History VideoGame / SidMeiersAcePatrol

''Sid Meier's Ace Patrol'' is a series of turn-based games created by FiraxisGames simulating OldSchoolDogfighting of UsefulNotes/WorldWarI and the Pacific theater of UsefulNotes/WorldWarII. The player control 1-4 fighter planes (in some missions, bombers or recon planes) and fights enemy planes by selecting maneuvers for the current turn depending on which maneuvers the pilot knows and the current plane can do.

''Sid Meier's Ace Patrol'' is a series of turn-based games created by FiraxisGames simulating OldSchoolDogfighting of WorldWarOne and the Pacific theater of WorldWarTwo. The player control 1-4 fighter planes (in some missions, bombers or recon planes) and fights enemy planes by selecting maneuvers for the current turn depending on which maneuvers the pilot knows and the current plane can do.

The first game takes place during WorldWarOne and features four campaigns: US, UK, France, Germany. The first three fight Germany, while Germany fights one of the other three chosen randomly at the start of the campaign. Gameplay is identical for all campaigns. The main differences are which planes are available. Planes are periodically added, replacing previous ones. Pilots can normally choose one of two available planes. During missions, planes have altitude that can be increased until the plane's limit (modified by any upgrades). If the mission is completed with all planes having more than half of their HP, the player is given a random plane upgrade (e.g. better weapons, more powerful engine that increases max altitude) that carry over through all planes for a pilot. Pilots level up based on their kills, and, upon receiving a promotion, can learn new maneuvers. Maneuvers can be either regular (a set of maneuvers for a variety of situations) or ace (a single superior maneuver that can turn the battle). Upon achieving ace status, the pilot can earn a nickname for him or herself, which grants a certain ability to the pilot (e.g. "Escape Artist" allows a pilot to avoid being captured if crashed in enemy territory). If a pilot is shot down in enemy territory, he or she is captured and held as a [=PoW=] until the prisoner exchange every Christmas. If a pilot is shot down in own territory, he or she spends a few missions in the hospital. The player can choose missions out of three available. Missions can range from "shoot down enemy pilots" to "escort bomber/recon plane", "shoot down bomber/recon plane", and "destroy/protect truck convoy/train". All maps feature anti-air guns that do damage to any enemy plane that enters their airspace (except for pilots with the "Lucky" nickname). Clouds hide planes but also limit maneuvers.

The second game focuses on the Pacific theater of WorldWarTwo. There are also four campaigns: US Army, Japanese Army, US Navy, Japanese Navy. Pilots get access to every previous plane, but planes now have persistent damage between missions, which only gets repaired only between battles. Unlike the first game, the player can't select missions, although SaveScumming means that players can always reload until a mission they like is generated. Since prisoner exchanges weren't common between the US and Japan during the war, after every battle, the player gets an extra mission to send a single pilot to help the prisoners escape by taking out guard towers. Fights over water replace anti-air guns with destroyers that look like they're moving but are, in fact, static. Also, in addition to destroying enemy airfields or depots, bomber missions can have the bombers target carriers and battleships. Convoy and train strafing missions have been replaced with missions to destroy transport ships with strafing runs.

* GreatEscape: In the second game, since PrisonerExchange is not an option with the Japanese, you get a special mission at the start of every major battle to send a single pilot to destroy guard towers of an enemy [=PoW=] camp, allowing your captured pilots to escape. Alternatively, you can shoot down the single enemy plane, which is an InstantWinCondition.

* KilledOffForReal: Averted, for the most part, as shot down pilots are either captured (if over enemy territory) or spend some time in the hospital (if over own territory). The second game even shows parachutes opening when the plane is falling. However, this can be toggled in options to make the game harder.

* PoliticallyCorrectHistory: Both male and female pilots are available in both games. In RealLife, only USSR allowed women to pilot warplanes during WorldWarTwo, and USSR is not present. However, the second game allows you to disable female pilots in options.

The first game takes place during WorldWarOne and features four campaigns: US, UK, France, Germany. The first three fight Germany, while Germany fights one of the other three chosen randomly at the start of the campaign. Gameplay is identical for all campaigns. The main differences are which planes are available. Planes are periodically added, replacing previous ones. Pilots can normally choose one of two available planes. During missions, planes have altitude that can be increased until the plane's limit (modified by any upgrades). If the mission is completed with all planes having more than half of their HP, the player is given a random plane upgrade (e.g. better weapons, more powerful engine that increases max altitude) that carry over through all planes for a pilot. Pilots level up based on their kills, and, upon receiving a promotion, can learn new maneuvers. Maneuvers can be either regular (a set of maneuvers for a variety of situations) or ace (a single superior maneuver that can turn the battle). Upon achieving ace status, the pilot can earn a nickname for him or herself, which grants a certain ability to the pilot (e.g. "Escape Artist" allows a pilot to avoid being captured if crashed in enemy territory). If a pilot is shot down in enemy territory, he or she is captured and held as a [=PoW=] until the prisoner exchange every Christmas. If a pilot is shot down in own territory, he or she spends a few missions in the hospital. The player can choose missions out of three available. Missions can range from "shoot down enemy pilots" to "escort bomber/recon plane" and "shoot down bomber/recon plane". All maps feature anti-air guns that do damage to any enemy plane that enters their airspace (except for pilots with the "Lucky" nickname). Clouds hide planes but also limit maneuvers.

The second game focuses on the Pacific theater of WorldWarTwo. There are also four campaigns: US Army, Japanese Army, US Navy, Japanese Navy. Pilots get access to every previous plane, but planes now have persistent damage between missions, which only gets repaired only between battles. Unlike the first game, the player can't select missions, although SaveScumming means that players can always reload until a mission they like is generated. Since prisoner exchanges weren't common between the US and Japan during the war, after every battle, the player gets an extra mission to send a single pilot to help the prisoners escape by taking out guard towers.

* [[SuspiciouslySmallArmy Suspiciously Small Air Force]]: The battles never feature more than 5 planes per side. The largest battles in the first game feature all 4 of your fighters going up against 4 enemy fighters and also a giant zeppelin, whose destruction is your mission goal. You cannot send all 4 of your pilots on any mission in the second game. You also don't get any replacement pilots, even if all of your pilots have been captured (the game just forces you to skip missions until they become available) or hospitalized.

* [[SuspiciouslySmallArmy Suspiciously Small Air Force]]: The battles never feature more than 5 planes per side. The largest battles in the first game feature all 4 of your fighters going up against 4 enemy fighters and also a giant zeppelin, whose destruction is your mission goal. You cannot send all 4 of your pilots on any mission in the second game. You also don't get any replacement pilots, even if 3 of your pilots have been captured.

* CosmeticallyDifferentSides: Played straight, mostly, in the first game, although the sides also slightly differed by planes. The second game has more differences between the US and Japan. American fighters are sturdier and have more weapons, while Japanese fighters are weaker but are much more maneuverable.

* [[SuspiciouslySmallArmy Suspiciously Small Air Force]]: The battles never feature more than 5 planes per side. The largest battles in the first game feature all 4 of your fighters going up against 4 enemy fighters and also a giant zeppelin, whose destruction is your mission goal. You cannot send all 4 of your pilots on any mission in the second game. You also don't get any replacement pilots, even if 3 of your pilots have been captured.