My review of the "The Gamblers" Campaign: Rain, Chaos, and the Legacy of the 77th Fighter Squadron

[wiewla]

Review of the "The Gamblers" Campaign: Rain, Chaos, and the Legacy of the 77th Fighter Squadron

In the campaign The Gamblers, created by Baltic Dragon in collaboration with John "Rain" Waters — a pilot from the Viper Demo Team and former member of the 77th Fighter Squadron "The Gamblers" — we take on the role of a fictional lieutenant with the callsign Chaos. Alongside our unit, we begin a deployment in Syria as part of the international operation “Inherent Resolve”, launched in 2014.

Throughout the campaign, we participate in 13 missions, many of which are inspired by real events experienced by Rain and his fellow squadron members. We have the opportunity to take part in the 2017 Battle of Raqqa and other remarkable operations, such as the integrated attack on Shyriat Air Base conducted by U.S. carriers and air forces.

Gameplay and Mission Design

The campaign includes a variety of scenarios divided into two main phases. The first consists of missions set in 2014, based on Rain Waters' personal experiences, while the second features historically grounded events from two years later, supported by in-depth research. Despite the diversity of missions, a certain repetitiveness of patterns becomes noticeable. The tasks are designed with great realism and military logic — undeniably a strong point of the campaign — but this same realism can, paradoxically, sometimes lead to a sense of monotony.

It's easy to imagine that military operations are also governed by strict procedures and patterns. That’s precisely what’s reflected here with high fidelity. We act in a predictable, controlled environment — much like a well-planned combat mission, whose goal is to accomplish the objective without unnecessary risk. The campaign avoids the kind of dramatic flair typical in action games. There are no random threats or edge-of-chaos situations. Instead, we get logically connected segments where every action has a clearly defined purpose and its own consequences. It’s a structure designed for smooth learning and tactical adaptation. It accurately mirrors an environment where predictability and discipline are key to success.

For this reason, I also recommend The Gamblers to players who are just starting their journey with the F-16C in DCS. While the campaign requires an understanding of several advanced aircraft systems and weaponry, it does not place the player under constant pressure. It doesn’t demand perfection or split-second reactions. Nor does it punish mistakes unnecessarily. It’s a calm, well-guided experience — more a test of discipline and tactical awareness than of nerves. Instead of sudden strikes and chaos, the campaign flows like tactical rain — steady, deliberate, each radio call a reminder that decisions made in the air carry more weight than they might seem.

A unique feature of the campaign is the presence of decision-making mechanics. This allows certain parts of the scenario to be played in multiple ways, leading to different outcomes. These choices are not merely cosmetic — they have an impact on mission progression. At times, we can even take the initiative, reporting what we observe in the area of operations, which then affects the decisions made by the mission leader or command.

Narrative and Characters

Characters and voice actors play a remarkable and distinctive role in this campaign. Dialogues are well-written, and because we’re not always flying as the flight lead, we get a real sense of being part of a living, dynamic team. The conversations feel natural, credible, and free of artificiality. They're complemented by ambient communication — radio chatter and unrelated unit conversations — that reinforce the impression that we are part of a much larger operation. This greatly enhances the credibility and the sense of scale of the conflict.

It’s also the first campaign I've encountered where we fly as a wingman. I have to admit, it’s something I’ve long wanted to experience. It allows you to improve your formation flying skills in a realistic, narrative context rather than simply following a scripted aircraft in training missions. The campaign, through the naturalness of its interactions and rich ambient detail, effectively recreates the operational environment of fighter pilots.

Realism and Atmosphere

The missions are designed with attention to conveying the true nature of combat operations. Often, we circle over the target area for extended periods, observing the unfolding events on the ground. These aren’t artificially created sequences — they are logical elements of the scenario that reinforce the illusion of being part of a real mission. Such moments build tension and evoke a sense of responsibility — when looking through the targeting pod or glancing past the canopy, you feel like you have the situation in your hands, that a single trigger pull could change the course of events.

There are also moments of helplessness, when intervention is impossible and we are left only to observe — the emotional impact of these sequences can be strong. This is not only a powerful narrative device but also a reflection of real operational frustration, where not every situation ends in a successful intervention.

Technical Layer

From a technical standpoint, the campaign runs smoothly and follows best practices, with only rare and minor bugs — mostly due to the game engine itself. What really sets The Gamblers apart is the audio layer. It's one of the highest-quality productions I've encountered in this genre. Radio communication builds an excellent atmosphere. Especially noteworthy is the innovative decision-making menu, controllable via HOTAS. This seemingly small feature greatly improves the fluidity of gameplay and the sense of control over the situation.

The campaign also introduces a new feature in the form of debriefings — summaries available immediately after each mission. This reflects military procedures, where analyzing actions and discussing mistakes are key elements of every operation. Debriefings allow you to review your engagement, assess the soundness of your decisions, and draw valuable conclusions, which deepens the realism and gives the virtual pilot a strong sense of responsibility for the task.

An additional convenience is a note in the briefing with the estimated mission duration. It’s a small but practical innovation. A good expansion would be to add a list of systems used in the mission to make preparation easier without having to interrupt gameplay.

Impression and Final Verdict

The Gamblers campaign undoubtedly meets — and even exceeds — my expectations. I’ll certainly return to the missions that left a lasting impression. I strongly recommend it to players seeking deep storytelling, realism, and history. It’s also a solid choice for newcomers who prefer a slower pace but want to immerse themselves in a credible military environment.

While the structure of missions may feel somewhat repetitive at times, this stems more from a commitment to operational realism than design limitations. Despite its many strengths, the campaign is not without elements that may not appeal to everyone. Players seeking fast-paced action and unexpected twists might find the lack of sudden changes or dynamic threats underwhelming. Although the mission structure reflects real-world planning, it can occasionally feel too predictable, which may affect pacing over time. Nevertheless, each mission carries a distinct character and tells a different story based on historical events. Excellent narrative and the emotional weight of the tasks help to offset this impression. It is also important to note that the gameplay is entirely devoid of air-to-air combat, which is again historically accurate, but may be significant for players who are looking for that type of engagement.

The Gamblers leaves more than just memories of well-executed missions — it gives the feeling of being part of something larger than yourself. A story of people who flew before we ever sat in a virtual cockpit. Yet the campaign doesn’t tell this story outright — it leads us through it by way of conversations, decisions, and tension, and sometimes the silence in the cockpit, which lingers in the air like heavy, dense rain before a storm. When the ordered reality of air operations meets the unpredictability of the situation on the ground, a space emerges where chaos is no longer a mistake, but part of the rhythm. And it is there — between order and uncertainty — that legacy is born. A legacy that this campaign delivers to the pilots of the 77th Fighter Squadron "The Gamblers" with care and respect.

Edited April 20 by wiewla