Info about Project Wingman:

Official game description:
Project Wingman is a combat flight action game with an emphasis on polished and refined gameplay, true-to-its-roots inspirations, and an engaging single player experience. Perfect for those who aren't looking for a simulator experience, with the ease of pick up and play, all the way to those who want a fast-paced challenging flight action game.  
Dogfight, strike, and fly through combat zones based off an alternate history of Earth. Either over the cold waters of the Bering Strait, attacking tanks in the brutal environments of Yellowstone magma fields, or diving through the Redwoods to strike targets of opportunity in the Pacific Northwest, across the oceans, above the scarred lands of the world, this war will take you from exotic battlefield to exotic battlefield, all while going up against odds way above your pay grade.  
**Pure Combat Flight Action**  
Exotic weaponries such as railguns and geothermal-powered armaments will be ready to pluck you out of the sky if you're careless. Whether you are an attack aircraft pilot, skimming the ground with a gatling gun and rocket launchers attached to your wing, or an interceptor with long range, almost sniper-like missiles at your disposal, it will be up to you to prove yourself as an Ace pilot.  
**Conquest Mode**  
In Conquest Mode, fight in an uphill battle against various bosses and ace squadrons in a territory capture game, drawing elements from roguelikes and RPGs. Players will have to earn enough money to not only purchase new aircraft, but build a mercenary army of their own in order to take on waves of increasingly difficult opposition as they struggle to take on a myriad of changing missions.  
**Virtual Reality**  
Virtual Reality headsets will work in-game to put the player in the cockpit of aerial warfare, immersing themselves in head-swiveling combat. Combine this with full compatibility with HOTAS peripherals and custom axis curves, and you will be able to experience the game however you want, using any DirectInput supported peripheral you like.
**Key Features:**
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*   Fly in varied and exciting scenarios and locations unlike you've ever seen before  
*   Engaging single player campaign  
*   Over 20 different aircraft and over 40 unique weapons at your disposal  
*   Fight different kinds of adversaries such as giant mechanized fortresses and railgun cannons  
*   Test your skills in Conquest mode and fight against hordes of adversaries  
*   Want a different Conquest experience? - Adjust it with modifiers to your liking  
*   Beautiful 3D Volumetric clouds rendered with TrueSKY  
*   Fully rebindable controls and HOTAS compatibility with DirectInput support  
*   VR Support

Release date: Dec 1, 2020

Categories: Combat Flight Simulation, Arcade-style Gameplay, Story-driven Gameplay, VR Support, Controller Support, Roguelike, Conquest Mode, Aircraft Customization

Feature scans:
- MTX: score 60; verdict: Aggressive; summary: The game has received praise for its detailed story and gameplay. However, there are significant concerns about the pricing and value of the DLC and season passes, which are seen as overpriced and essential for the full experience. Additionally, there are indications of manufactured difficulty, which may push players towards additional purchases.
- Steam Deck: score 55; verdict: Tinkering Required; summary: The analysis of user feedback reveals several key issues with the game on the Steam Deck. Controller support and VR compatibility are major pain points, with users reporting poor menu navigation and performance drops. Graphics and performance are generally acceptable with compromised settings, but there are notable bugs and crashes that affect the user experience. Despite these issues, the game runs well on Linux, which is a positive aspect.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $20.00 - $25.00
  - Reasoning: The evidence shows that users consistently mention the game is worth its price, often comparing it favorably to Ace Combat 7. Many reviews highlight that the game is worth buying at full price and even more so when on sale. The frequent mentions of the game being a 'steal' at $25 and worth every cent indicate a strong sentiment that the fair price range is around this value.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 25.0h
  - Story completion: 13.0h
  - Session length: 0.5h
  - Endgame: 10.0h
  - Reasoning: The evidence provided includes several quotes that give insights into the playtime metrics. The first quote directly mentions the campaign length, suggesting a typical story completion time of 11-15 hours. The second quote discusses the complexity and depth of gameplay mechanics, implying that game completion might take longer due to the need to understand and utilize various weapon options effectively. The third quote highlights the difficulty settings and the need for repeated playthroughs to master the game, indicating a high replay value and potentially longer endgame content. The fourth quote mentions the length of individual missions and the frustration of restarting them, suggesting that session lengths can be substantial, often around 30 minutes or more.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game has a steep initial learning curve and control setup issues, but once these are overcome, players find it engaging and enjoyable.
  - Stance: Fun after initial hurdles
  - Anchor: Understanding the basics and completing the initial setup
  - Time to anchor: 1h 0m
  - Friction: Lack of a proper tutorial; Control setup issues; Tedious initial setup process
  - Unlock drivers: Understanding the basics; Completing the initial setup
  - Conditions: Proper control configuration; Patience to overcome the learning curve
- Player Archetypes:
  - Completionist Veteran (buy)
    - Motivation: Mastery and completion of all game content.
    - Playstyle: Grinding and replaying missions to unlock all aircraft and achieve high difficulty completions.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: veteran; completionist
    - Reference games: Ace Combat
  - Story-Driven Casual (sale)
    - Motivation: Enjoyment of the game's story and casual gameplay.
    - Playstyle: Playing for fun and story, avoiding high difficulty settings and complex mechanics.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: casual player; story-driven
    - Reference games: Ace Combat
  - Audio Enthusiast (sale)
    - Motivation: Immersive audio experience.
    - Playstyle: Playing to enjoy the game's soundtrack and audio effects.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: audio enthusiast; music lover
    - Reference games: N/A


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Fun gameplay experience (weight 0.42): The game is frequently described as fun, with enjoyable gameplay mechanics, addictive qualities, and high replay value.
- True to Ace Combat style (weight 0.38): The game captures the essence and style of the Ace Combat series, making it a recommended choice for fans of the franchise.
- Superior to Ace Combat (weight 0.38): Players consistently note that the game offers a more immersive, polished, and enjoyable experience compared to Ace Combat 7, with better gameplay, setting, plot, and graphics.
- Engaging storyline (weight 0.31): The game features an amazing and captivating storyline that is fun, emotional, and well thought out, adding depth to the gameplay experience.
- Best arcade flight sim (weight 0.31): The game is considered one of the best in the genre of arcade flight simulators, offering high-energy, arcade-style flight gameplay.
- Variety in weapons and aircraft (weight 0.26): The game offers a wide range of weapons, aircraft, and equipment, providing players with diverse choices and enhancing the gameplay experience.
- Stunning visuals (weight 0.24): The game is visually stunning with gorgeous graphics, beautiful visuals, and a unique color palette that enhances the overall experience.
- High-quality voice acting (weight 0.21): The game is praised for its excellent voice acting, which includes memorable moments and diverse performances that enhance the overall experience.
- Outstanding music (weight 0.2): The game's soundtrack is frequently highlighted as fantastic, phenomenal, and top-notch, contributing significantly to the overall atmosphere.
- Diverse and interesting missions (weight 0.19): The game offers a variety of missions with great variation, making each mission intense, memorable, and enjoyable.
- Unique boss fights (weight 0.13): The game includes unique and challenging boss fights that are impressive and add to the overall excitement.
- Unique gameplay features (weight 0.12): The game offers unique gameplay features and mechanics that provide a thrilling and distinct experience.
- Enjoyable as Ace Combat 7 (weight 0.12): The game is enjoyable and comparable to Ace Combat 7 in many respects, making it a preferable choice for some players.

Common complaints:
- Comparison to Ace Combat 7 (weight 0.26): Many players feel that the game falls short in comparison to Ace Combat 7, particularly in terms of graphics, music, story, and overall polish. The aircraft selection is also considered sparse.
- No mid-mission checkpoints (weight 0.18): Players are frustrated by the lack of mid-mission checkpoints, which makes retries time-consuming and can lead to frustration during difficult missions.
- Graphics quality issues (weight 0.18): The graphics are frequently criticized for being average or below expectations, with some players noting that they could be better or are not as good as in other similar games.
- Limited aircraft options (weight 0.13): Players feel that there are few aircraft options available, limiting the variety and choice in gameplay.
- Poor targeting system (weight 0.12): The targeting system is often criticized for being poor and difficult to use, with players experiencing issues in selecting the correct targets.
- Language settings bug (weight 0.11): There is a recurring bug where the language settings reset to English every time the game is launched, causing inconvenience for non-English speaking players.
- Broken achievements (weight 0.11): Some achievements are reported as broken or not unlocking, which can be frustrating for players trying to complete all achievements.
- Limited VR support (weight 0.11): VR support is limited and often criticized for lacking actual VR controls and specific options, making the VR experience less immersive.
- Lack of tutorial (weight 0.11): The absence of a tutorial is noted as a significant issue, making it difficult for new players to get started and understand the game mechanics.
- Clunky controls (weight 0.09): Controls are frequently described as clunky, messy, or janky, which can negatively impact the gameplay experience.
- Low maneuverability (weight 0.09): Players note that the maneuverability of aircraft is low, and there is a lack of useful planes and realistic maneuvers.
- Difficult missions (weight 0.09): Some missions are considered difficult and frustrating, with a lot of enemies, which can be challenging for players.
- Various bugs (weight 0.09): The game is reported to have quite a few bugs, ranging from minor to significant, affecting the overall experience.
- Subtitle issues (weight 0.08): Subtitles are criticized for being poorly formatted, overlapping, and not indicating who is speaking, which can be confusing for players.
- Translation issues (weight 0.07): There are issues with translations, including unfriendly and poor-quality translations, which can affect the understanding and enjoyment of the game.
- Monotonous gameplay (weight 0.07): The gameplay is described as fairly monotonous, predictable, and repetitive, which can lead to a lack of engagement.
- Limited two-seater aircraft (weight 0.06): Players express a desire for more two-seater aircraft, as many later aircraft are single-seat, limiting the presence of certain characters.
- Monotonous grinding (weight 0.06): The progression system is criticized for being grindy and tedious, requiring a lot of repetitive tasks.
- No licensed aircraft (weight 0.06): The game lacks official aircraft licenses, with all aircraft being fictional, which may disappoint some players.

Gameplay feedback:
- Arcade-style flight combat (weight 0.39): The game features arcade-style flight mechanics and combat, blending simplistic controls with engaging aerial dogfights. It includes elements of flight simulation and supports VR and flight stick controls.
- Similar to Ace Combat (weight 0.32): The gameplay and style are frequently compared to the Ace Combat series, with many players seeing it as a spiritual successor or inspired by Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War.
- Intuitive and customizable controls (weight 0.21): The game offers straightforward and intuitive controls that are easy to learn. Players appreciate the ability to rebind and customize controls to their preference.
- Challenging difficulty levels (weight 0.19): The game offers a range of difficulty settings, including an ultrahard mode that challenges even experienced players in the genre.
- VR and controller support (weight 0.18): The game supports VR, providing an immersive cockpit view experience, although VR support is noted to be limited. It also supports various controllers, including joysticks.
- Diverse mission structure (weight 0.15): The mission system includes briefings, specific objectives, and varied environments, offering a range of challenges and scenarios.
- Story-driven campaign (weight 0.13): The game features a story-driven campaign with a cinematic feel, focusing on mission-based gameplay with quality storytelling and character development.
- Focus on aerial combat (weight 0.13): The game emphasizes large-scale air combat, including air-to-ground combat, providing an exciting and focused aerial combat experience.
- Variety in aircraft and weapons (weight 0.12): Players can choose from a variety of aircraft and equipment, with a better weapons system that adds depth to the combat experience.
- No checkpoint system (weight 0.1): The game lacks a checkpoint system in story mode, which can be a point of frustration for some players.
- High-quality graphics and sound (weight 0.09): The game boasts great graphics and excellent sound effects, enhancing the overall visual and auditory experience.
- Rogue-like mode (weight 0.09): A rogue-like mode with perma-death is available, offering additional replayability and gameplay variety.
- Unique world and lore (weight 0.09): The game features a unique setting with intense action, rich worldbuilding, and lore that enhances the overall narrative.
- Advanced maneuvers (weight 0.08): The game features tight turns and insane air maneuvers, allowing for dynamic and exciting aerial combat.
- Two-seater planes (weight 0.08): Includes double-seated planes with unique characters, adding a layer of strategy and teamwork to the gameplay.

Performance notes:
- Good performance on various hardware (weight 0.2): Many players report that the game runs well on different types of hardware, including low-end machines and Linux systems. Some mention stable 60 FPS and decent PC requirements.
- VR performance problems (weight 0.18): Multiple users have highlighted issues related to VR performance, including control issues, framerate drops, and general performance problems. VR mode is noted to require more resources and may not work well on all devices.
- Frame rate inconsistencies (weight 0.16): There are reports of frame rate drops and choppy performance in specific areas or situations, such as during the final boss fight or on maps with clouds.
- Mixed optimization feedback (weight 0.13): Players have reported varying experiences with the game's optimization. Some mention efficient optimization, while others point out specific issues with clouds and overall performance.
- Mixed graphics feedback (weight 0.12): Opinions on graphics quality vary widely. Some players find the graphics gorgeous, while others note that they aren't as good or reflect the game's indie status.
- Stability and crashing issues (weight 0.11): Several reports mention game freezes, crashing issues, and FPS drops. Some players also experience black screens and menu interface crashes.
- Minor and miscellaneous issues (weight 0.1): There are reports of minor bugs, cursor visibility issues, and screen artifacts. Some players also mention performance issues on lower-end devices and the need for specific settings to achieve stable FPS.
- Specific visual and performance bugs (weight 0.09): Players have noted various specific bugs, including disappearing aircraft in textures, issues with ground textures, and problems with explosions and fire effects. Some mention the need to adjust settings for better performance.
- High hardware demands for VR (weight 0.07): VR mode is noted to be demanding and may require a beefy PC for a smooth experience. Some players mention the need to turn on specific settings like spacewarp.

Recommendations:
- Highly recommended for Ace Combat fans (weight 0.3): This game is frequently recommended as a must-play for fans of the Ace Combat series. It is often considered a better and cheaper alternative to Ace Combat 7, offering a similar arcade-style flight combat experience.
- Positive general recommendations (weight 0.29): The game is highly recommended for a wide audience, including fans of the genre and those looking for a fun experience. It is praised for its reasonable price and enjoyable gameplay.
- Recommended for flight sim beginners (weight 0.15): The game is suggested for those new to aerial combat games, providing an accessible entry point for beginners. It is also recommended for fans of arcade flight combat and aviation enthusiasts.
- Recommended DLCs (weight 0.1): Several clusters recommend getting the Frontline-59 story DLC for an enhanced experience. However, some reviews suggest that the base game is sufficient and the DLC may not be necessary.
- Mods and settings recommendations (weight 0.08): Some reviews recommend installing specific mods, such as the WSO Everywhere mod, and adjusting interface settings for a better gaming experience.
- Suggestions for future improvements (weight 0.08): Players have suggested various improvements, including more variety in conquest missions, additional two-seat variants, and a co-op mode for campaign and/or conquest.
- Suggestions for specific player types (weight 0.07): The game is recommended for those who want to feel like a badass, enjoy pulling Gs, and carrying many missiles. It is also suggested for fans of aerial games with a stylish atmosphere.
- Future game development (weight 0.06): Players express a desire for more games like this to be made and suggest a sequel to continue the story, indicating a strong interest in future developments.
- Story and gameplay focus (weight 0.05): A review suggests that the game is more enjoyable if the focus is on flight shooting rather than the story. It also mentions that the game is reasonably priced and fun.
- Language accessibility (weight 0.02): Some reviews mention that the game might be more accessible to those fluent in English, indicating potential language barriers for non-English speakers.

Other player notes:
- Mod installation guidance needed (weight 0.03): Players are requesting clearer instructions on how to install mods for the game.
- Chinese patch suggestion (weight 0.03): Some players suggest finding and applying a Chinese patch before starting the game.
- Key binding recommendations (weight 0.03): There are recommendations to swap the translation and speed keys for better gameplay experience.
- Steam Deck compatibility (weight 0.03): Mentions of the game being played or compatible with Steam Deck.

Emotions:
- Excitement (weight 0.23): Players are thrilled by the game's immersive VR experience, superior gameplay mechanics compared to Ace Combat 7, and unique features like explosive combat, engaging storylines, and a memorable soundtrack. The anticipation for using VR and HOTAS setups, along with the game's fun and challenging missions, adds to the excitement.
- Frustration (weight 0.19): Players are frustrated by various gameplay issues, including bugs, lack of checkpoints, and difficult mission designs. Control issues, performance problems, and unresolved bugs, such as achievement glitches and translation errors, contribute to the frustration.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.17): Players enjoy the overall fun and engaging gameplay experience, highlighted by dynamic combat, beautiful visuals, and a memorable soundtrack. The game's interesting story, memorable characters, and enjoyable mechanics contribute to a positive experience.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.12): Players are satisfied with the game's balance between simulation and arcade styles, unique flight mechanics, and enjoyable gameplay features. The sense of progression, replayability, and the game's value for money add to the overall satisfaction.
- Joy (weight 0.08): Players find joy in the game's enjoyable gameplay, relaxing experience, and emotional connection to the story and soundtrack. The game's positive VR experience, engaging missions, and suitable difficulty levels contribute to the joy.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.05): Players feel nostalgic as the game captures the essence of classic Ace Combat titles, reminding them of childhood experiences and older games in the series. The references to classic Ace Combat elements and the familiar gameplay mechanics evoke a sense of nostalgia.
- Disappointment (weight 0.04): Players express disappointment due to issues such as limited VR support, control problems, and lack of co-op mode. Shallow and repetitive gameplay, as well as performance issues, contribute to the overall disappointment.
- Excited (weight 0.04): Players are excited about the game's unique gameplay dynamics, beautiful visuals, and engaging lore. The anticipation for future DLC packs and the enjoyment of the game's features and high replay value add to the excitement.
- Admiration (weight 0.04): Players admire the game's development effort, exceptional flight models, and the passion for Ace Combat-style gameplay. The game's ability to rival multi-million dollar games and its impressive visuals and story are highly admired.
- Positive (weight 0.02): Players have a positive experience with the game's story, design, and character development. The enjoyment of the gameplay, controls, and overall mechanics contribute to the positive sentiment.
- Appreciation (weight 0.02): Players appreciate the game's voice acting, soundtrack, and the effort inspired by Ace Combat. The impressive work by a small team and the unique world and story created for the campaign are highly appreciated.
- Surprise (weight 0.01): Players are surprised by the quality of the sim mechanics and the depth of the military story campaign. The game's ability to outshine Ace Combat and the impressive final battle contribute to the surprise.
- Anticipation (weight 0.01): Players are looking forward to future DLC and new releases, eagerly anticipating more content and sequels. The desire for new aircraft additions and continued development adds to the anticipation.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.01): Players are enthusiastic about the game's positive comparison to ACE Combat and praise for the OST. The enjoyment of gameplay mechanics, controls, and the immersive VR experience contribute to the enthusiasm.
- Awe (weight 0.01): Players are in awe of the game's visual effects, graphics, and the strong emotional response to the story and gameplay. The game's ability to leave players with their jaws on the floor contributes to the sense of awe.
- Impressed (weight 0.01): Players are impressed by the game's ability to punch above its weight, produced by a small team of fans. The smooth story and high-quality production values contribute to the impression.
- Curiosity (weight 0.01): Players are curious about the game's post-game content and the character Prez. The campaign's length and the suspense of 'what's gonna happen next' maintain the curiosity.
- Amazement (weight 0.01): Players are amazed at how a small team of fans managed to create a game on par with current Ace Combat games. The high quality and impressive features of the game contribute to the amazement.}