The more I fly WW2OL, the more I appreciate it's strengths over AH2. The fact that you're only fighting aircraft from the same time frame(109E's vs. Hurri I's & Spit I's, etc) gives it a realistic flavor that only the AH special events can duplicate.
The sensation of speed is much, much better than AH2, especially when at low at....probably because the terrain and foliage is so much more realistic than AH2.
I absolutely love the DM of WW2OL. When your engine gets hit, it can slowly or quickly deteriorate and start knocking and overheating before it actually gives up the ghost.
Likewise, when you as the pilot gets hit, it can affect you in multiple ways. Sometimes you get hit in the arms or legs, and you lose the ability to push on the rudder bars, or move the stick completely. Or, you may be blinded temporarily.
The visual damage cues when you hit a plane as the shooter, is really cool. Pieces fly off, wings snap off, engines and fuel tanks explode.....it has AH2 beat in the "cool" factor by a mile.
The limited availability of aircraft is a good thing, because it makes you think twice about how much risk you want to take blindly taking on those four 109's in your Hurricane. Sometime, discretion is the better part of valor.
The lack of a direct six view in a correct way to do the six view. You can and will be bounced from behind if you're not very careful about your SA. But, that can work to your advantage when you're out hunting.
The FM is not perfect, however. Just as in AH2, the bombers are able to do manuevers that are questionable at best. I saw an HE-111(which doesn't even exist in AH yet!) last night escape attack by going into a vertical dive and diving to the deck while a Bf-110 covered his escape.
On the whole, however, the air combat has AH2 beat in terms of realism and historical fun. It may not have the "furball" fun of AH, but it is not trying to provide that.
