Nuclear Option

Nuclear Option is a great game with a bit of an image problem - players see the title, Steam page, maybe even a trailer, and get the wrong idea what it actually *is*, passing it up. To help clear that up, here's my simple description: It's a peak arcade flight sim - "sim" in ways that make it challenging and interesting but "arcade" in the ways that make it accessible and fun. It's a bit more sim than Ace Combat (realistic loadouts, more detailed flight and damage model) but far more arcade than ARMA or DCS (starting up is one button). You can 1000% play it on a standard controller, or even KBM. You don't need a pilot's license, a NATOPS qualification, or a Top Gun patch to understand it and have fun. But, if you try to play it like Ace Combat and win the war all by your mute, bloodless self, the R9 Stratolance will teach you the error of your ways. It's still in Early Access, which I have two thoughts on: First and foremost, if you buy now, even at full price, you will get your money's worth. NO is polished, stable, and has enough to learn and do to qualify as a complete game, and a good one, at that. On the other hand, it isn't quite what I would want to see from a full release. The core is rock-solid, but I think the game needs to expand on its higher-level content - maps, missions, progression - and other touches like music, radio chatter, or even a story. The presentation is kind of sterile, almost lifeless. I've had a blast so far, but I could see myself falling off soon just because there isn't enough to get invested in. Mechanics are great, and NO is pretty good with orthogonal design - the planes and weapons aren't copy-pasted with different stats, but behave in completely different ways with unique strengths and weaknesses. For example, there are 4 missile types: RF are affected by jamming and stealth and require notching and jamming to defeat, IR are jam-immune and defeated by throttling back and flares, Optical can't be defeated but can easily be out-maneuvered, and ARAD home on jam but can be defeated by simply turning off your radar. The result is that you have interesting decisions to make when you pick your plane, loadout, or targets, and shoot or get shot at. No two sorties will be exactly the same. Mechanically my biggest complaint is that logistics doesn't seem to be worth the risk and expense. It's super cool in theory, but you're so slow and vulnerable that there's hardly a point in trying until you've already basically won. On top of that, the transportable units aren't that strong, so you end up spending multiple sorties getting a small AA site set up, only for a lone Cricket to wipe it out in a single pass. The most effective method is to start up, drop off your units at your own airfield, shut down, and pick another plane, and that's no fun. My second biggest gripe is that target selection and sorting is a headache. There's no official mod support, but the workshop provides tons of extra liveries and missions, and there's an active modding community making quality content that you can install with one click via an external mod manager. As long as your modlists match, you can play multiplayer with whatever mods you like. Overall, game good. It's a unique challenge, and fun solo or with friends. There's room for improvement, but it's already worth playing now and I expect it will only get better.

its good you can mke things gp big boom

Amazing game. Just tried out some mods for the first time and they're awesome too. Not too arcady, not too hard either. It's a perfect balance and a bunch of fun.

banger game, banger ost, good style, good damage models, good weapons, awesome game modes. that being said, mrrp meow meow meow meow meow purr

Peak Option.

Football, but nuclear