The information sheets contain additional information in the form of checklists that will delight the enthusiast and make the casual flight simmer’s eyes glaze over. For example, the Messerschmitt has a 9-point checklist for cockpit controls, a 7-point pre-takeoff list, and a 17-point list for starting your engine. The engine starting list contains steps like when to turn on the battery switch to a step reminding you to confirm oil pressure rises to at least 4 Kg/cm2 within 30 seconds. In other words, how real you want to operate your WWII fighter is up to you.



The graphical rendering of the five WOPII warbirds is outstanding. You can see rivets in the wings and fuselage and the details of the landing gear hydraulics. While the 2D cockpits amount to little more than a generic strip of old gauges on the bottom-half of the screen, the 3D virtual cockpits are awesome to behold in both their detail as well as overall visual clarity. It makes me wonder how much better these warplanes might look when run under Windows Vista and as an add-on to the soon-to-be released FSX. Shockwave had the foresight to make WOPII FSX compatible.

The majority of cockpit functions in each plane are clickable. Engine sounds and aircraft sound effects were professionally recorded. The whole package was put together superbly. On the downside, I did experience a complete system lock-up, but it only happened once. It should be noted that I have a few terrain programs installed over the default FS9 files, so that could be the explanation.

Beginning with the amazing Firepower add-on for MS Combat Flight Simulator 3, Wings of Power: Heavy Bombers and Jets, a few detailed single WWII aircraft add-ons, and now Wings of Power II: WWII Fighters Special Edition, Shockwave has established itself as the boldest and probably the best developer of payware add-ons for one of PC gaming’s all-time greatest franchises.

If you’re a real enthusiast of MS Flight Simulator 2004, you’ve got to get this one.

Review by Walter Hurdle.