Decent flight action game that fills a gaping void in the DS market.
In comes Spitfire Heroes: Tales of the Royal Air Force. It has a more straightforward approach to it than the SF Command strategy hybrid. The mission structure in SH:TRAF is more Battle For Naboo in nature, with specific targets to hit or time periods in which to defend allies in order to successfully complete missions.
All of the missions are fought using a Hurricane or Spitfire fighter plane. It would have served the game well to allow players which plane to use in the missions. However, variance in mission structure keeps the game fresh, as one mission might require you to defend a city from bombers, while another will require you to merely photograph (using a camera affixed to your Spitfire) heavy artillery emplacements without being detected by enemy fighters.
The graphics are fairly decent for a DS game. The vehicles in the game look excellent, and the game generally moves at a smooth clip, even with a lot of gunfire or enemies on screen. The terrains vary only slightly from level to level, as one might take place a grassy coastline, while another might take place in a grassy, hilly area. This is only a minor quibble, though, and does not necessarily detract from the overall game.
It must be said that this is a very challenging game. Even on the easiest mode, you'll find yourself repeating levels. This is because the system that the game uses for determining mission success is not too different than one you might have faced in any college classroom. Positives you do during a mission (shoot down bombers, destroy tanks) count towards your "grade". However, negatives during a mission (deaths, deaths of allies) subtract points from your score. Anything above a 60% is passing, while anything below is a failing grade. Just like in Philosophy 101 with Mr. Pinckaers. A failing grade requires you to replay the level until you receive a passing grade in order to progress. Shooting down fighters and bombers can both be arduous tasks as well. Fighters tend to have amazing agility, and can be extremely elusive when trying to chase them down. Bombers have two ballgunners with excellent aim, and though they have linear paths, getting in firing range of these bombers can be dangerous. That said, this game isn't difficult to the point of frustrating the player. It does take patience sometimes, and skill, but it only makes that "Mission Complete" screen that much sweeter when you do get it.
This game does not support Nintendo Wi-Fi or single-cartridge download play, two features that by now should be standard on all DS games.
Overall, this is a very satisfying flight action experience for the Nintendo DS. Anyone who enjoys flight action games (not flight sim) or World War II games should have this game in their collection, as it fills an empty void in the Nintendo DS game market.