Which is a good combat flight sim?


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This is a dying (read: DEAD) genre. There isn't much of anything out there anymore. There are one or two flight combat games on the horizon but that's about it. The ground war is getting all of the attention these days (Conflict: Desert Storm and the Delta Force series come to mind).

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IL-2: Forgotten Battles is the best flight sim out there by a margin which borders on embarressing. A great game in a dead genre means a great game with little competition. It's a WW2 flight sim based on the Eastern Front.

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IL2 is the best flight sim to be created since falcon 4.0, NOTHING comes close. NOTHING.

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There is a lot of poo being spoken in this thread :|

It isn't a dead genre at all!

Ok you want a jet sim? Now we need to work out how complex you want.

If you want really complex : Falcon with SP2, thats ultra hardcore realism. Flew it for years, love it to bits.

Janes F/A18 is pretty dam fine, but the lack of a dynamic campaign held it back. If you like carrier ops and complex avionics, its a good one.

Flanker2.5 : Another heavy weight sim, that is based around russian fighters: The flight model is a pure joy, but combat is very hard work (russian avionics are primative in comparison, but only on the surface).

Ok easier jet sims now:

Strike Fighters Project One : Brand new sim, been slated because they were forced to release a beta to wallmart. wups. Latest version is lovely, I'm flying it atm.

Euro Fighter Typhoon: Quite arcady, but still good fun.

DI FA18 : A much overlooked hornet sim, I enjoyed it.

Janes USAF: Comparatively simple, but bloody good fun, looks pretty, and you get to fly a lot of different jets.

Right, now the one to watch is LO:MAC. Lock On : Modern Air Combat, its essentially the sequal to Flanker 2.5, but one of the key features is the ability to fly the A10! wooo! (Janes were working on an A10 sim, but it got canned).

Ok for helicopter sims:

Janes Longbow 2 (quite old, but bloody good)

EECH (Enemy Engaged Commanche Hokum)

Commanche 4 is just arcade sh*t, its not a even remotely a sim in my book.

WW2 (you said jets, but sod it)

EAW is *the* standard for ww2 sims.

IL2 isn't bad, but a significant proportion of the hardcore community hate it.

B17ii - bit of a failure, but might appeal to some.

Basically I'd saw try EAW, its been modded to hell and back and is THE standard for ww2 sims (ignore these non simmers). Il2 is great, try that one as well. Some love it, some hate it.

For Jets, you wont beat Falcon4. Its amazing, I flew in a huge online squadron for years, and loved every minute. BUT its hardcore. you need to put the effort in, and learn about the subject. I've got Navy Acadamy Air Combat Manouvering text books here ;)

StrikeFighters is good fun, but has major issues. However it WILL be modded a lot, its very open. Its just tiding me over till LO:MAC tho, thats the biggy that the community is waiting for :D

If you want any more advice, feel free to add me to msn.

Edit: BTW, everyone of these supports multiplayer. EAW + Falcon4 have HUGE followings, IL2 is fully of n00bs from bf1942 who think they can fly, but dont know acm for sh*t. Oh actually b17ii has no out of the box multiplayer (HUGE disapointment there). EECH online is sodding good fun :D :D

Edited by Jon
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I love that the n00bs come into il2, more fun to go into dogfights and slaughter them. :) Nothing like dumbasses trying to use a mouse and keyboard against a good flyer with the right joystick, pedals, and throttle.

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I love that the n00bs come into il2, more fun to go into dogfights and slaughter them. :) Nothing like dumbasses trying to use a mouse and keyboard against a good flyer with the right joystick, pedals, and throttle.

Why are they dumbasses huh ? maby they cant afford it and really love the game,

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Why are they dumbasses huh ? maby they cant afford it and really love the game,

IF you enjoy playing realistic flight model with a mouse, no offence but you are SERIOUSLY missing the point.

Oh, and I can't think of any that have the Stealth Bomber in it, sorry. 

[###### mode on] its actually known as the Stealth Fighter, hence its F117 designation ;) [###### mode off]

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IF you enjoy playing realistic flight model with a mouse, no offence but you are SERIOUSLY missing the point.

I use Joystick and i love Flight sim, i whas talking about the "others!"

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There is a lot of poo being spoken in this thread :|

It isn't a dead genre at all!

Ok you want a jet sim? Now we need to work out how complex you want.

If you want really complex : Falcon with SP2, thats ultra hardcore realism. Flew it for years, love it to bits.

Janes F/A18 is pretty dam fine, but the lack of a dynamic campaign held it back. If you like carrier ops and complex avionics, its a good one.

Flanker2.5 : Another heavy weight sim, that is based around russian fighters: The flight model is a pure joy, but combat is very hard work (russian avionics are primative in comparison, but only on the surface).

Ok easier jet sims now:

Strike Fighters Project One : Brand new sim, been slated because they were forced to release a beta to wallmart. wups. Latest version is lovely, I'm flying it atm.

Euro Fighter Typhoon: Quite arcady, but still good fun.

DI FA18 : A much overlooked hornet sim, I enjoyed it.

Janes USAF: Comparatively simple, but bloody good fun, looks pretty, and you get to fly a lot of different jets.

Right, now the one to watch is LO:MAC. Lock On : Modern Air Combat, its essentially the sequal to Flanker 2.5, but one of the key features is the ability to fly the A10! wooo! (Janes were working on an A10 sim, but it got canned).

Ok for helicopter sims:

Janes Longbow 2 (quite old, but bloody good)

EECH (Enemy Engaged Commanche Hokum)

Commanche 4 is just arcade sh*t, its not a even remotely a sim in my book.

WW2 (you said jets, but sod it)

EAW is *the* standard for ww2 sims.

IL2 isn't bad, but a significant proportion of the hardcore community hate it.

B17ii - bit of a failure, but might appeal to some.

Basically I'd saw try EAW, its been modded to hell and back and is THE standard for ww2 sims (ignore these non simmers). Il2 is great, try that one as well. Some love it, some hate it.

For Jets, you wont beat Falcon4. Its amazing, I flew in a huge online squadron for years, and loved every minute. BUT its hardcore. you need to put the effort in, and learn about the subject. I've got Navy Acadamy Air Combat Manouvering text books here ;)

StrikeFighters is good fun, but has major issues. However it WILL be modded a lot, its very open. Its just tiding me over till LO:MAC tho, thats the biggy that the community is waiting for :D

If you want any more advice, feel free to add me to msn.

Edit: BTW, everyone of these supports multiplayer. EAW + Falcon4 have HUGE followings, IL2 is fully of n00bs from bf1942 who think they can fly, but dont know acm for sh*t. Oh actually b17ii has no out of the box multiplayer (HUGE disapointment there). EECH online is sodding good fun :D :D

dead genre? when did those games that you mentioned come out?

Il2 is the only relatively new one mentioned

Yeah, I thought so....

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Ok flight sim class 101:

A standard joystick is ok if you are a casual simmer, who only plays once in a while, doesnt get too involved, and doesnt mind being a little slower reacting etc than the rest.

I've simmed with a MS Sidewinder, its ok, the twist axis rudder isn't very convenient compaired to a full HOTAS, and the little throttle slider doesnt remotely complare.

If you really want to harness your speed, you need a HOTAS - Hands on Throttle and Stick.

A HOTAS copies the layount in most modern fighter jets, having a throttle unit with weapons / avionics controls, and a flight stick with more essential controls mapped.

A good start for a hotas is the Saitek X45 (link).

The X45 has a throttle with analog rudder flippers where your finger tips would rest. It also has 2 rottary controls, VERY important in ww2 sims like IL2 for trimming to level flight (someone 95% of people seem to forget or not be aware of). If has a mini joystick for slewing radars, an 8way coolie hat for futher radar system controls, loads of buttons, 2 more coolie hats on the flight stick, a shift button and 3 modes, meaning each button has *SIX* programmable functions. I think its about ?60 or so, the old model (x36) is black, and doesnt look quite so stupid :|

Basically this means, once configured, you can fly any simulation without taking your hands off the sticks during any part of a mission. This is stupidly important during a dogfight, and access to multiple axis' (ie rudder and throttle) mean your ww2 flying will be a huge amount smoother, which is one of the keys points to learn. It just takes a bit of work and memory to configure it for something like Falcon4 sp2;))

dead genre? when did those games that you mentioned come out?

Il2 is the only relatively new one mentioned

Yeah, I thought so...

Oh dear, misguided fool.

Strike Fighters Project One? That came out last week.

LO:MAC? A new study sim about to appear.

IL2 is NOT new, its been out for years, your ignorance is showing. IL2 Forgotten Battles came out recently... (IL2s sequal).

A dead genre implies there is no community, and no modding happening. You couldnt be further from the truth when you say its dead. Falcon4 sp2 (edit: erm sp3 aswell;)) )is beyond belief, its the most complex and thorough mod you'll see for any form of game, and turns it into an entire new level of study sim.

Sorry mate, you dont know what you're talking about.

Edited by Jon
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Don't argue with Jon guys. He really knows his sht except for Falcon 4.0 SP2 because SP3 has been out for a while now ;).

Yeah I've left the F4 scene. I used to be a senior training officer in a huge wing, it was essentially my life for a good few years. I had to make a decision, carry on staying in saturday nights and missing fun with my mates, or give it up completely (as you'll know, its not a sim you an take lightly), so regretably I had to give up. Very sad, some of my fondest memories were flying online missions with guys from the 185th, leading flights, flying exciting SEAD missions (my mission of choice), but alas, it had to end. :cry:

My passion for it was so huge that I simply cant read the community sites / forums, theres no way I'd be able to stay away :| :(

(that sounds kinda sad reading it back, but I'm not fussed. I learnt a stupidly huge amount about military tactics, aviation, and management. I was a young kid, leading squadrons full of 40yr olds, and I was respected. Odd feeling!!!)

Edited by Jon
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whoa jon i never knew you were into fligh sims. thats some great info :yes:

Yeah, Jets, Music and Guitar, thats all I think about.

Occasionally breasts creap in there too ;)

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