Bomber Crew

Mechanics

The gameplay is divided into two parts – the preparation stage and the proper missions. In the first stage, a player has to select and train inexperienced recruits in a military base, in order for them to become aviation specialists. Each protégé features a unique set of skills, story, and other details. It is worth to keep them alive and take care of them, as their death is permanent. A bomber is a complicated machine and needs diversified crew – there has to be a pilot, a mechanic, several gunners, a gun loader, at least one radio operator, and a navigator.

When airborne, the gameplay very much resembles another game called FTL: Faster Than Light. In combat, the planes begin to break down, there are too little hands to man all the stations, and only a calm mind might save them from inevitable death. The bombers are not designed for close combat, thus each anti-aircraft system, radar, hostile fighter, and bad weather might pose a significant challenge. The simulation elements force a player to tend to the plane’s onboard systems. After being shot on the tail, the plane loses its maneuverability; if an engine begins to burn, the hydraulics break down, the plane runs out of fuel, or a crew member is killed. Thus, on a mission, there is always something to repair or someone to heal.

When over a target, a player gets to operate the onboard systems in order to photograph the target or bomb it. Finally, one has to return home safely – provided he has enough fuel.

Technical aspects

In Bomber Crew for PC and XONE, the 3D cartoon visuals do not feature many details, however, a different perspective on the events from World War II might be a pleasant change, after the monotonous landscapes filled with mud and bronze colors. A player is also bound to appreciate the dynamic vessel damage system.