Loveably flawed, like an antique warplane (IL 2 Sturmovik: Forgotten Battles (PC))

Member Name: Fennesz

Product:	IL 2 Sturmovik: Forgotten Battles (PC)
Date:	23/01/09 (43 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Incredible realism. Gorgeous graphics.

Disadvantages: Very niche, and a bit stubborn in how old fashioned it is.

First things first, if you're not looking for a realistic World War 2 combat flight sim, stop right here. IL-2 is a stubborn adherent to that role and you won't find anything else to enjoy here. If that IS what you want though, then this is absolutely perfect, there is no better option.

Developed by until-then unknown Russian developer Oleg Maddox, IL-2 started out as a personal labour of love simulating the eponymous Ilyushin-2 Sturmovik, a trusty tank busting workhorse. Not designed for dogfighting, this little soviet plane was designed to fly low and destroy tanks with its armour piercing cannons while being sturdy enough to survive a dent or two. Excusing the history lesson, this fact is important and explains the unique presence of ground level warfare not common to the genre. Fan support catalysed an expansion of the original game into what it is now, a definitive WW2 battlefield simulator with hundreds of accurately modeled planes covering nearly every important location in the war.

Even for someone experienced with flight sims, IL-2 is a beast to master. Contrary to their majestic appearance, these old planes often feel like a flying bucket of rocks, and to make matters worse, each one flies differently. Before you ever manage to shoot anything down, things like torque-steer, P-factor, flutter, engine management and just general "why are you not doing what I tell you?!" will have to become intimately familiar to you. Having said that, you'll settle fora favourite plane soon enough, learn to love its quirks and get immense satisfaction from a kill, or even just a smooth landing.

For a 5 year old game based on an even older original, this is really a good looking game. The planes are painstakingly detailed and sleek. I spent a very long time using the excellent replay feature to watch my plane dogfighting, which additionally highlights how good the damage effects are. Cannon fire satisfyingly streaks through the sky and rips apart any vulnerable surface it comes into contact with. It really never gets old seeing a tailplane or wingtip shear off and send your enemy spiraling to the earth streaming a trail of smoke. Beatiful volumetric clouds and some of the most eerily realistic terrain ever seen in a game complete a fantastic visual package.

One area that the IL-2 games noticeably fall short in is giving you context to play within. It's all well and good brilliantly portraying aerial combat, but if there are no goals, what's the point? What the game offers is a quick mission editor for building a simple scenario, a full mission editor for real masochists or creative people who want to make elaborate missions, and a "dynamic campaign" option. The latter has you pick a country and a role, and rolls out a stream of basic missions in which your actions can affect the overall picture. The problem is, "the picture" isn't very convincing in the first place. The interface is archaic and confusing, and the game never once attempts to tell a story, which results in a pretty unimmersive experience. The best way to play this game is to downoad communiy content or play online, both of which provide a lot of replay value. The community itself is excellent, and should be the first place to go for encouragement and help.

If its flaws are acceptable to you, and you have any interest in what it tries to do, then this is a must own game that will last you years. There is one major note of importance though, you do not want this verson. "IL-2 1946" contains this base game plus all of its expansions and patches, and is huge on content. Do yourself a favour and get that instead, as well as a good joystick.

Summary: For flight lovers and your dad only, but perfect for them.