Customer Reviews

IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey

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As noted elsewhere, it is a DS game and not the flight sim that IL-2 fans are used to NOR the game in the description.

As of this writing, the video shown is accurate and that's what you get. If that looks fun, you'll enjoy it. I did - though not at first. I too had a different expectation based on the IL-2 experience from my PC.

So it's important to realize the description is for the PC version etc. VERY different. The PC version is really a simulation. Takeoff, land, etc.

In the DS game you're in the air, 3rd person (arcade style). The DS game uses the arrows on the left to control up-down-left-right. To turn left, left arrow. Those of you more skilled than I can mix up and left to establish a climbing left turn and so on...

For "situational awareness" little colored triangles show you where the bad guys, good guys and your objectives are relative to your front facing. The map also refects this information in a Up-is-North format.

A and B buttons control your weapons. So for a ME-109 you can fire your machine guns or your cannon or both. For the Stuka, fire machine guns or drop bombs (the rear gunner fires when possible).

Throttle is set specific to each aircraft. However, you can get a speed "burst" as long as you hold down the right index finger control - or put your "speedbrakes" out if you press the left index finger control. I use them to hold formation on the bombers I'm escorting, then burst towards enemy fighers once they are visible.

When a mission ends successfully you don't need to land, the screen will fade and go to the next briefing. The same happens if you fail (don't accomplish objectives, get shot down or crash).

I am a hardcore sim fan, BUT those are hard to accomodate if you're sitting in an airport (or anywhere away from your flight sim hardware). This DS game is a fun "blast away" shooter. Not at all a sim, but I found it engrossing after I got used to the controls.

True - only 3 campaigns and you can be Allied or German in each. Shoot down bombers, fighter sweep, ground attack and dive bomb with a Stuka/IL-2 are your choices. The difficulty is somewhat adjustable. For example, you can set it so that all your rounds hit the target if they are in your sights and in range (aiming circle turns red). You can also set up "infinite" ammo etc. So you can make it more challenging - but not in a "Am I a good pilot?" way.

All that said, I liked it - but I purchased based on the video above (not the description).

For me, if it involves you to the point where your arms are up in the air as you chase a Spitfire across Dover - or you lean into the passenger next to you because suddenly tracers appear from behind - it's fun. Just apologize to them and try to keep it down, huh? :-)

Bandits at your right two-o'clock! Go get 'em!

You gotta remember you are on a DS,for a fly and shoot first person shooter, it was worth it. Needs more campaigns and aircraft to choose from true, but change the setting to really challenge yourself. I would say this game is worth about $10. It is not in the same league as the COD series, but it is okay.

I would be ashamed if I had worked on this game. It's basically unplayable due to incredibly poor design and muddy objectives.

I'm not sure what game is being offered here but I just bought it and it does not match the discription. Mine has only 3 campaigns and no multiplayer capacity. It is a VERY poorly implemented game with minimal flight controls and poor gameplay. I'm not sure if a 2nd version has been released because the 505 website is so poor there's no info available. If you find this game at a flea market for $5, maybe pick it up, otherwise skip it and keep praying that they'll come out with a good flight sim for the DS.