It's a GREAT COMBAT FLIGHT SIMULATOR that FAR surpasses any other combat simulator in existence. Microsoft's CFS series is NOTHING or Lower than human waste compared to the IL-2 series.
I used to have IL-2 for a long time. But i gave it away [a year after buying it] because I finished the combat sim already. Trust me, it's the best. I have seen it with my own eyes.
[Clouds]
Microsoft's clouds are nothing more than 2D objects that are clumped together to make it look 3D. But IL-2's clouds are ACTUAL 3D models that look and FEEL realistic from far away AND when you fly through one.
[Ground Scenery]
The rivers are perfect, especially when they REFLECT the sunlight. The ground scenery is not that much detailed because [for sure] you will be more distracted by the detailed sky, detailed aircraft, 100% realistic aircraft damage, very well made flight dynamics and a good dogfight.
Microsoft, however, just.........oh........forget it. I have the sudden urge to take their CFS games and throw them out the window and have fun with UBI Soft's combat sim forever.
:-/[Dynamics and Handling]
Very realistic indeed. In fact, everytime I fire my Yak-9's guns, the aircraft just wobbles by the force of the recoiling machine guns. Not only that, the sound of the machine guns sound and feel dominating.
Microsoft's CFS doesn't do that. In CFS3, the machine guns sound like B-B guns or marbles falling into a glass container. Their aircraft doesn't even wobble to the force of the machine guns. :-/
[Gunner Stations]
IL-2 allows you to control your rear or side-gunner's machine guns with just the use of your mouse. This makes it a whole lot easy to aim.
Microsoft's CFS3 is awkward in that case. Instead, you are forced to aim the guns with your joystick. How pathetic and unwise. :-/
[Warping]
IL-2 uses a warp method that allows you to manually control your aircraft EVEN if you are in warp mode. The warp method is pretty much the same as found in the civilian version of M$ Flight Simulator
In M$ CFS3, however, you can't control your aircraft while in warp. Not only that, the scenery gets ugly as you warp.
[HONESTY!!!!
]UBI Soft's system requirements are completely honest and to the point. Especially for a combat sim like this one.
Microsoft's system requirements are [as everyone points out] a complete JOKE!!!!!! They lie to you by saying that this sim requires only an 8MB video card. BS!!!!!! Not only that, their advertisements are more fake than a $3 bill. And you all know that. :-/
[Bugs]
IL-2, like any other simulator, has its share of bugs. However, those bugs are nothing and you'll usually forget about them because your mind will wonder off with all the beautiful details and realism.
M$'s simulators [all of them] are full of bugs. Mostly, these bugs involve MAJOR [not minor] imcompatability problems with video cards. easpecially the ATI Radeaon types. Not only that, many of our hi-end systems are not even powerful enough to handle M$'s sims.
[Price]
There are already 2 versions of IL-2 in stores [especially Best Buy]. IL-2 Sturmovik and IL-2 Sturmovik: Forgotten Battles. Both of these combat sims have been around for quite a fair amount of time.
The latest version only costs around $20. Like I said, these sims have been around long enough for their prices to drop. The next version [still under development] will be released in 2005. These people are more patient than M$.
M$ just likes to concentrate more on your wallet and less on your demands.
Fact:
IL-2 Sturmovik came up with the idea of a non-2D panel. All that Microsoft did was copy UBI's idea. M$ has no imagination at all. :-/
Comments are welcome.
).
