Is IL-2 still considered the best WW2 flight sim game out there?
What other ww2 flight sims are out there that have boat loads of planes to choose from?
War Thunder is out for me. I don't want a pvp game (even though I know the graphics are the best and they have tons of planes)
Thanks
Yes, IL2 1946 is your best bet. The newer sims (Battle of Stalingrad and Cliffs of Dover) offer more sophisticated flight models and engine management, together obviously with better graphics, but are limited to a single theatre (battle even) with a very limited planeset. Plus neither has much in the way of SP experiences.
Quote from: Father Ted on January 26, 2016, 11:26:45 AM
Plus neither has much in the way of SP experiences.
Il-2 Battle Of Stalingrad now has the Pat Wilson Campaign Generator mod.
Similar to the dynamic campaign he made for Rise Of Flight.
I removed IL-2: 1946 install from my drive awhile back. It definitely shows it's age. The single-player campaigns are pretty meh, but that wasn't the reason it got nuked.
Most of all, it's a sim that still has too many simplifications for AI pilots, compared to Players. One example is the AI suffering no G-effects. Between that, and a more simplistic flight model for them, it's showing age "under the hood". There were too many shortcuts taken due to the limited processing power of the time - this thing came out .. a decade ago?
I don't think any of the WW2 flight sims available are finished or fully featured. If I had to choose, it would be BOS because it's still being worked on & getting such fancy mods added, to say nothing of the stunningly immersive graphics and flight modelling (for all).
Quote from: Father Ted on January 26, 2016, 11:26:45 AM
Plus neither has much in the way of SP experiences.
This page has lots of SP content for Cliffs of Dover : http://bobgamehub.blogspot.be/p/cliffs-of-dover-missions.html
These payware add-ons by Desastersoft are considered by many people as top quality and can be played in SP : http://shop.desastersoft.com/en/product-catalog/downloads
These give you access to some demos for their campaigns : http://www.desastersoft.com/de/downloads and http://www.desastersoft.com/en/downloads
Do any of these games offer a "noob" setting?
No experience with flight sims at all. I know there are some arcade type flight sims but I'd rather avoid those, but I do need the option to start off on "easy" mode :uglystupid2:
If you're a noob at flight sims I have no idea why you wouldn't want to start with IL-2 1946. You can get it at GoG for like $5 and it has more content than you'll ever play, right out of the box. And, once you get comfortable with it and want to really blow your mind, you can start modding it.
That is a world unto itself and well beyond the scope of what you're talking about. But for a variety of things to do, places to fight, planes to fly, IL-2 is hard to beat, and still has an extremely active community.
Anyway, that's my vote.
Please take a look at DCS, it's a wonderful WW2 Sim! Lol!!!!!
Quote from: jomni on January 26, 2016, 06:12:21 PM
Please take a look at DCS, it's a wonderful WW2 Sim! Lol!!!!!
heh
Time Warp Sim. ;D
Well, you really can't blame DCS for the WWII content or lack of it.
I was one of the idiots who bought into the kickstarter for it.
I actually think we are lucky to have gotten anything for our money.
I'd recommend Battle of Britain II. I'm a little surprised that none of you guys chose it. They just updated it to V2.13. I fly both IL-2 COD and IL-2 BOS. Unlike others here I don't rate DCS as a good WWII combat flight sim. IL2-COD has superb graphics but the enemy AI in dogfights is still lacking even with the Team Fusion 4.0 Mod. Rumors are saying they are trying to improve it for TF 5.0. IL-2 BOS is coming along, great graphics and now the summer maps along with Pat Wilson's Campaign Generator which also recently got a new update. Brought to you by the ROF guys and like that game has the best "sense of flight" of any game on the market today.
But, if you want the best dogfighting experience available bar none its' BOBII. It really is still the best of them all. My dream would be incorporating the enemy AI from BOBII into both IL-2 COD and IL-2 BOS. You'd have the best game of all!
Correction: I meant to say that IMHO I've never been impressed with DCS stuff in general as I don't think anyone here has praised their WWII stuff. For some reason I've always found DCS Sims to be a little too clinical and meh for my taste. I still fly the original Black Shark sporadically but always get bored with it after an hour or so for some reason I can't really explain. Something about the general feel and atmosphere of the game that I find lacking.
I forgot to mention the excellent Campaign and Heinkill's Mission Packs for BOBII. There is enough content available to keep you flying for a long time.
Doesn't IL-2 1946 have way more planes than any other title mentioned here?
I know it might be lacking in graphics, but I'd rather have a huge library of planes to choose from than super pretty graphics.
Do any of the other titles even have as many planes to offer as does IL-2 1946?
Thanks folks
Yes everyone was mocking DCS's WW2 efforts.
DCS does feel bland at times. I guess that's how modern warfare is. It's more about the technology than actually getting into a real fight. Bombing is computer aided, and you have AGM's to do standoff runs to keep you away from AAA.
And the focus is on flying the aircraft and not about the combat. Just like MS Flight Simulator.
That said, I am one of those that still prefer Modern over WW2 due to the tech but not a real fan of DCS.
Back to topic:
IL 1946 is complete WW2. None of the new ones have Pacific.
As a quick add on to the OP's question- what WW2 flight sims model torpedo planes? All I can think of is the 'Aces' series by Dynamic and 'Pacific Strike' from Origin. I've always suspected that the Star Wars Trench Run/exhaust port sequence was inspired by Torpedo 8's sacrificial run against the Japanese carriers at midway.
Although more on the casual side, I think this one has torpedos....
http://store.steampowered.com/app/214910/
IL2 1946 with the Ultrapack mod is the way to go for WW2 flight simming. And yes, there are torpedoes.
Ultrapack is very time consuming and touchy to install, but once it's going, it's essentially everything WW2 that you want to do.
I absolutely loved the Condor Legion campaign in Ultrapack that included doing things like flying over the Nuremberg Rally. There's really nothing like that out there anywhere.
Where does one find mods for IL-2 1946?
Quote from: SirAndrewD on January 26, 2016, 10:18:49 PM
IL2 1946 with the Ultrapack mod is the way to go for WW2 flight simming. And yes, there are torpedoes.
Ultrapack is very time consuming and touchy to install, but once it's going, it's essentially everything WW2 that you want to do.
Is Ultrapack compatible with version 4.12.2 let along the new 4.13?
I read on the Steam forum for IL2 that Ultrapack is supposedly not compatible with version 4.12: https://steamcommunity.com/app/15320/discussions/0/613940109839425665/#c617319460875647782 (https://steamcommunity.com/app/15320/discussions/0/613940109839425665/#c617319460875647782)
I'm using HSFX 7 myself.
Quote from: Staggerwing on January 26, 2016, 09:14:02 PM
As a quick add on to the OP's question- what WW2 flight sims model torpedo planes? All I can think of is the 'Aces' series by Dynamic and 'Pacific Strike' from Origin. I've always suspected that the Star Wars Trench Run/exhaust port sequence was inspired by Torpedo 8's sacrificial run against the Japanese carriers at midway.
War Thunder has torpedoes. They're kinda lame though.
As for the trench run in Star Wars, Lucas admitted it was heavily influenced by the movie 633 Squadron. In that movie, a squadron of Mosquitos attack a V2 rocket fuel factory hidden in a Norwegian fjord. Here's a mash up video using the dialogue and soundtrack from Star Wars with footage from 633 Squadron.
Very cool video
acttingman,
Modding IL-2 1946 is not necessarily easy. And, there are a LOT of mods that aren't compatible with one another. Many pros keep multiple installations of IL-2 1946 on their computer for that reason.
I spent the better part of 3 days recently installing a mod for IL-2 1946 called the Community Update Project, or C.U.P. The path to this is long, requires many big downloads from mediafire, which makes it a huge pain, and then careful installation to ensure you don't pork something up.
To do it, you'll want to buy IL-2 1946 from GOG.com. Install it, then install the patch that rolls the game back to version 4.10; the updated 4.13 that GOG installs does not work, but they allow you to install a roll-back patch to 4.10.
From there, go to: http://www.sas1946.com/main/index.php?topic=44975.0
And the step by step instructions to download and install are here: http://www.sas1946.com/main/index.php/topic,47647.0.html
You'll need to start right at the top with the 4.12m patch and work your way down from there. This is just one mod, there are others like HSFX and Dark Blue World and others.
BUT, before you start down this hole, try vanilla IL-2 1946 with the 4.13 patch from GOG. There is an awful lot of content there out of the box that you will enjoy before you get the urge to mod.
I also like Battle of Britain II: Wings of Victory. However, it only covers the Battle of Britain, and it's a bit more difficult to get into than 1946.
IL-2 Cliffs of Dover is much, much better looking, but lacks the dynamic campaigns of 1946 and BOBII, and requires modding to even play correctly.
Honestly, I'm not sure why you wouldn't want to start with 1946, considered the classic of the genre. Spend the $6, play it for a bit, and then if it doesn't scratch your itch you can branch out.
Bought it off Steam
I saw the CUP Mod. Yea, for $10 I'm not going to hassle with that mod. Too much work and imo, not worth it for a casual game for me.
Is there another mod that isn't too hard or problematic to download that adds planes and maybe some graphical enhancements?
Thanks
Quote from: acctingman on January 26, 2016, 11:05:07 AM
Is IL-2 still considered the best WW2 flight sim game out there?
What other ww2 flight sims are out there that have boat loads of planes to choose from?
I guess if you haven't played IL-2, it is something of a must-see. The Citizen Kane of WWII airplanes. I was going to suggest not getting it, but I realized that was because I've played it and modded the hell out of it way too much. Yes, my Il-2 days are over.
On the other hand, Cliffs of Dover is phenomenal, cheap and not all that hard to mod. There's only one set of mods worth getting...but I may be getting over my Cliffs of Dover thing too.
So that leaves Battle of Stalingrad, with Battle of Moscow to come. BoS and BoM are quite astounding visually and where else will you see most of the aircraft depicted/simulated anywhere near as well? Anyway, better play Il-2. These others will just spoil that experience.
Quote from: acctingman on January 27, 2016, 09:25:30 AM
Bought it off Steam
Is there another mod that isn't too hard or problematic to download that adds planes and maybe some graphical enhancements?
Thanks
As others have said, there is plenty to be going on with in the Stock game, but if you
must mod, then HSFX will go "over" the 4.12.1 version that is on Steam, and is probably easiest to install. This page http://www.sas1946.com/main/index.php/board,191.0.html (http://www.sas1946.com/main/index.php/board,191.0.html) should point you in the right direction. If you do mod, then save a back-up vanilla version beforehand (just copy and paste the install).
I'm confused about the $10 for the CUP mod.
I've downloaded all of parts at least twice and the full Monty before it and never paid a dime.
If you read the directions for the CUP mod it isn't difficult to do at all and you have a large group of helpful people at SAS if you get stuck.
With CUP installed you can fly from 1910 right up until the 1990s. Some of the cockpits now rival DCS ones.
The stock game is too bland for me in the visuals anymore. I don't think I'd be able to fly it.
$10 was for the base game on Steam :)
Quote from: WallysWorld on January 26, 2016, 11:15:00 PM
Quote from: SirAndrewD on January 26, 2016, 10:18:49 PM
IL2 1946 with the Ultrapack mod is the way to go for WW2 flight simming. And yes, there are torpedoes.
Ultrapack is very time consuming and touchy to install, but once it's going, it's essentially everything WW2 that you want to do.
Is Ultrapack compatible with version 4.12.2 let along the new 4.13?
I read on the Steam forum for IL2 that Ultrapack is supposedly not compatible with version 4.12: https://steamcommunity.com/app/15320/discussions/0/613940109839425665/#c617319460875647782 (https://steamcommunity.com/app/15320/discussions/0/613940109839425665/#c617319460875647782)
I'm using HSFX 7 myself.
I don't think it's compatable with the latest patches, no. It's been a while since I played it, but I was using Ultrapack 3 and DBW on an older install.
Finding the right and most current mods for IL2 1946 is a job in and of itself. Worth it when you get it running, but yeah, a hassle.