A Taste of the Action...

Attention to detail often translates into atmosphere, and with period photographs, 16 mm film style briefings, period maps and excellent sound, RB2 has atmosphere in spades!

Hauptmann Sottlemyer's Flight Plan..

I got into a furball on my third foray in the sim and barely managed to hold my own. Mind you, I'm not sure what type of aircraft I was up against, having let Flying Corps sit on the shelf a bit too long... I took some hits but took out my man and then went on to strafe his airfield. I almost fell out of the airplane when I heard the air raid siren! Geez, what next? When I took a hit from ground fire my view got increasingly red and the groans and labored breathing of my virtual pilot increased until I was ready to call my wife at work and ask for advice (she's an RN...)

In a similar mission later I flew as escort for a bomber group targetting an allied supply dump. I let the AI do the flying til we got near to the dump and then took over. I was just scanning the sky for air cover when I was jumped by a pair of Nieuports just past the dump so my wingman and I kept them busy while the bombers did their dirty work. My wingman (in a Fokker DVII) proved to be a good shot and took out one Nieuport promptly. The other one (I later learned) had landed with engine problems...

Fine, I thought, I'll cruise around and see what targets of opportunity present themselves. I noticed a river and a bridge in the distance and took a peek at my lap map to see what might be nearby.

Ah ha! thought I, an Allied aerodrome! Going back to heads up my companion and I surged closer, with the sun off our rear quarter. Perfect! As we came within visual range I noticed a number of aircraft on the ground. Unfortunately, we were spotted and the alarm claxon began to sound. Suddenly ground fire erupted from two directions and as the fire increased my wingman took a hit and and I lost track of him. With black clouds of flak bursting around me I began to feel nervous...Everytime it was a bit too close my Fokker would shake about like a reed in the wind.

I began strafing as soon as possible and came in fast and low. I pulled up steep and into an uneven turn, the canvas complaining all the way. I was well past the Allied base when I felt my aircraft lurch sideways with a major impact. I still had control, however, and thought I could fly it home. However, my engine began to lose power and I realized something else was wrong... I could smell oil. Worse, my vision was beginning to dim...

I prepared to set down, now almost a mile from the base. My engine sputtered to a halt and the ringing from the air raid siren filled my ears, but a new sound began just as I rolled to a stop. I could hear a bell clanging from the direction of the base, and the sound began to grow in intensity. As I panned my view around I spotted a small truck coming my way, and as it drew nearer I realized it was a Red Cross vehicle, delight to the eye of a wounded Luftwaffe officer! Here is a shot of the truck just as it pulled up:

Good grief! Air raid sirens, Red Cross trucks.... My empty Fokker sat on the ground looking lonely. The pilot graphic was now missing! THIS is "attention to detail."

Some of the factors that really help with immersion is all sounds, like the bell of the truck, DO have a directional component, and if you glance left from the cockpit the sound stays oriented appropriately. The increasing intensity as the truck pulls up is also a factor. I can't recall now if I could hear the motor as it pulled up, but I do think this is also modelled. The second time I crashed near a base instead of landing and my Fokker was on fire. The Red Cross truck pulled up a couple of minutes later and a door opened and an animated figure stepped out and PUT OUT THE FIRE! I know what you are thinking, but this is NOT a joke!

The feel of flight is not unlike Flying Corps. The Spad I flew in two missions wasn't too difficult to stall and once stalled could be dangerous. Planes in Red Baron II will be individually modelled with their own flight characteristics. A Sopwith Camel will have a different center of gravity, roll rate, and lift qualities than a Fokker DR VII. Climbing ability, engine power and other differences will likewise be in place.

Sierra has also included Force feedback support in this release and I will gas up my CH stick in the next day or two to check it out. I'm not certain if all effects are in place but I'll report on the properties as they exist at present.

Mission Editor

The mission editor looks to be another highlight of RBII. Here is a view of the planning screen:

A Zoom shot from the Planner. Click for larger image...

You may edit a single mission, or you can create a new mission from scratch. You can also edit a mission in the campaign! I wasn't certain this would be possible at first, but if you click on View Flight Plan before you fly the mission you can indeed view and edit the waypoints! Not ONLY this, you can edit the other individual flights in your group for both ordnance and waypoints.

The map allows three levels of zoom which is quite adequate, and when you click on EDIT you can alter waypoints, altitude and formation and designate action per each waypoint. You may also choose how the map itself is configured, selecting and de-selecting from twelve options. Here is the list as it appears on the map screen:

Not only can you CREATE your own unique missions, you will be able to SHARE them with other pilots and FLY them with other pilots. I know, this is a real DROOL factor for many of you. Design your own squadron colors, put together some custom missions and challenge another squadron on the Net!

Sierra has released a 3 meg patch for the flight model for Red Baron II. The 'Realistic' flight mode is now the 'Easy' model and the new model is realistic and difficult. Several views have been added. Multiplayer stability is increased and paint schemes are now allowed. Flights no longer circle endlessly above the starting aerodrome and Direct-draw has been enabled again. Tracers may now be seen against dark backgrounds, and time compression turns off when you spot an enemy. 3 meg download.

Download RBII Patch

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