IL*2 STURMOVIK: Birds of Prey

[JOSEPH X]

IL * 2 STURMOVIK

Birds of Prey

 

gamingexcellence

 

Birds of Prey is the latest instalment in the highly popular combat flight simulation franchise, and the first available on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. In fact, it’s fair to say that the game is the closest thing to any true flight simulation the consoles have seen.

 

The game takes you across the World War 2 landscape, and puts you in the hot seat for some of the most important and major turning points of the war. You’ll play across five theatres, The Battle of Britain, Berlin, Stalingrad, Sicily, and Korsun. Gameplay is available in two major flavours; full simulation will satisfy the hardcore crowd with complete control of every feature of the aircraft down to the smallest details. For the more action oriented crowd, Birds of Prey offers a more simplified mode which automates many of the simulation-oriented aspects of the game, allowing you to focus on the combat. A good example: in simulation mode you can push your aircraft, but push it too far and you’ll suffer the consequences as it breaks apart in mid-air. In simplified mode, you’re able to put the plane in tight banks and manoeuvres not usually possible, with far fewer consequences. That’s not to say everything is simplified, the flight model itself is still very accurate and feels extremely authentic, and even in the more arcade mode IL-2 is still very much rooted as a simulation.

 

 

Trailers

 

 

 

Official website

 

http://www.il2game.com/

 

Multiplayer

 

4 Modes = Dogfight, Team Dogfight, Capture the Airfield and Strike

 

12 maps

 

40 Aircraft Full list on the website

 

There is a demo on xbox live, and if you can download it, I suggest you do because this game is HOT. I`ve been playing it all morning and here`s my view:

 

Arcade: An absolute dream - pull the tightest of turns and loops without fear of losing control. Aiming aids to enable you to `lead` your fire so the rounds are timed to hit your target. Admire the stunning visuals in 3rd, FP and cockpit views.

 

Realistic: ratchets up the difficulty by a few notches. The aiming aid is off and stalling is much easier, but screenprompts show you how to rectify the problem.

 

Simulator: This is serious stuff for serious flyers, I just can`t get the hang of it for now. All aids are off and there`s only the cockpit view - HARDCORE!

 

Please download the Demo, the game is relased on Sep 4th and is much better than Ace Combat 6.

Edited August 14, 2009 by II J0SePh X II

[blitsie]

I always loved how they planes get damaged in IL2,

 

*dusts off joystick* I'm looking forward to this one

[TFatseas]

I've enjoyed the IL2 series since it came out, eight years ago... on the PC. Currently own 1946.

 

Combat Flight Simulators, well any flight simulator does not translate well to the console. The previous attempts to put a CFS on a console have really been nothing more than arcade shooters.

 

A simulator on the console =/= a simulator on the PC as a sim on the PC =/= real life.

 

But apples to oranges...

 

It is rather nice to see that they apparently are attempting to put a advanced flight model(compared to other similar titles) for the aircraft in the game.

 

Looks good for "beer and pretzels" kind of playing.

 

But I think I'll stick to my PC for flight sims.

Edited August 14, 2009 by TFatseas

[JOSEPH X]

I can`t see the problem with adding an arcade version, after all it`s only a version - the game has full simulation too. True, consoles haven`t had a great flight combat sim, but BoP could change that, I`ve just read a post on the official sites forums by a PC simmer, who said he`d get a console for this if it was console exclusive.

 

If anyone`s used a flight stick on the xbox demo I`d be interested to hear some opinions, I may just get one for this.

[TFatseas]

I can`t see the problem with adding an arcade version, after all it`s only a version - the game has full simulation too. True, consoles haven`t had a great flight combat sim, but BoP could change that, I`ve just read a post on the official sites forums by a PC simmer, who said he`d get a console for this if it was console exclusive.

 

If anyone`s used a flight stick on the xbox demo I`d be interested to hear some opinions, I may just get one for this.

I will say I haven't played it, but it looks to be a good game.

 

I'm just saying that the inherent differences between a console and a PC prevent this game from being a true flight sim.

 

I love to be proved wrong, but I don't see it happening.

 

 

 

[JOSEPH X]

Whoops, sorry for spreading misinformation. IL*2 BoP isnot available for the PC as I said in a previous post, but the PSP DS 360 & PS3. Apologies.