Over The Reich

Avalon Hill, most noted for publishing board game conversions in the late eighties and nineties, released Over the Reich in the middle nineties. Unlike most of Avalon Hill’s work, Over the Reich was programmed by Big Time Software, Incorporated and is actually a hybrid of flight simulation and a turn based strategy game. It is portrayed in the top down perspective and recreates several interesting battles from the Second World War.
In Over the Reich, the user has the option of choosing to play as the German Luftwaffe, the United States Air Force, or England’s Royal Air Force.

The pilot can choose between a single mission or campaign mode, which is similar to career modes in other games. There are several difficulty settings from which to choose, and the realism of flying an actual jet fighter improves with the difficulty setting. At the harder levels, the user will have to utilize banking techniques, stalls, monitor altitude and speed, and so forth. All of the flight simulation, however, is performed in a real time strategy environment.
Over the Reich basically boils down to a strategy game of wits and tactics in the clouds. With the real time limitations, reflexes and twitches are not nearly as important as approach, manoeuvring, and counter manoeuvring. The computer’s AI is extremely competent, made bearable only by the customizable difficulty setting. The missions are varied and can involve anything from flying as an escort for a larger and less manoeuvrable bomber plane flying over targets in Berlin to fighting raids in the north of France.
The enemies in Over the Reich are as good as the actual playable characters (in the form of various fighter jets). The user can encounter Focke-Wulf 190s, P 51s, and ME262s. All of the planes are specifically correct with accurate ordinances and beautiful renderings. This adds to the realism of the game and provides some degree of interest and depth for the hardcore war gamer.
Overall, Over the Reich is not the most exciting game on the market. It actually could be considered dull by gamers seeking a true flight simulation with action and reflexes. Strategists, however, will absolutely love this game and will spend hours trying to determine the best approach for each attack, the appropriate response to each enemy move, and the tactics needed to outmanoeuvre the enemy and get into position to bring them down. If this type of play is for you, download Over the Reich immediately. If real time action is more your style, look elsewhere.