A perfectly fun blend of arcade flight with JUST a hint of sim DNA. That unique blend made it feel really good to break up an enemy formation of bombers or tangle with fighters. It was as easy to get lost in the fantasy of the fighter as it was to put on your favorite pair of jeans. Heroes of the Pacific hit a joyful mixture of styles that kept you in the action without bogging you down in too much simulation or repulsed by too much arcade. I'm normally a little more into the sim side, but this was just a perfect balance that still rings bells of joy in my memory.
As I recall, after unlocking planes in missions, you'd be able to re-run early period missions with late period fighters, in a great "what if" situation... What if a Thunderbolt or Mustang had been available and airborne at Pearl Harbor?
I still have the discs, but they don't help much these days... GOG would be a perfect home for preservation!