The Mighty Eighth - Microprose

[Mole HD]

I am absolutely in love with IL-2 Great Battles, especially thanks to the career mode that gives a bigger sense of purpose to what is already an absolutely fantastic flight sim.

I haven't felt this passionate about a flight sim since the 90's when playing a fantastic (fot the time) WW1 flight sim called Knights of the Sky, where you also played a lengthy campaign across the war and crossed paths with AI versions of real legendary pilots.

Rise of Flight is also very good, and belongs to the same guys who make IL2. However it's no longer worth investing in it, as there are clear signs that they are merging the 2 series together, the first batch of WW1 airplanes, maps and campaigns has already been released, a second batch will follow during the year, and hopefully career mode will also be possible for WW1.

Rise of Flight has been free to download for quite a while...and believe me, the campaign mode, the mods and the gameplay is what sets it apart from the great pretender, Flying Circus. When 777 have spent a few years adding the content, the aircraft and the career, I may be tempted...not until then.

For the first time ever I've seen a comment saying RoF isn't worth investing in...interesting

 

[askavir]

For the first time ever I've seen a comment saying RoF isn't worth investing in...interesting

Perhaps I didn't explain properly what I meant and sounded harsh towards RoF which was not my intention. I didn't mean to dimish RoF, it truly find it a fantastic game. I frequently say that there are only 4 flight sims nowadays that completely smash all competition. X-Plane 11 for civil aviation, Rise of Flight for WWI era, IL-2 Great battles for WW2 era, and DCS for modern times.

When I say RoF is no longer worth investing in (and please take this with a pinch of salt, it's just my personal perpective), it's because it has became clear that 777 will be merging RoF into IL2 and end up with the supreme historical aviation sim.

Both RoF and IL2 are quite expensive titles. Especially RoF, because while it is free to download and play, you only get 1 airplane per faction and a lot of scenarios / squadrons explicitly require aircraft that you don't have and will have to purchase. Both RoF and IL2 have loads of expensive DLC. But the thing is, RoF is on route to become abandonware, it's content being ported to IL2. While I don't mind spending money on games I love (I currently have all the DLC for IL2 and a few of RoF), I don't think spending lots of money on RoF now is a good investment, and might be better to wait and spend that money of the future WW1 content in IL2 instead.

 

[Mole HD]

Perhaps I didn't explain properly what I meant and sounded harsh towards RoF which was not my intention. I didn't mean to dimish RoF, it truly find it a fantastic game. I frequently say that there are only 4 flight sims nowadays that completely smash all competition. X-Plane 11 for civil aviation, Rise of Flight for WWI era, IL-2 Great battles for WW2 era, and DCS for modern times.

When I say RoF is no longer worth investing in (and please take this with a pinch of salt, it's just my personal perpective), it's because it has became clear that 777 will be merging RoF into IL2 and end up with the supreme historical aviation sim.

Both RoF and IL2 are quite expensive titles. Especially RoF, because while it is free to download and play, you only get 1 airplane per faction and a lot of scenarios / squadrons explicitly require aircraft that you don't have and will have to purchase. Both RoF and IL2 have loads of expensive DLC. But the thing is, RoF is on route to become abandonware, it's content being ported to IL2. While I don't mind spending money on games I love (I currently have all the DLC for IL2 and a few of RoF), I don't think spending lots of money on RoF now is a good investment, and might be better to wait and spend that money of the future WW1 content in IL2 instead.

Talking of expense...I have bought everything coming out of 777 studios with the exception of Flying Circus...that's all the campaigns, all the scenarios including the tank battles and all at premium level to include the collector planes.

Besides Star Citizen...IL2 Great Battles has taken more of my cash than anything else on my PC. I'm playing right now, reliving my grandfather's RAF flying days in a Hawker Tempest in the battle of Bodenplatte...and just pre-ordered the Battle of Normandy on the website a few days ago as well (with the Hurricane as a pre-order collector aircraft).

I also have 2 revamped and modded versions of Cliffs of Dover...one original modded and the one from the 777 website (Cliffs of Dover : Blitz) which is exactly the same game with the mods already built in... I really do love the IL2 series

Spoiler: Bodenplatte screenies

 

[askavir]

Talking of expense...I have bought everything coming out of 777 studios with the exception of Flying Circus...that's all the campaigns, all the scenarios including the tank battles and all at premium level to include the collector planes.

Besides Star Citizen...IL2 Great Battles has taken more of my cash than anything else on my PC. I'm playing right now, reliving my grandfather's RAF flying days in a Hawker Tempest in the battle of Bodenplatte...and just pre-ordered the Battle of Normandy on the website a few days ago as well (with the Hurricane as a pre-order collector aircraft).

I also have 2 revamped and modded versions of Cliffs of Dover...one original modded and the one from the 777 website (Cliffs of Dover : Blitz) which is exactly the same game with the mods already built in... I really do love the IL2 series

Spoiler: Bodenplatte screenies

Beautiful screenshots. The level of detail they put into those magnificent historical machines, both inside and outside, and both visually and functionality, is truly amazing.

I love how each and every single airplane truly feels like a completely different machine, not just a different set of stats. Each flies in a different way, has it's own features, takes different approaches to fly efficiently. Every time I start using a new airplane it feels like I'm starting all over again, learning it's quirks and distinct features.

I'm looking forward to the incoming Battle of Normandy DLC as well.

 

[Mole HD]

I also downloaded a 'historically correct' skin pack for all the German aircraft...since I'm not too offended by the imagery. It offended me more that the official skins weren't historically correct due to the inclusion being illegal in some countries...Germany for one.

The skin packs for all aircraft (not just the German ones) are regularly updated and made available on the IL2 forum for download...

 

[askavir]

I also downloaded a 'historically correct' skin pack for all the German aircraft...since I'm not too offended by the imagery. It offended me more that the official skins weren't historically correct due to the inclusion being illegal in some countries...Germany for one.

The skin packs for all aircraft (not just the German ones) are regularly updated and made available on the IL2 forum for download...

That's great to know, indeed I thought "what the fig" when I first saw the luftwaffe planes with the "adapted" imagery, never even thought about countries with banned imagery as to be honest I find banning symbols / images / books / etc a complete load of condescending nonsense, like if someone would suddenly turn into a warmongering jew hater because they saw a swastika. And to be honest, I do not recognize any government the authority to decide what I should be allowed to see or not.

I'll look for the skin packs, I too rather keep my historical aviation game historically correct.

 

[Mole HD]

That's great to know, indeed I thought "what the fig" when I first saw the luftwaffe planes with the "adapted" imagery, never even thought about countries with banned imagery as to be honest I find banning symbols / images / books / etc a complete load of condescending nonsense, like if someone would suddenly turn into a warmongering jew hater because they saw a swastika. And to be honest, I do not recognize any government the authority to decide what I should be allowed to see or not.

I'll look for the skin packs, I too rather keep my historical aviation game historically correct.

It's not illegal for individuals to download and apply the historically accurate imagery...but it's illegal for a company to include the swastika applied to an aircraft in a game, even in a historical sense, then market it... as far as I'm led to believe through the IL2 forums...all very confusing and completely unnecessary. It's not just Germany of course...there are quite a few European countries with this ruling...France, the Netherlands...a few others.

Let's hope they don't suddenly remember Uncle Joe Stalin mass murdered quite a few of his own people during the same period or they may make depicting the Red Star illegal too

 

[Navigare Necesse Est]

I also downloaded a 'historically correct' skin pack for all the German aircraft...since I'm not too offended by the imagery. It offended me more that the official skins weren't historically correct due to the inclusion being illegal in some countries...Germany for one.

The skin packs for all aircraft (not just the German ones) are regularly updated and made available on the IL2 forum for download...

It's been changed and a sim should be fine displaying historically correct insignia in Germany.

 

[WhiteHaulerMan]

It's been changed and a sim should be fine displaying historically correct insignia in Germany.

That's good.

One of my first modding projects was changing the flags etc. in Silent Hunter 3.

 

[Mole HD]

That's good.

One of my first modding projects was changing the flags etc. in Silent Hunter 3.

I probably downloaded your mod from Subsim...still a subscriber after 20 years

 

[Juniper]

Wow, Microprose. Talk about a (nice) blast from the past.

Exciting that it's been revived more than the initial offerings themselves in truth, but I wish them well regardless.

They have some legacy to live up to.

Next up: Ultimate: The Game?

 

[PiLhEaD]

Hopefully they will bring back Gunship.

I really enjoyed that game and it was good that mission objectives (both primary and secondary) would often change after take-off*. It made the game feel much more alive than others of the era.

* Although it could mean that your load-out was immediately rendered 'very sub optimal'.

 

[Hank]

I played a lot of M1 Tank Platoon. My first tank sim. It made a big impression on me since I've played nearly all tank sims, WWII to modern.

 

[Mole HD]

I played a lot of M1 Tank Platoon. My first tank sim. It made a big impression on me since I've played nearly all tank sims, WWII to modern.

I played a few trying to recreate my real life experience of being a tank crewman...M1 for sure back in the day, Steel Fury series recently as well as others. One of the best ones is a bespoke flight sim...strangely enough. IL2 Sturmovik with the tank DLC...

 

[Navigare Necesse Est]

I also downloaded a 'historically correct' skin pack for all the German aircraft...since I'm not too offended by the imagery. It offended me more that the official skins weren't historically correct due to the inclusion being illegal in some countries...Germany for one.

The skin packs for all aircraft (not just the German ones) are regularly updated and made available on the IL2 forum for download...

That's down, afaik. It is usually no problem in movies and as long as a medium doesn't glorify the Nazi era it is to rate the display as historical. I think there is also quite a tendency of obedience preceding the fact by devs because Germany is a big market. Anyway, current review board doesn't seem to value video games as critically any more. At least simulators would be fine. Don't know how they look at Wolfenstein, since that is fictitious.

 

[Hank]

The tank sims I've played: M1 Tank Platoon, Armored Fist(s), Steel Fury, Steelbeasts / Steelbeasts ProPE, World of Tanks, and Armored Warfare. It all started with Micropose. I was always a military history student from the time I was 6 or 7 (whenever mom started taking me to the library back in the early 60s), so when military PC games hit the shelf I was all in. GL HF Ladies and Gentlemen

 

[Leper Messiah]

Yup M1 tank platoon 1 and 2...2 was stunning graphically IIRC. I miss those games and the HUGE manuals you read while they installed.

Hopefully they will bring back Gunship.

I really enjoyed that game and it was good that mission objectives (both primary and secondary) would often change after take-off*. It made the game feel much more alive than others of the era.

* Although it could mean that your load-out was immediately rendered 'very sub optimal'.

Janes Apache Longbow and Longbow 2 were better games IMO, but I still liked Gunship.