Developer Sector D2’s Project Wingman is a flight simulator that puts players in the cockpit of various fighter planes in an alternate earth over 400 years after a cataclysmic event. Published by Sector D2 and Humble Games, the title is heavily influenced by Bandai Namco’s Ace Combat franchise, featuring almost identical combat mechanics, familiar graphics, and similar mission objectives.

Project Wingman provides players with the opportunity to fly various fighters inspired by real-world aircraft. Each plane belongs to one of three primary archetypes: Fighter, Interceptor, and Strike. Fighters are balanced aircraft, able to engage targets on the ground and in the air; Interceptors excel at air-to-air combat, fending off enemy aircraft; and Strike planes are most suited for air-to-ground warfare. However, each archetype can hold its own in all situations, which is a boon but also doesn't offer much incentive to try other planes after a favorite has been found.

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Preparing for a mission involves players selecting their preferred plane, its special weapon(s), and paint job. Smaller fighters can only equip one or two special weapons, while larger ones can equip up to three. While the concept is straightforward, actually equipping special weapons is a bit awkward, as it is tough to determine what is equipped and what is not at first glance. However, after a few sorties, the process becomes a bit clearer - the game prompts pilots to apply each special weapon in its own substage of the flight preparation process.

Project Wingman - Passive Flight

Once preparations are complete, players launch the next mission, where the objectives vary between destroying enemy fighters, annihilating ground forces and bases, and protecting allied NPCs. The game even features objectives where the goal is to outrun enemy fighters that are too strong for players at the time of engagement and must be fought in a later mission when gamers have a better arsenal. While fun, there is nothing innovative about Project Wingman’s mission structure, and as it stands, each archetype being well-rounded makes Project Wingman’s missions a little too easy.

Playing with a mouse and keyboard is doable, but like any flight simulator, using something with a joystick (controller or HOTAS) makes life much easier. The control scheme with a controller is like that of Ace Combat, though the default scheme varies in that the triggers function as the horizontal turn mechanism and the bumpers activate thrusters. Project Wingman also features an ammo limit on each plane’s machine gun, unlike Ace Combat's unlimited machine gun ammo.

Project Wingman - Ground Assault

Other than the mild difference in control scheme, Project Wingman’s flying feels like a replica of Ace Combat, for good and for ill. Planes can turn at 90-degree angles, with deceleration being the key to sharper turns. Flying through clouds causes the screen to shake, simulating turbulence and making target acquisition a little more difficult, though not too hard. Plane handling is generally smooth, with players able to notice a difference in turn and roll rates based on the archetype they’re piloting. This does a decent job of delivering some semblance of a difference between the archetypes, but it is hardly enough to make each feel unique outside of appearances.

Graphically, Project Wingman sports wonderful colors and crisp geographical details. Buildings and other ground elements appear as ants to indicate gameplay being at a high altitude, like how the rest of the world feels when taking a trip via airline. Aircraft, navy vessels, and land vehicles explode in a spectacular display of fire, smoke, and debris when playing chicken with a missile. All of these touches make for a spectacle that's compelling without feeling excessive, and the result is gorgeous. Project Wingman's audio, on the other hand, is quiet. Very quiet. It can be tough to have acoustics register, which can vary from unnoticeable to frustrating when it could've been a cue to take a certain action.

Project Wingman - Direct Hit Explosion

Project Wingman takes place in an alternate timeline, with players taking on the role of a mercenary pilot who harbors no real loyalty to either side of the conflict outside of who is paying them. The story takes place centuries after a cataclysmic event that shook the planet, but still features two primary factions at war with one another. It's a fairly common story all told, but it's executed well enough it never hinders the game in any way.

Project Wingman is a decent attempt from Sector D2 and Humble Games to compete with the Ace Combat franchise. With impressive graphics and relatively smooth gameplay, Project Wingman gives air combat fans something much more fun than frustrating. However, lack of innovation, quiet audio and a somewhat wonky UI means it's a game that will likely only be enjoyed by those who already consider themselves fans of the genre.

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Project Wingman releases for PC on December 1, 2020. Screen Rant was provided with a digital PC code for the purpose of this review.