Flight simulation game reviews

The game is hitting Xbox Games Pass for PC on launch day, and is coming to Xbox Series X in the future, with many feeling that Microsoft should have included it in its recent games showcase to really show off what its new console will be capable of, rather than the roundly-mocked Halo Infinite showing we got instead. That was the position we found ourselves in when reviewing Microsoft Flight Simulator. First of all, there are three versions of the game that are available, and that can make picking the best one for you a bit tricky.

This adds five more planes and five more airports. If it is, keep subscribed or buy the game as a standalone. While Microsoft Flight Simulator can be played with a keyboard and mouse, or game pad, to get the full experience, we really recommend getting some extra peripherals — and that can quickly become expensive. It helps with the immersion immensely.

Microsoft Flight Simulator does an excellent job of detecting the peripherals you plug in and configuring the controls to match — including images of the peripherals so you can see which button does what. So, as a beginner, how is the experience?

To be honest — it can be very baffling, with a lot of information and jargon thrown at you. There are a number of tutorials that you really should complete first. By neglecting to tell us what button starts the engine, we sat on a runway for about 30 minutes trying to get the damn plane moving.

This can be confusing and frustrating at first, but trust us and stick with it. We also ended up remapping certain keyboard controls such as starting the engine and lowing landing gear from the keyboard to the Logitech Flight Yoke. A bit of tweaking allowed us to have a setup that was much easier to use.

And, while flying in Microsoft Flight Simulator can at first start off overwhelmingly confusing, that first time you successfully take off and safely land is hugely rewarding. After our first successful flight, we left the game and all we could think about was getting back into the cockpit.

Each one is meticulously replicated in the game, which means each cockpit — and the instruments it uses — is different. It means you then have to relearn a lot every time you switch. Perhaps the biggest selling point of Microsoft Flight Simulator is its realism. We mentioned the interiors of the planes, and it really is impressive.

This is the first game I've ever played where I downloaded a. PDF manual from a real-world piece of equipment to reference during play — and everything in the manual checks out to the virtual hardware.

It excites the absolute nerdiest parts of my core. As unbelievably realistic as the flight simulation is, it's also accessible to just about anyone's level of flight experience.

Better still, since Flight Simulator is coming to Xbox Series X at some as-of-yet-undetermined point in the future, it controls really well with just an Xbox One controller. The elevator controls are a little touchy on some of the planes using the analog stick, but can be adjusted to suit your needs. Overall, I have no complaints about playing with the controller. It still requires keyboard functionality to get the most out of your plane, but there's no immediate need to rush out and buy a flight stick or yoke.

That being said, the simulation is much more authentic and enjoyable if you do have access to a dedicated flight controller. I used Thrustmaster's new Airbus A flight stick, in addition to my time with the Xbox controller, and it makes flying that much more immersive. Even planes with yokes are better with a flight stick, so if you have the means and if you can actually find one, I recommend picking up a dedicated controller for the full Flight Simulator experience. These aircraft run the gamut from highly maneuverable stunt planes like the Aviat Pitts Special S2S biplane, to wide-bodied airliners like the "Queen of the Skies" herself, the Boeing The variety is excellent, although as an Air Force vet I was a little disappointed that there are no military aircraft.

I was holding out hope I'd get to fly a C my favorite airplane of all , or a C A military trainer like the jet-propelled T would also have been an exciting addition, or even a ViperJet. If you want to fly a jet aircraft the only option right now is a passenger plane, and that's a bit of a bummer — but certainly not a deal breaker.

With that said, I was perfectly content with the 20 planes included with the base game, and I don't really see the need to upgrade unless you feel you absolutely must get behind the controls of a Dreamliner or a Cessna or variant.

Even with medium assists turned on, getting off the ground and back again in one piece requires a lot of planning, careful maneuvering, and tons of practice. It helped me a lot with terminology, best flight practices, and getting used to handling the aircraft. By the time I finished all the flight lessons, I felt completely confident in my abilities controlling the Cessna and its maneuvers.

The other planes operate under the same basic principles, but some of them, particularly the airliners like the Aneo and the , require a lot of familiarizing if you even want to attempt a landing without a disaster. I wish there was more aircraft-specific training available for the other planes in the fleet, but there is a pretty smart AI you can hand the controls to at any time during your flight. I was able to learn a lot about the proper approach angle and landing speeds just from watching my AI pilot take over.

I expect YouTube tutorials will become a thriving genre as well. And besides, if just flying for the sake of flying is your goal, you can always turn on the assists to make it easier. All of that gorgeous detail and accurately modeled equipment is on the inside, but the absolute genius of Microsoft Flight Simulator is actually outside the planes, enabled by its Bing Maps integration.

The effect is absolutely mindblowing: I've flown places I've never been in my life, circling Machu Picchu or barnstorming between the Great Pyramids, and it feels like virtual sightseeing. But I've also flown to places I have visited just to relive the travel experience, and have been thoroughly impressed. More than once I've set off from my local airport and followed real-life roads through the Maine woods and into Quebec, retreading re-winging? I've also landed on the tiny dirt airstrips in some of Maine's remote inhabited islands, taking in the familiar scenery from 2, feet above the Atlantic Ocean.

You can even fly in real-world weather conditions with live air traffic, all of which is adjustable with in-game menus that are easily accessible during flight. If you've ever wanted to take off from an airport in a driving snowstorm at night, you can set the weather and time to your liking.

One of my favorite things to do when flying is to adjust the time of day to the "golden hour," early mornings or just before dusk when the sun's rays are at their warmest and most pleasant. It makes for some incredible sights. The limitations of the Bing integration come in two distinct circumstances: if your internet service provider has a data cap, and when the existing aerial photography of an area happens to be low-resolution.

In the case of the data cap problem, you can preinstall locations ahead of time, so you load one small chunk of data rather than opening up the data firehose. Asobo seems to be sympathetic to this hazard and offers a setting in the menus to track your data use and set an upper limit so you don't go over your cap.

After a few hours of play, including flights over San Francisco and New York City, I only used a few megabytes of data, but multiply that over a few hours a day over the course of a month and flying over less frequently traveled areas and it could become concerning. Also, that comes after you install this GB monster of a game! Personally, I find the thrill of flying a few feet above the Colorado river more than enough to compensate for the lack of texture details on the walls of the Grand Canyon.

Also, since the data is pulled directly from Bing, low-resolution areas will improve as its database of imagery improves over time. At the moment, though, some places do look decidedly… PlayStation 1… when you're up close and personal.

The act of flying and exploring some far-flung corner of the Earth is more than enough to keep me entertained, but Flight Simulator adds some competitive elements, including landing challenges. You must book your session for at least three days in advance. Read: 18 Best Physics Game. Flight simulators in United Airlines facility. Another commercial-grade flight simulator that you can enjoy is the United Airlines A simulator located in Denver. Though the facility is rarely opened to the general public, anyone with the United MileagePlus card can apply whenever there is the opportunity.

All you have to do is enter an auction , where you use your award miles for hours in the simulator. The highest bidder gets to enjoy the simulator for up to four hours along with a friend or whoever you want to take. Do you know, United became the first commercial airliner to use flight simulators with visuals and sound aid for training pilots in Keep in mind that this is not a full-motion or Level D simulator.

Qantas flight simulator. Currently, you can book your 1 hr ride on the simulator at Qantas training facility at a cut down price for 92, points. This offer is for a limited time. Throughout your entire time inside the simulator, an experienced flight trainer will guide you through details about various in-flight instruments, important instructions, etc. You could feel engine thrust and hydraulic as if you were actually flying a US ton aircraft.

You can also simulate real-life airports from all around the world. Image Courtesy: EPA. For more than two decades, the Delta Flight Museum has been a one-stop destination for aviation and aircraft fans. It has so many things to offer, from historical knowledge to the future of flight.

However, one of its main spotlights is the full-motion Boeing flight simulator, which is open to the general public. EVA Air is one of the biggest airliners in Taiwan. Like Qantas and United Airlines, EVA also presents regular commuters and cardholders with a chance to experience flight simulator. One needs to fill the form one month prior to the desired session.

Keep in mind that you need at least , miles or flights to qualify for this experience. The type of flight simulation and aircraft will be decided by airliners, and of course, you have to travel all the way to their headquarters in Taoyuan City, Taiwan.