try a demo before handing over the money. Overall score: 7.7/10.
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*OLD*
Note (06/26/09): I'll change this review and rating once the game becomes playable. So far, no go and that deserves a 0/10 (but 1/10 will have to do)
Problem:
- the game is here; it even has a serial number, yay! .. but unfortunately the developer/publisher decided to require an online registration and activation, which is not very smart but it's forgivable when the actual registration server works. The problem here (and especially seems to affect the US customers) is that the registration server is not operational (as of right now).
So ... nice packaging, maps, etc., I can even get the start screen, but no flying till the registration servers are operational. Funny thing, you go to their support site hoping to post your problems in their forums and then you realize that they are using the same servers for everything .. so no posting of your problems either.
It'd be a nice touch if they actually put some thought into this activation scheme and realize that a game with a serial number should be playable (in its singleplayer modality) regardless of the (failed) status of their servers.
So there is really not much one can do but unceremoniously give it a 1/10. Nice going neoqb/777 Studios :(