God...I remember a younger me, discovering for the first time that you could actually fly planes. I've been flying jets, helicopters, and (recently) planes in BF1 ever since.
I also loved flying in BF1942, I was an absolute beast in a Japanese Zero, could land on a moving jeep if I wanted to. I often "mowed the grass": flew down the US airfield a few feet off the ground taking out all the pilots running for their planes without firing a shot. When on the US team I would fly out and bombard the carrier with a Corsair bomber, then take off in their only Zero as it sank, mwuahahaha, game over! And you could also drive the aircraft carriers, and destroyers, submarines, etc... BF1942 was such a huge jump for MP gaming, but every version since has lost that original feel, and it is so sad. Before that is was all high paced shooter stuff, Quake, Doom, Halflife, etc. No vehicles, or objectives other than shooting more of them than you, the most advanced any of those ever got was capture the flag. I think the rise and fall of that game is a huge lesson any game dev should thoroughly analyze.
Plus I learned a ton about WW2 playing that game, they went to great lengths to capture the feel of so many actual conflicts. I even got to relive the storming of Anzo Beach in Italy, which is what my grandfather actually did in the war, that was special. He drove a ducky-boat full of ammo during the raid, crazy mo-fo, one well placed shot and I would not exist today. BF1942 was a true gem that may never return. The new ones have had moments, and yes the graphics are way better, but once EA ate them the magic was gone. The new ones have deliberate lifespans and are plagued with micro-transactions, they made the same mistakes with all the new Star Wars Battlefront games. If they'd kept their formula those games would be so epic.
Ok that's enough off-topic, or is it, again I think the rise and fall of such amazing games like that hold precious lessons every game dev should analyze and understand if they ever hope to repeat such legendary success, as well as what to do and what not to do to keep such things alive over time.