First Eagles - The Great War: 1918 (PC) - Reviews

(3.7)

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29.4.2011

Recently I decided to dig out and dust off my copy of First Eagles - had to re-order here at Amazon as I couldn't find my CD! When it came out, I'd not been especially impressed. The planes looked quite good but the number of planes was quite limited compared to good ol' Red Baron 3D; the terrain was not bad but seemed a bit artificial and the Artificial Intelligence (AI) and 'plane go boom' damage models seemed rather weak.So I wasn't expecting too much when I re-installed First Eagles. But I'm VERY glad I did.I soon found that, like the other Third Wire sims, the current patch does more than just make FE Vista-compatible, which it does; it updates the already-good visuals.The planes have dynamic shadows (more important in a WW1 sim due to the upper wing), the same great internal and external 3-d models, specular lighting, and better textures, including accurate squadron and individual markings (the 'decal' markings look a lot better than those in IL2). Some serious research has been put into FE. With subtle but effective lighting and fog effects, the landscapes look a LOT better. Roads, towns, villages, airbases, rivers, bridges, are all there and look better than ever. There are no railways I think nor separate minor roads but there is plenty and from maps of the area, the geography seems accurate - good enough to navigate visually, if you want to. Clouds and weather effects look great, too. 'The Lines' and trench systems look quite good and the villages nearby look realistically knocked-about.A few quick combats soon showed up other improvements. The AI and damage models were much better. For example, planes now rarely blew up; AI pilots exhibited a variety of skills; and 2-seater gunners were no snipers, but a much more realistic threat than in RB3d. The comms menu was now limited to what a WW1 pilot could achieve via flares, wing-waggling and hand-signals. I found the sim's flexible and open structure meant I could easily hand-edit or otherwise turn off features I didn't like. The stock planeset was adequate for 1917-18 and there was a thriving community at CombatAce with many extra planes, campaigns and other mods freely available.Flight models (FMs) are still forgiving in 'normal' setting, suitable for a novice player. At 'hard', they remind me of the highly-rated Flying Corps Gold; for example the 'adverse yaw' from the Camel's rotary makes a right turn fast but turning left can pitch the nose up hard. I always found the RB3d flight models felt decidely underpowered and Over Flanders Field's Phase 2's a bit unresponsive, especially to aileron even with coarse rudder (tho I'm looking forward to flying OFF Phase 3, where this is improved). In First Eagles, the FMs feel just right. My only real-life stick time is about 10 hours with Cessnas with similar HP, different otherwise I know, but I do expect a plane's nose to go fairly smartly where I point it, except at the edges of the envelope.So far so good, so I kicked off a couple of FE campaigns. I was pleasantly surprised to find that, just as in RB3D, I could choose to fly with a wide variety of real squadrons, operating out of the bases they'd flown from at the time of the chosen campaign, whose names I remembered from all those WW1 books on my shelves, be it 46 Squardon from Izel le Hameau, or Jasta 5 from Boistraincourt. My plane was in nicely-rendered authentic unit markings - when with Jasta 34b, we had red-nosed silver-white fuselages, and with Jasta 5, red-edged green tails. In the external view, my pilot turned his head to scan and study his instruments, and when I fired, my Spandaus' cocking handles moved, as did the cartridge belt into the breech. Engine and other sounds were very good, apart from the lack of 'wheel rumble'. The airfields looked just great, nearly as good as in OFF; some with mostly tented hangars, others with wooden ones or other buildings. Planes were often lined up on the flight line, sometimes with the 'sqaudron hack' 2-seater as well as the single-seater 'scouts'.Flying a mission, I was always the flight leader and appreciated the basic but effective squadron management - I could review available pilots and their records & skills and choose how many and who to bring along. I could also vary most waypoints. Missions assigned seemed to be a realistic mix. The planes didn't take off in a conga line; and my wingies would roar off first if I dilly-dallied. As we took off, I could see other planes taking off from or returning to nearby airfields. In the distance, observation baloons could be seen hanging in the sky near the Lines. There was clearly a war going on!In campaign mode, I was soon reminded of RB3d. Other flights, friendly and enemy, were obviously going about their business - most often, scouts on patrols, 2-seaters on recce, close support or bombing missions. In WW1, British AA fire ('Archie') produced whitish bursts and German, blackish, and with the targeting aids off or turned down, the sight of clusters of black or white puffs blossoming in the sky was usually the first warning I got of enemy aircraft. Just like the real thing!AA fire seemed limited to guns rather than MGs but while the ground war 'ambience' may not be up to OFF standards, I have seen quite convincing ground combat, for example British tanks having broken through at Cambrai, machine-gunning German positions and coming under German artillery fire. Flying a cambrai Camel mission with 20-lb 'Cooper' bombs under our fuselages, we intervened in a battle between British tanks and the Germans using captured British ones (as they often did, when they could). I knocked out a tank with a near miss from one of three bombs on my first run but as I was coming in to drop the last one, my target was suddenly obliterated in a storm of explosions right in front of me - this time the Royal Artillery had beaten the Royal Flying Corps to it!Air combat in First Eagles I have found to be exhilirating and alternately satisfying and scary. I have learned the hard way to keep below or behind the tail of a 2-seater, and not just to trade shots with the observer as I could in RB3d - if I find myself in his sights I break hard down or away - once you see him staring at you from behind his goggles, if he can he'll shoot and his muzzle flash could be the last thing you'll see! As for scouts, some can be relatively easy meat, which I can stay with as they jink desperately. Others can be more deadly foes. Sometimes we see them first, sometimes they hit us while we are stalking other enemies - I have also learned the hard way not to assume the SE5s, RE8s or Camels whose tails I'm working my flight into a position to dive down upon, are the only enemies in the vicinity, and to look around frequently! One moment the sky can be a whirling mass of planes, like a scene out of Hell's Angels, the next moment you are on your own. Aircraft are rendered well enough that in a dogfight, you can quickly see who's who and dash to aid a friend with a foe on his tail, but woe betide you if you don't watch your own!In WW1, planes were frequently 'forced down' to a force landing and this is well replicated in FE. Depspite lacking parachutes, not all my unit's planes listed as shot down will have pilots killed. FE lacks some of the nice little touches of sims like European Air War (the Nissen hut with the squeaky bunk and the radio for example) but, more than IL2 for example, there is enough there for you to take an interest in your squadron mates and their survival and performance, before and after missions, and to worry whether GHQ is going to send you those replacements before your squadron is burned away in the fires of war.I was so impressed with FE that I bought First Eagles 2 and it's better again, with for example plane wrecks at crash sites, improved squardon markings (Jasta 5's individual markings now include real Jasta 5 ones like Hippel's dragon, not just generic individual symbols) and better performance (FPS) to boot.So there you have it. I'm VERY glad I didn't judge First Eagles from its state on first release. I want a WW1 fiight sim that gives me the feeling I get when I read the WW1 air war books, watch the movies (good and not-so-good) and build the models, balsa and plastic. First Eagles gives me that feeling, in spades. It's now a really good-looking, brilliant and immersive WW1 flight sim. Rise of Flight may be the best simulator of 'flying WW1 planes' but from what I can see, FE not only looks pretty darn good, it does a rather better job of simulating 'flying a plane in WW1', and doesn't need a top-notch PC to do it. FE can be flown as a 'sim-lite' but with 'hard' settings, that is really a misnomer. In terms of its historical accuracy and content, which are really top notch, it is anything but light. It'll be joined on my PC by Over Flanders Fields Phase 3 when I get my new graphics card but even then I am quite sure that I will continue to relish flying First Eagles, and to be very glad I didn't write it off, but gave it a second look.Anyone interested in First Eagles should consider First Eagles 2, available for a very low price by download from [...] It has the latest updates, so it is Vista-compatible without the need to download a patch, plus it has subtle but numerous improvements over the original, including the expansion pack which added some excellent player-flyable aircraft.

12.12.2006

whilst this simulation doesn't try too hard to impress or to please..it does managage to do both with ease.. it doesn't have the uncomparable detailing of the classic Red Baron series, BUT what it does have more than satisfies and where it is streets ahead of not only RB but most other combat flight sims is in the AI capabilities..no "lawn darts" a lot of combat tends to end up at very very low level and the AI handles this without any issues at all.. making forced but controlled landings when damaged if possible..so you can fly over your downed adversary and waggle your wings in true hollywood style if you wish..the aircraft are very precisely modelled and whilst not being "next gen" are

5.2.2010

well what can i say, its been a very long time since i got my hands on a flight simulation game where your behind the pedals of some of the greatest planes to be ever invented..looking over the side of the cockpit in your D7 and the plane is whizzing no more than 70mph over empty fields and you get the cold air hitting you in the face as you adjust your goggles and you cock your guns and as you look over to your right you can spot a couple of spad 13's diving down through the clouds..you have only a brief second to react otherwise it's all over. don't let this game fool you, graphics are good for this game not to hard on your graphics card but just right.

15.11.2006

First Eagles is one of the best dogfighting games I've played in ages. Whilst comparisons to Red Baron are bound to be made, the game is a decent competitor to take the crown as the WW1 flight sim for the next gen PC flight simmer.The gameplay is smooth, fast and historically accurate without being overly complex as to deter the mosre casual players. Strafing tanks in an SE5 being a highlight that never gets old and the air to air dogfights are stuff of legend!I'm no modder, but it looks like the game supports the architecture of new units and campaigns quite heavily. I'm looking forward to seeing what the community can do with new campaigns and scenarios.If you're looking for some great historical combat,

8.3.2007

Set in 1918 (so the RAF is relevant) you actually get 4 aircraft to fly as stock although 2 are variants.You can, however, easily make the other AI aircraft flyable too.This is where the games from this developer differ greatly from most in that they are designed to allow for the community to be able to add/modify many things.Subsequently other aircraft, skins, terrains, missions etc. are readily available to add to & expand your game from sites such as [...], & various others.More are added weekly if not daily.Also, there are currently 2 patches available for it & ongoing support - the next installment in the planned series is supposed to cover the British sector.

23.11.2006

I managed to get a preview code for the title a few days ago, considering the the preview code was the BETA code, i can say that the games is quite good. you get to fly a number of aircrafts each having their own strenghts and weaknesses. the game caters for those who just want to jump into a cockpit and fly and also those want a serious flight sim. you get to fly instant action missions, one-off mission plus there is also a huge campaigns section that is quite historical. I am not done playing the game but so far I must say its a very good game.

5.7.2011

i loved flying corps years ago and this looked like an updated fling corps,i tried to run it on my laptop on windows 7 but no joy but it ran ok on my desktop windows xp pc,what a fantastic game this is,if you like WW1 flying sims you will love this,its not an arcade game so beware,im using my microsoft force feedback steering wheel and pedals to play this game,the planes creak and groan when you bank the plane,i would recommend this game,if you liked flying corps years ago as this is just like it.