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Air Combat Collection (PC)
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5/5 |
Best if its kind.....EVER!
(February 09, 2007) |
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This is a superb sim. Here is why...
Good points.
1.Very good graphics
2.Superb flyability of all aircraft.
3.Fiendish AI
4.Superb campainges and missions
Bad points.
1. The aircraft all sound the same with only a slight bit of difference.
2. The full mission builder could have more documentation.
Tips
1.If you are having performance problems go to the IL-2 setup programme (it comes up after you have installed) and set the graphics to run on Direct X. Then set the resolution to maximum.
2.If it still jerks and you get white patches on the screen then go to video options and set the picture quality to medium.
3.Use a joystick (I use a logitech attack 3 pro joystick)
Please not that the Computer I am running it on is a LAPTOP with the following system specifications.
2.6GHZ pentium 4 processer
494 mb of RAM
64mb graphics card
Direct X 9.0c ( You can download the latest versions for free from microsoft)
If you do, this you will have the greatest combat sim on the market. Happy gaming |
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5/5 |
IL2 Complete Edition - a finely honed classic
(November 25, 2006) |
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When the original IL2 Sturmovik was released it created a sensation in the gaming world. Here was a small neat product that did a remarkable job of recreating WWII combat. This first product was the start of an acorn that grew into an oak. This series has been all about attention to detail. This shows not only in the quality of the aircraft skins but also the attention to detail in the cockpits, the flight modelling and further into AI behaviour and the user interface. The Complete Edition is a huge project which has had the input of programmers and historians as well as the input from us the humble players over many years that has lead to an awesome product. Few titles in this genre offer anything like what is available here: hundreds of flyables, lots of maps, the arenas of the Pacific and mainland Russia/Germany, dynamic campaigns as well as a comprehensive mission builder. The scope is gigantic. The initial release of Forgotten Battles was plagued with some problems which have been stamped out relentlessly over the last few years. 1C Maddox commitment to this product has been astounding with numerous patches and free add-ons of new aircraft. They have bent over backwards for the customer in a way that some `pay before you get anything' software companies would never have done. The benefits for 1C have been a large following purchasing the numerous products that the 1C machine churns out. From early bi-planes through all the classic fighters like the Bf-109 and the Spitfire to the early jets, fighters, fighter bombers and bombers are all represented in convincing detail. Other software companies might provide more details on less aircraft, but rarely do they faithfully model the fight characteristics as well. One aspect I particularly like about this simulation is the cockpit gauges. These have fluid realistic motion, not some calculated values that a line jumps to unevenly. These gauges compliment the flight modelling which is a revelation. The calculations are so detailed you will need a fast CPU as well as plenty of memory for the maps. With the Pacific Fighters add-on engine torque modelling was added. This adds to realism, a WWII aircraft is no longer something that fly's straight in a sterile world. Combat with the AI is a lot better than the initial release and this is where you can explore the handling traits of your aircraft and its weapons. One area that has had numerous revisions is the effectiveness of the different weaponry and its effect in the damage model. The damage models for all these hundreds of aircraft are another star point of this game. Aircraft break up depending on their armour, your weapon etc. it's interesting to see how many hits some aircraft can absorb and how vulnerable others are. This simulation does have a little educational value and is an insight into the horrors of aerial combat. It recreates the events of WWII well and much of what you might read about combat and the behaviour of certain planes is similar within limits. One aspect that has made this genre so successful is the relative ease of flying. This is not like Eagle Dynamic's Lock-On, once you know a little about your aircraft and have experienced combat you can enjoy this game. The Complete Edition is great for off-liners as the AI is so refined. Of course to play at the highest levels is quite an art, avoiding mistakes, reading the enemy's tactics and knowing when to fight or run. System requirements have got steadily higher than the early releases but are still reasonable, the graphics looking fine if not quite as good as Lock-On. One area I particularly like is the atmospheric effects. Cloud layers are more substantial and the effect looks better than the already good clouds that populated the original release. This product gives its player a taste of aerial combat and can be as much tedious work as it can be excitement. A stylish product with no flaws 1C shows how it should be done.
For:
Generous to a fault with patches and free add-ons
Enormous number of flyabes
Large number of combat theatres
Detailed flight/physics/damage modelling
Quality mission builder
Dynamic campaign engine
Elegant graphics engine
Weather effects
Rock solid stability with 98/Me/2000/XP
Refined AI
Against:
Nothing major
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5/5 |
Unbeatable flight simming
(September 18, 2006) |
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As an earlier reviewer said this is well worth buying. New and existing players of Maddox Sims will get a lot out of this game which is ridiculously cheap at less than a tenner.
You get five years of game development wrapped up in one easy to install DVD package.
The full Maddox experience, Forgotten Battles, Aces Expansion and Pacific Fighters all rolled into one, the version is 4.04M so no need for patching.
By the way there are flyable Gladiators included :)
M4T ;) |
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5/5 |
well worth buying
(April 06, 2006) |
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I bought this simply for the Ace expansion pack and I'm glad I did. You get 3 flight sims on one PC DVD-ROM-PLUS all the intermediary add-ons. So that saves you loading 5 CDS and the downloading all the updates.Things to watch out for 1) its a PC DVD-ROM and 2) you'll need at least 512 ram. Any moans, well it says 200 flyable planes, but about a dozen are Spitfire IXs and another dozen bf109s.No flyable Gladiators,which do appear on the opening titles, but you do get a nice selection of German jets Me 262/ He 162,-love the blue flames-a Komet(rocket)-no Arado 234-Fly high--The landscape gets a bit boring being either Russia or the Pacific islands. |
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5/5 |
Brilliant!
(April 02, 2006) |
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Not a new game,but one that has been constantly updated since the original Il-2 Sturmovik. The roots of the game are on the Eastern front,and the winter maps are breathtaking, the game is VERY atmospheric and immersive. It is also very wide in scope, if landing on Carriers in the Pacific is your thing,that is here too! You can build your own missions and careers, the choice of aircraft is very varied (including armament)
There is a thriving on line gaming community with many virtual "Squadrons" both Allied & Axis...I found the most apealing thing about the game is its total adaptability and "immersion". Not so much a game,more a way of life! |
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