Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Dogfight: The Great War puts you in the pilot’s seat of a Sopwith Camel as you engage in ten escalating missions across the skies of World War I. Each mission challenges you with varying objectives, from strafing ground positions to protecting reconnaissance balloons, culminating in a nail-biting showdown against a colossal German war Zeppelin. The pacing keeps you on edge, as you must balance aggressive strafing runs with evasive maneuvers to survive the onslaught.

The range of enemies you face keeps gameplay fresh and demanding. Static anti-aircraft guns pepper the ground below, forcing you to weave through bitter flak. Slow but sturdy German bombers lumber overhead, their rear gunners ready to blast away any overzealous Camel pilot. Hostile fighter planes come in two flavors: red-painted Regular Pilots, who go down with a few good bursts, and the more sinister black-and-white Ace Pilots, who laugh off minor taps and require precise shooting to bring down.

Controls are delightfully straightforward, making the game instantly accessible yet deceptively deep. You climb and dive with the Up and Down arrow keys, and squeeze the Space Bar to unleash your twin machine guns. For those looking to share the thrill, a two-player mode lets a friend join the fray—one player on the arrows and Space, the second on W, S, and Left Shift. With no health bar, time limit, or points to worry about and infinite continues at your disposal, you can hone your flying skills without fear of a sudden Game Over.

Graphics

Visually, Dogfight: The Great War embraces a retro aesthetic reminiscent of early arcade flyers, marrying pixel-perfect sprites with rich period detail. The Sopwith Camel cuts a distinctive silhouette against backdrops of rolling clouds, bomb-scarred earth, and fiery explosions. Each level’s palette reflects its setting, shifting from dawn-lit horizons to dusky battlefields, lending each encounter its own unique atmosphere.

Enemy models stand out clearly against the sky, with AA guns appearing as ominous turrets and bombers rendered bulky and vulnerable. The animation during strafing runs—smoke trails, tracer rounds arcing through the air, and flak bursts—feels weighty and visceral. Ace pilots in black and white planes exhibit slightly different flight patterns and smoke plumes, allowing you to identify and prioritize high-value targets on the fly.

Performance remains rock solid, even when two players share the screen. The frame rate stays consistent, ensuring that split-second maneuvers remain responsive. Though the screen isn’t split, both players occupy the same scrolling playfield, which heightens the sense of shared chaos in the dogfight. Occasional screen shake during heavy explosions adds just the right amount of tactile feedback without veering into dizzying territory.

Story

Dogfight: The Great War weaves its narrative through mission objectives and escalating stakes rather than lengthy cut-scenes or dialogue. You start each sortie as a greenhorn Camel pilot tasked with patrol duties and quickly find yourself embroiled in the desperate air war to stem Germany’s bombing campaign. The game’s story unfolds implicitly, through the increasing ferocity of enemy resistance and the looming final confrontation.

As you progress through the ten missions, the sense of purpose grows stronger. You intercept bombers threatening civilian towns, fend off strafing runs over Allied trenches, and escort friendly reconnaissance flights. Every mission feels like the next chapter in a larger war effort, culminating in the audacious gamble of taking on a massive war Zeppelin. This narrative arc, simple though it may be, replicates the tension and heroism of early aerial combat.

Immersion deepens through subtle details: occasional radio chatter hints at Allied command’s concerns, and the battered landscape below reminds you of the stakes. While the game doesn’t bombard you with exposition, its sparse storytelling is effective—every mission’s brief encapsulation primes you for the challenge ahead and keeps you invested in your Camel’s survival.

Overall Experience

Playing Dogfight: The Great War feels like stepping into a classic arcade cabinet—intense, immediate, and endlessly replayable. The infinite continues remove the sting of failure, allowing you to learn enemy patterns and refine your tactics without frustration. Whether you’re looping back to perfect the final Zeppelin mission or casually enjoying a quick two-player skirmish, the game rewards persistence and dogged determination.

Its straightforward controls and clear visual cues make it accessible to newcomers, while the escalating enemy varieties and final boss encounter provide enough depth to satisfy seasoned veterans of shoot-’em-ups. The two-player mode elevates the experience, turning every dogfight into a cooperative ballet of wing-clipping and barrel rolls, perfect for couch co-op sessions with friends.

Though it forgoes modern trappings like achievement tracking, health bars, or elaborate progression systems, what it offers instead is pure aerial combat distilled to its essence. Dogfight: The Great War is a love letter to early aviation games, delivering tense action, memorable boss battles, and a timeless sense of heroism high above the battlefields of the Great War.

Retro Replay Score

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