AVSIM Combat Simulation Review "Pearl Harbor"

Rating Guide
	Publisher: Flight1
	Description: Add-on contains 16 additional missions for CFS2. Offered as either boxed product or by download
	Download Size: 25MB	Format: Autop install	Simulation Type: Combat Flight Simulator 2
	Reviewed by: Robert Whitwell, AVSIM Staff Reviewer
	Possible Commercial Rating Score: 1 to 5 stars with 5 stars being exceptional

When I first wrote about Combat Flight Simulator 2, I was surprised that it didn't come with specific Theatre Campaigns built in. Nor were they available as add-ons directly from Microsoft. Now there are add-ons being developed by other software companies who have recognized the need to expand the capabilities of CFS2 and to challenge the "armchair pilot" with further missions for this combat flight simulator.

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This add-on contains 16 more missions for you to complete. 8 American missions, and 8 Japanese missions. I liked this premise as it not only gave the gamer more missions to complete but also enabled you to fly with some background knowledge of the campaign.

I started with the Japanese side because I wanted to see what the software would reveal when attacking the ships on "Battleship Row." This also gave me the opportunity to take off from the carrier deck and see the surrounding scenery. The scenery here included other carriers and ships in the Japanese fleet.

The keystrokes and shortcuts are the same as in CFS 2. Using the waypoint jumps are a good idea to get to the action more quickly, or if you want to practice flying enroute you can simply fly manually to the waypoint. There is also the usual radio chatter in the background when flying these missions. Realism was added by hearing Japanese in your headset when flying the Japanese missions.

The Japanese scenarios are organized chronologically. First taking out American aircraft on the ground at Wheeler Field and any that might get airborne during the raid. The aircraft are nicely lined up on the runways and taxiways for you to strafe to your heart's content. Upon completion of the mission you go back to the main page and move on to the other missions.

Upon completion of the strafing runs, your next mission is to start taking out the ships on "Battleship Row". The rendition of the harbor is well done and the battleships are arranged very realistically. The only unrealistic part of this mission is with all the AAA flak that is sent your way. Since historically this was a surprise raid, I didn't expect to see much resistance from the ships. I was also disappointed in the aircraft available to choose from when starting the mission. There were no torpedo bombers to choose. I had my heart set on watching ships being blown up by torpedoes. But I could only strafe the ships.

Test System Intel Pentium III 800MHz 128MB RAM Windows Me Banshee 3D Video Card 32 bit Sound Card 50X CD-ROM Logitech Wingman Extreme Joystick KDS 17" Monitor Flying Time: 7 hours over 3 days Japanese Task Force Departing the carrier Approaching Pearl Harbor Approaching Battleship Row On top of Battleship Row Over Battleship Row Attacking destroyers Destroyer attack

The second wave involves the strafing and bombing of Kaneohe Airfield. Some enemy fighters get airborne to protect the field, but the PBYs are again lined up on the tarmac. There are also hangers there for you to destroy. I did a lot of cranking and banking to get back around for multiple strafing runs.

The remaining missions were very similar in design, with a few twists thrown in. The designers added a third wave attack, which never really happened and added an American carrier into the area for you to sink. The final mission is to defend your fleet again retaliation. The standard plane to fly in all of these missions was the A6M5 Zero.

On the American side of the missions, most were top cover and protecting the homeland. The 8 missions seemed to line up as direct opposites of the Japanese missions. For example, mission 3 was to protect "Battleship Row" and Ford Island.

There were also fictitious missions added to the American side. Revenge can be had by attacking the Japanese fleet in the last American mission. There is also a rescue mission written to rescue a downed PBY.

Having a little background knowledge of the historical scenario can make this add-on seem a little unrealistic. In fact I was disappointed. The American fleet was idle. The ships weren't at battle stations, and the guns weren't manned. At least not until the first wave hit. So the disappointment came when this hail of AAA fire came at me as I was lining up for my first attack on a battleship. Overall, I liked the "Campaign" theme of this add-on. I can see future "Campaigns" being added in the near future. If you have completed all of the missions in the original Combat Flight Simulator 2 program, and have become proficient at all levels, this add-on will give you another challenge.

"Pearl Harbor" may be purchased for $29.95 USD, or a downloaded version is available for $19.95 directly from Flight One's website. An upgrade, with improvements to the P-40 plus an additional Campaign also is available by download.