TSCofield
Posts: 223
Joined: 5/12/2001
From: Ft. Lewis Washington
Status: offline
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I've flown both.
I've reviewed both.
Comparing IL2 and AH2 is really like comparing apples and oranges. Both are fruit but that is where the similarities end.
Aces High 2 is probably the best massively multiplayer online WW2 flight sim currently produced. While IL2, especially modded versions, are very good and there are some pretty good sized arenas there is nothing quite like logging into a 400 plus player arena and taking off with 35 to 50 different players on a strike on an enemy airbase. Squadrons in the game often are involved in special events and historical reinactments that recreate some of the biggest air battles of the war. In one Midway scenerio I was in an SBD tasked with finding the KB. That was my mission. It seems boring until you find yourself surrounded by 15 Zero's trying to keep yourself alive long enough to send off the coordinates of the enemy task force. The recreations put you in the war during that time.
It isn't perfect though. Graphically the game looks dated. This is somewhat planned since many players don't have the top of the line machines that many IL2 or CoD flyers have. The dowload size has limited the detail in the game in the past although it isn't as big a deal now. But the basic engine dates back to 1998 and it shows. Flight models are top notch, as mentioned before, take off the flier assist and the game can be very difficult. With it you can fly but you can't do some of the fancy maneuvers that veteran fliers can. I don't know if the models are 'better' but they are very good. Probably the biggest drawback, IMHO is the main arena setup. While large the aircraft used are somewhat generic, not by design but by reality. Most fliers tend to jump into late war aircraft since those are the ones that tend to survive the longest and get the most kills. You rarely see a stuka, a dauntless or a kate in the main arena. Early model 109s or P40s are rare since they are outclassed in the arenas. There are early and mid war arenas but they are pretty sparse most times. I personally got sick of fighting SpitXIVs, LA7s and F4U4s. It simply got bored for me but I was really into it for a while.
Similar games are Warbirds and Battleground Europe. Warbirds is very similar to AH2 but BE is a true combined arms simulator with air, ground and naval units. It was once known as WW2 Online and after a really, really, really rough start has turned into a pretty decent game. It isn't perfect and there are some detractions in the game but it isn't bad.
IL2 right now is still the gold standard of boxed flight simulations. IL2: 1946 even unmodded is arguably the best flight simulation ever made. It combined very good graphics with above average flight and damage models, outstanding multiplayer and a decent campaign. People have 'modded' the game to make it even better.
Other really good flight simulations include Battle of Britain 2 by A2A simulatons. To be honest, this game has CoD beaten hands down in most departments. The game has Rowan's old BOB campaign, a true wargame like campaign to go with really good flight models, pretty nice graphics and very tough ai opponents. If it had multiplayer capability (they never got it working and the original BOB MP was horrible) it would be the king of WW2 flight simulations. It doesn't get the credit that it deserves. Yes, I am that high on it. IL2:BoB may outdo it eventually but from what I have seen it needs work. I just got got it (literally today) so I won't comment on it at all.
Hope this helps. AH has a free trial so there isn't any problem just downloading and trying it for yourself. Same with Warbirds or Battleground Europe. Most have 2wk to 1 month trials for new signups. Might be worth a look for you.
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Thomas S. Cofield Feature Editor, SimHQ.com t.co0field@comcast.net (stopped the SimHq mail since I get nothing but spam)  |
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RE: OT: Aces high 2? - 
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