After buying a cheap second-hand copy of this game I'm surprised at how fun SWON is
for creating missions. It has a huge variety of planes (including things like the Swordfish, Meteor
and Devastator) and theatres and the mission editor is very easy to use and has a very detailed scripting system.
It is also very moddable, so I'm currently creating a realism mod which adds more accurate
aircraft and weapon data, gravity effects on bullets, improved aircraft skins etc.
Anyway, I've finished two missions and have posted these for download along
with a beta version of the realism mod, on the game's forum -
http://pub30.ezboard.com/fofficialtotallygamesboardfrm9 (there is also an unofficial forum at
http://panzerblitz.proboards9.com/index.cgi#SWONboard )
Anyway, arcade-like as it is, I can't help but enjoy SWON, simply because there are so many interesting missions and scenarios
you can create for it - Fleet Air Arm carrier ops, anti-V1 missions in the Meteor, Flying Tigers in Burma, and much more, as well
as the usual Western Front scenarios. You can create virtually any WW2 air combat scenario (the only major thing missing is RAF
heavy bombers, which is a shame since there are several night terrains available in the editor).
The default campaign is TERRIBLE, though - more like one of the "X-Wing" games with WW2 planes instead of spaceships (I like the
X-Wing series, but I don't really think it translates well to a real-life historic setting, to say the least) but it is possible to create
some much more realistic and immersive missions with the editor. Flying a Swordfish at near sea-level into a harbour heavily defended
by flak and E-boats, to torpedo a destroyer, whilst 1000 feet above, your Hurricane escorts try to fend off the 109s, is quite nerve-wracking!
(this is one of the missions I uploaded; the other one involves defending an Atlantic convoy from a Ju290 - this mission isn't nearly as challenging,
but it was the mission I made whilst learning how to use the editor)
Anyway, whilst SWON "out of the box" is terrible, if you like mission creating, modding and generally "tinkering" with games, it might
be worth picking up if you see it for a few pounds/dollars in the bargain bin. And if you bought the game when it was released, and haven't
since sold it (or thrown it in the bin in disgust :p ) try installing the realism mod and missions and see what you think.
If there is any interest at all, I'll be creating and releasing more missions in future, I also have some ideas for a campaign - based
on the "island-hopping" mid/late South Pacific campaign, which will include both carrier and land ops in various USN/USAAF aircraft (mostly
the F4F, SBD and P-40).
