On the positive side, some missions were intensive and needed good tactical management to keep wingmen alive. On the negative, waypoint bugs, collisions (even immediately at mission start), plot continuity errors (returning destroyed ships), and 2D map design all happen. Besides, the last third of the missions simply don't belong here. Let's hope there is will to re-release these missions from the TAC.
A nice scrambling mission, which features survival-based scoring for starfighter-size FGs. This uncommon twist makes it very interesting and demanding precision-wise.
A tactically challenging mission in which you must constantly balance between base defense, dogfighting fighter cover, chasedowns and capship assault. A very nice example of using the superior speed and firepower of the T/A to suppress and scatter opposition.
However, I have a feeling that elite defense performance won't yield you the highest score available meaning you have to deliberately let the enemy succeed to a certain depth, so I give a rating of 4/5.
I actually liked this battle. Most of times giving capships starfighter orders causes collisions, but sometimes it gives unique dynamic to missions. In this case, the latter happened. The last mission was extremely tough to achieve success, but it was really enjoyable watching the protected cruiser going after and hunting down attackers. Using wingmen was key to draw away enemy fire, which is not straightforward and you need to be lucky enough to have good chances to finish successfully. It looks like the last mission is a bit overplayed in terms of difficulty, but it was a great feeling to complete :)
In my opinion, this battle is a true gem in the battle compendium. Great story with nice developments, and those intense canonic Imperial Navy fights... No superfighters, no expensive war material, just standing toe-to-toe with your opponents, with little margin for error, where a timely turn and hitting warheads in time might be the decisive factor.
I especially liked the "transfer" mission, where you are too far to be there at the start of the mission, and all you can do is turn up your engines and run towards your mothership, view from distance as the intense fight unfolds, then roar into the middle and turn the tides to your favor!
Truly excellent piece of work, deserves nothing less than my highest praise and congratulations!
A very good battle with excellent activity level and lots of craft. The storyline is also enjoyable with cool cliffhangers. I really liked the intense battles, especially when four (!) factions were chasing each other... Recommended for must-fly selection.
I liked the dogfighting parts, working with wingmen and keeping them alive is always fun. However, warhead selection was sometimes raising eyebrows. Especially against so many capships.
This mission is would be very enjoyable with some minor tweaks. Sending a flight group of Missile Boats into a heavy assault mission with no heavy warheads would be an immediate retirement for any Imperial strategic officer in the Navy... Instead, T/Ds are making space bomb runs. I would really like to see this mission adjusted.
Easy targets, no pressure, just shoot'em up. However, in Mission 3, I liked when the Challenge arrived and she was picking up inbound flight groups and launching patrols. Nice background activity.
I like the balancing of this battle. Working together and keeping your wingmen alive is instrumental because of the amount of warheads needed. On some occasions very intense on hard level. Good job!
This one is for immediate dogfighting lovers. Very intense and difficult to survive with all those advanced missiles against your T/A. Surely survival of the fittest :)
A four because in the last mission the Scout Craft is 95 clicks away... mission 5: one of the most challenging ever. I liked the feeling "the enemy is getting beaten back!" Though flying a MIS against T/Ds with only my laser left was horrible.
I'll give it a three, because mission 5 is really hard on Hard level. Otherwise the plot was really dumb, but mission 5 is worth trying. I had tried it at least 50 times before I succeeded because of the collision course of FRG Shamu and the VSD.