Carrier Aces , a 3rd person flight simulator set during World War II, is played from two perspectives - both players control their own aircraft, or one controls the ship's turret while the other controls the aircraft. Players choose to represent either the United States or Japanese Empire, and engage in various missions including dogfights, strafing runs, dive bombings, and torpedo runs on enemy ships.
Gameplay involves controlling an aircraft pilot aboard a carrier, with options to decide which plane to bring into battle based on statistics. When two forces clash on the area map, players choose their plane for a 1vs1 dogfight. Aircraft controls are varied, allowing tilt, climb, dive, speed adjustments, gun fire, bomb/torpedo release, and loop maneuvers. Turret controls are more limited, enabling aiming left and right, firing, and zooming.