The Ancient Art of War in the Skies

Evryware

Industry	Video game development
Headquarters	United States
Products	The Ancient Art of War in the Skies

The Ancient Art of War in the Skies is a combat flight simulator released in 1992 by Evryware for MS-DOS. It acts as a follow-up to the titles The Ancient Art of War and The Ancient Art of War at Sea. Versions for the Amiga and Atari ST platforms were made available in 1993.

Gameplay

Set during World War I, the game enables players to pilot British or German planes, engaging both historical and fictional personalities such as Lord Kitchener, Ferdinand Foch, Kaiser Wilhelm II, Helmut von Spike, and even Sun Tzu.

Players experience two distinct modes: a strategic map view for plotting flight paths and mission objectives, and arcade-style segments triggered upon arrival at specific points. These action sequences include side-scrolling dogfights focused on aerial combat and top-down bombing missions aimed at designated targets. Alternatively, players may bypass these arcade portions, allowing the computer to determine results based on statistical calculations.

Reception

In 1993, Dragon magazine awarded the title 3 out of 5 stars, recognizing its mixture of tactical planning and action gameplay. Meanwhile, Computer Gaming World referred to it as "a charming blend" that might not fully satisfy enthusiasts devoted exclusively to flight simulators or wargames, granting it slightly over three stars in their wargame evaluation.

Rob Mead from ST Format commended the game for its user-friendly approach and inventive design, describing it as an engaging substitute for more intricate war simulation titles.

Reviews

• Amiga Games - June 1993
• Computer Gaming World - September 1993
• PC Games (Germany) - January 1993
• PC Player (Germany) - March 1993
• ST Format - September 1993