The Sequel Flight Sim Junkies Have Been Waiting For!
For the first time flight simmers could pilot the stubby and dangerous I-16. You could finally get your hands on Yaks, Migs and murderous IL2 Sturmovik tatical bomber. The bar and ante had been raised and a hardcore and dedicated fan base has formed behind this ground breaking sim. "IL2 Forgotten Battles" is the first full blown sequel to the groundbreaking original. New planes have been added, new flight models introduced and whole new campaigns. Now in addition to flying as the either the Russians wor the Germans, you can now fly with the Finns in the "Forgotten War" against Stalin, or with the French Normandie Squadron against the Germans. Again this series entertains and educates at the same time.
Installation:
Installation was a breeze. There was a cycle of patches but these can be easily found on the Ubi.com's website.
Graphics:
Amazing, simply amazing. The game engine is starting to show it's age but, if you've high end rig you can find yourself managing 45 to 50 FPS on even the highest settings with all the eye candy. On some rigs the view is almost photographic, long as you're in the air. On the ground, things aren't so great but it's hard to model the entire real world and 50 or 60 aircraft and not have things ground to a halt. With this in mind ground detail is sacrificed for superior plane flight models and exteriors.
Sound:
As with the first game, sound in IL2-FB is marvelous. Engines sound different from plane to plane. Wing mounted machine guns and cannon sound distinctly different from nose mounted guns. You can hear the wint in your hair in an open cockpit jobby. Nothing quite like that sickening "thunk" of hearing your rudder being shot away in your rear speakers.
Gameplay:
Gameplay is immersive, fun and downright addictive... when you're in the air. On the ground, again, things ain't quite so hot. If you're looking for some stroy, or plotline etc like Microsofts Combat Flight Simulator Series... then forget it. There is none. All you get is a missing briefing a chance to outfit your plane and off you go. When you get back, you find out if you've succeeded and who in your squadron "bought the farm" . No interaction, no ceremonies, no nuthin. just fly and fight. And as far s I'm concerned that's alright by me. I didn't get this sim for pathos or romance, I bought it cause it's the closet thing this side of a Holosuite to climbing in the cockpit of a WWII fighter and doing battle.
This is not an easy game to master however. This is not "Crimson Skies" you're gonna need a decent joystick and rudder pedals if you expect to survive in offline campaigns. I'd also recommend getting a HOTAS hookup and TrackIR so that you can truly fly and fight with both your feet, both your hands and your eyes too. For those however who just want to kill, in game settings can be set to "arcade" so your bullets hit harder and your plane flies like an X-Wing
Online:
This game truly shines online as well. Hyperlobby and "All Seing Eye" provide easy places for folks who want to fly against human beings a place to try their skills. Dogfight servers are all over the place and it's strictly the wild wild east out there, shoot or be shot. You can also fly coop missions there as well and there are active squadrons one can join if they've a desire.
Final Verdict:
Without a doubt the best WWII Combat Flight sim in the world today.