# Air combat games for PC **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 17, 2003, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-combat-games-for-pc/213742 "2003-11-17T18:40:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2003, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-combat-games-for-pc/213742/1 "2003-11-17T18:40:42Z")
I just purchased a new computer system, having put up for years with an old and slow Win95-based device. I’m looking forward to seeing what this generation of PC games is like. I’d be really grateful for your advice and opinion on an air combat game. Years ago, although it received pretty awful reviews, I kinda liked Agile Warrior. At least it had some of the features I was looking for. So, can you recommend something along that line? A game featuring an airplane with an attack mission? I have tried Microsoft Combat Flight Simulator 3, but found it VERY difficult and, frankly, a bit boring. It is more of a simulator than a fun game. But maybe that’s just me. In any case, what do you recommend? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![slortar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@slortar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slortar)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2003, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-combat-games-for-pc/213742/2 "2003-11-17T19:10:39Z")
Hm. Well, if you want fast arcadey flight sim action, you could probably still find Crimson Skies 1. It’s a bit on the old side, but still not at all bad looking. Great atmosphere, too. ---
**Author:** ![DougC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7feea3/32.png) [@DougC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DougC)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2003, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-combat-games-for-pc/213742/3 "2003-11-17T20:53:55Z")
> [@](#): > > …It is more of a simulator than a fun game. … - - - Do note that many PC games have loads of “simulator”-style features included for realism’s sake but you usually have an option to turn most of them off for sort of an easy-type “arcade” game. ~ ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2003, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-combat-games-for-pc/213742/4 "2003-11-18T04:50:21Z")
I was going to suggest the Air Warrior games. Most fun I ever had in a flying game. Sadly, it’s been discontinued. ---
**Author:** ![Dagon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a698b9/32.png) [@Dagon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dagon)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2003, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-combat-games-for-pc/213742/5 "2003-11-18T12:16:05Z")
IL-2 Sturmovik: Forgotten Battles is pretty much as good as it gets as far as WW2 sims go, and as DougC mentioned you can tone down the realism if you want. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2003, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-combat-games-for-pc/213742/6 "2003-11-23T07:21:23Z")
Thanks for your advice. I waited to post this follow-up note of appreciation until I had made the purchase … so, I got IL-2 Sturmovik: Forgotten Battles. Outstanding! MUCH better than Microsoft Combat Flight Simulator 3 IMHO (and half the price). ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2003, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-combat-games-for-pc/213742/7 "2003-11-23T15:59:14Z")
Moving this to Cafe Society. ---
**Author:** ![Skillet38](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8797f3/32.png) [@Skillet38](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skillet38)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2003, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-combat-games-for-pc/213742/8 "2003-11-23T16:28:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by GMRyujin \* > \*\*I was going to suggest the Air Warrior games. Most fun I ever had in a flying game. Sadly, it’s been discontinued. \*\* Hey **GMRyujin** what was your cpid in AW ? FR or RR ? ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2003, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-combat-games-for-pc/213742/9 "2003-11-23T17:06:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Skillet38 \* > \*\*Hey **GMRyujin** what was your cpid in AW ? FR or RR ? \*\* Oh, man. I think it was some variation on Skipshot, an old nick I used to use all the time. I played mostly RR, I always wound up spinning my aircraft in FR. If you ran into me, it was probably as a gunner. I loved nothing more than loading up in a B-17 Death Star. I went out and spent $80 on an MS joystick cause it was USB and my laptop didn’t have a game port…just so I could play AW. Good times. ---
**Author:** ![Vezer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b38774/32.png) [@Vezer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vezer)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2003, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-combat-games-for-pc/213742/10 "2003-11-23T18:02:20Z")
Wow, I remember learning the true meaning of _wins32_ from Air Warrior 1 and operated in windows 3.11! That game was such a blast in the AOL days of yore! No lag, 144 people a war. RR baby though. (Vezmez with the handle Vez) Today? IL2 is really the only big fish to land in a long time. Falcon 4 (yes of the over 6 year old fame) is being continuously updated. Check [Falcon Unified Team](http://f4ut.frugalsworld.com/) [Falcon Headquarters](http://www.simmersworld.com/default.php?page=default) ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2003, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-combat-games-for-pc/213742/11 "2003-11-23T18:27:43Z")
Yea, I started playing on AOL, wandered away when it left AOL, then signed back up. I even remember crewing a tank for a long tank raid. Spent 3 hours driving around the edge of the river, taking potshots at planes passing by, and got blown up right after we took down the field. Good times! AW2 and 3 here, if I recall right. ---
**Author:** ![Skillet38](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8797f3/32.png) [@Skillet38](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skillet38)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2003, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-combat-games-for-pc/213742/12 "2003-11-23T19:07:17Z")
Nice to see Air Warrior remembered. I played rr for about 7 years, from the AOL AW1 days, through AW2, AW3, and then till the end with AWMV (millenium version). Unfortunately for the players, EA bought AW and then killed it, thus ending the net’s first and strongest online air combat game. The most endearing thing about AW aside from it’s playability was the strong sense of community. No other game I’ve played has ever come close to matching the friendships and rivalries that made AW such a personal experience. AW spawned 2 games of course. Warbirds is still out there I believe, and the very very nice [Aces High](http://www.hitechcreations.com/). Aces High is the most akin to it’s older brother, and after AW’s demise, most of the community moved over. Wasn’t my cup o tea, but it’s a great game. IL-2 I highly recommend as a stand alone game. I was SKT in AW and my squadron was The Flying Skillets \_ **\** \_\_/====== good times indeed ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2003, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-combat-games-for-pc/213742/13 "2003-11-23T19:42:20Z")
AW was probably the best MMO I’ve ever played. There were times I’d sign on and grab a plane, just to be in the air and chattering on the radio. I may have to check out Aces High. ---
**Author:** ![Bluesman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/97f17d/32.png) [@Bluesman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bluesman)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2003, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-combat-games-for-pc/213742/14 "2003-11-23T23:20:00Z")
[Red Baron II/3D](http://h.webring.com/hub?ring=redbaron2) with the [Full Canvas Jacket Superpatch](http://h.webring.com/hub?ring=redbaron2) is a terrific re-tread of a title that would’ve been too long in the tooth. Instead, it’s become what the game should’ve always been. Another old title that plays purty fresh is the only Korean War flight sim - [MiG Alley](http://www.empireinteractive.com/migalley/). Jets, but no missiles or radar…all the fun of the tail chase, but no push-button, swing-for-the-fences mindless ‘tactics’. Now, THAT is COOL!🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-combat-games-for-pc/213742/15 "2003-11-24T05:51:07Z")
I strongly recommend _IL2:Sturmovik_, along with the _Forgotten Battles_ expansion pack. The online play is great, and the single player campaign(s) alone will provide a great experience. For modern air combat, I would go with either _Falcon4_ (old, but _damn_, it’s still good…) or _LOMAC_. (Lock On! Modern Air Combat). From the same designer as IL2. I don’t have much time on this one, but it looks darned good. ---
**Author:** ![Skillet38](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8797f3/32.png) [@Skillet38](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skillet38)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-combat-games-for-pc/213742/16 "2003-11-24T16:12:29Z")
I got IL2 when it first came out, and the online play was terrible, read, not even functional. I take it it’s much improved. **Brutus** are you still playing online through the Ubi Soft site ? ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-combat-games-for-pc/213742/17 "2003-11-24T22:58:35Z")
Playing through the Ubisoft site is acceptable. I didn’t try when I first got the game (the single player was more then enough for me), and by the time I tried it, it was revamped. For online play, I generally use Hyperlobby. I can always find a ‘max realism’ game on there. ---
**Author:** ![jimpatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b9e5f3/32.png) [@jimpatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimpatro)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-combat-games-for-pc/213742/18 "2003-11-24T23:40:57Z")
Chuck Yeager’s Air Combat rules! Fly in three wars against 109s, MIG17s, MIG21s. Might be hard to find but definitely worth it. ---
**Author:** ![jimpatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b9e5f3/32.png) [@jimpatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimpatro)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-combat-games-for-pc/213742/19 "2003-11-24T23:51:07Z")
Chuck Yeager’s Air Combat rules! Fly in three wars against 109s, MIG17s, MIG21s. Might be hard to find but definitely worth it. ---
**Author:** ![HookerChemical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/278dde/32.png) [@HookerChemical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HookerChemical)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-combat-games-for-pc/213742/20 "2003-11-25T05:35:33Z")
I have and enjoy IL-2. I assume Forgotten Battles is an add-on, but what does it add? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-combat-games-for-pc/213742.md?page=2)