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Combat Flight Simulator 3 Battle for Europe for Windows Videos >>
Combat Flight Simulator 3 Battle for Europe for Windows
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Combat Flight Simulator 3 Battle for Europe for Windows
41 reviews   2.51 of 5

Product Description

Sound

Average.

Gameplay

My system is marginal for todays top games, that's a given. But even with all video options set to absolute minimum, which resulted in rather poor graphics, this game was still sweating my computer, jittering and locking up like no tomorrow, even when NO action is taking place. My IL2, with hardware and video settings at about medium all around, looks absolutely fantastic and runs smoothly, with the occasional glitch when the action gets hot and heavy. I cannot understand why CFS3 is SOOOOO demanding. It doesn't show. I have many games that blow it away, and they run great. I'm taking it back immediately. They skimped on this one badly. No more thick informative manual like CFS2, just a laughable little pamphlet. You can tell this turkey was slapped together in time for Christmas.
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Summary

Save your money, this game is totally unplayable. I really enjoyed playing MS CFS 1 and 2 because it ran smooth and I had FULL CONTROL over the game. I really looked forward to getting MS CFS 3, but it dosen't even support control with a mouse and there are no controls for the weapons or damage control. The reason MS CFS 1 and 2 were fun to play is because your could just fly the plane and have fun. (I suppose Microsoft figures that with no mouse control it will force you to go purchase their joystick, think again!) The game video stutters and freezes up constantly.
If microsoft had just improved on the MS CFS2 platform, CFS3 would of also have been a great game to own, but once again Microsoft proves that it can take a great product and turn it into something that is difficult to use. I just hope I can get a refund.
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Summary

I never even got going on this sim.. Told me it wouldn't accept the drivers on my video card . I then went to MS home site where it recomended a down load. I then fired it up again and it locked up about three times, eventualy knocking out my video card drivers.. Spent the whole bloody evening trying to find on line driver downloads to get my computer up and running again....Back to shop it goes..What I saw of it, I wasn't all that knocked out with. It reminded me very much in graphics off E.A.W, which was a great sim.
No!. I'm afraid when it comes to slide shows..Locking up etc ect it's best left well enough alone and returned. Funnily enough I have never had this problem with a Microsoft flight sim before.
I enjoy flight sims, but am not a computer nurd. I want to just plug in and get going. I really don't want the hassle of messages about drivers and downloading this and that.....Not for that price anyway...
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Summary

Every time I buy a fighter plane game I regret it. After buying it I promise my self that I won’t ever buy any fighter plane game again until I get the best of the best PC game for Flight Combat. But again my love for Air combat makes me do the same mistake again & again. This time too I made a mistake & I regret WHY THE HELL I GOT THIS GAME. You know I can’t understand why can’t anyone make a perfect flight combat game. I tired F-15, F-18, Isrealian air force or whatever your call it, IL2 Sturmovik (I don’t know what is so great in it), Combat Sim 2 & now this master piece of crap. I am not going to waste my & your time so please don’t buy this game & make the same mistake I did IT SUCKS!! The only games I liked in flight combat were Dogfighter & Crimson Skies. I wish Lock On: Modern Air Combat can fulfill my long thirst of a perfect flight combat game. Anyway don’t even think of getting this game ok. I just don’t understand why the hell do these game companies keep making WW2 games, we are living in the nuclear age & they want us to fly some plane from 1940’s?? Well my final advice to you is don’t spend your money on this game it’s not worth it.
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Sound

Again, just fancy and not realistic. It's like comparing the movie Windtalkers to Black Hawk Down. Windtalkers is action packed, guns ablazing, but it's only a John Woo movie that you forget after watching once. On the other hand a game like Sturmovik is similar to Black Hawk Down, where its down to earth, not a bit as flashy, but never gets old. The sound will get annoying pretty soon like Yahzee did in Windtalkers. Get Sturmovik, listen to some Russian jargon and some real engine sounds.

Gameplay

At first you express an implication of awe. Smooth flight, ruthless AI, beautiful cockpit. But after a couple of flights, you think: hey where did the WWII atmosphere go? You can expect the game to be seemingly awe-inspiring, but, cmon it's Microsoft, don't expect it to be realistic. If you want the real thing get Sturmovik, if you want some flashy fake stuff this is the game for you.
Oh, by the way, this is one of the buggiest games I have ever played. I won't go into details because Microsoft will probably hire a hitman to assasinate me for undermining their greatness. But check out the other reviews and see their complaints on bugs.
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Sound

The sound is good. I had'nt noticed it much to be honest. What I did notice was more shotcomings, like the detail of then engine start up sounds compared to IL2. The weapon sounds and radio transmissions are good though and the flak sounds convincing enough.

Gameplay

Career mode is okay, nothing that pulls you in, but most flight sims are all about the experience not the story. The highly touted feature of an ongoing war with a dynamic front line is neat, but is poorly executed. As it turns out, your influence to the turn of war is minimal and your constantly led to beleive you're efforts aren't having much effect. Most frustrating is the lack of effect that picking up targets of opportunity seems to have. On your way to and from missions, it seems to have zero effect no matter how much you devastate the landscape.
The game physics are semi-realistic, weak compared to IL2's flight model, but not what I'd call Arcadey. It has some nice features to compliment a less experienced pilot like radar and target tracking pointers.
The graphics range from fair in the environments to outstanding on the planes and visual effects. This lends to an odd experience and adds to VERY unpolished feel of the game. I've had multiple crashes, long pauses in gameplay and general lack of fps. Especially when "Warping" or accelerating time. I have also seen many bugs. Terrain textures seem to be misplaced at times lending to a mixed up jigsaw puzzle look and multiplayer games have led to an array of bizarre experiences such as flying UNDER the terrain and having no plane model at all, just a pilot flying along naked (sorta like wonder woman's invisible jet!).
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Summary

The latest (eagerly awaited) installment in the Combat Flight Simulator series returns to the European theatre of the Second World War after it's Pacific foray. This time the focus is on tactical air support and low altitude operations in the last two years of the war (1943 onwards) as well as taking a bold step into the "what if" world of a continuation of the hostilities beyond May 1945. A good selection of aircraft are featured, including a number of twin engine planes with multiple crew positions, a fairly new feature for a comabt flight simulation. Also modelled are an interesting selection of advanced aircraft types that were just entering service or never quite reached operational status. A dynamic campaign system is the focus of the single player game (very much in the same style as that featured in Eurofigher Typhoon), another welcome addition to the set up.
Unfortunately, while CFS 3 sounds really great in concept, the game itself is medicore verging on the poor. Firstly, the program has a massive thirst for system power which limits it's playability, made even worse by the fact that I was left feeling the game showed very little for it's voracious processing requirements. Secondly the interface and controls are awkward and somewhat counter-intuitive. Thirdly and perhaps worst of all, some features are taken straight from Combat Flight Simulator 2, giving the game a cheap, recycled feel. I had great expectations of CFS 3- it could have been a truly great WW2 flight sim, but sadly it fails to deliver into a market that has some real classics to choose from. I would not recommend this game.

Sound

The sound is particularly bad and unimaginative. The sound effects for the machine guns and cannons have been taken straight from CFS 2 and re-used whereas they could have had more depth added to them. In addition there appears to be one general weapon sound that is applied to all weapons of that class, which again detracts from the realism.
Engine sounds do have more variety according which plane you fly, but some are rather flat and uninteresting.
There are a couple of saving graces however- the jet engine sounds are nicely done and the dull creaks from your plane's airframe in high-G manoeuvres is suitably ominous.

Gameplay

As a combat flight simulation, the gameplay disappoints. While flight models have been (considerably) improved since CFS 2, they lack atmosphere and do not engage you in the game, and do not give that all important feeling of "being there".
One definite improvement is the abandonment of the old "bubble" hit zones from CFS 2, so damage is harder to score on opponents and mid air collisions have become much more realistic.
The dynamic campaign system gives a vital boost to the otherwise uninspiring gameplay. With three sides to play no two campaigns should be identical and the way your pilot gains experience and improves is also novel, although the aircraft allocation system lacks realism. (WW2 pilots did not have such control over the aircraft they flew).
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Summary

In terms of flight sims made by Microsoft, this game ranks as their best. Compared to some of the other flight sims I've played, the game ranks highly, with the high realism and many options built in.

The game gives you the opening choice of which campaign you which to play: the British, the Americans, or the Germans. Each group has their own advantages and disadvantages, which make the game more interesting. For example, the Germans have some of the better planes at the beginning of the game, but you have to give up Prestige points to acquire these better planes. The British, on the other hand, have some good planes to start, and you don't sacrifice Prestige points to acquire good planes. The Americans have it the hardest initially, with only one plane, and it being good for only air-to-ground attacks.

One other option that is also open at the beginning is what kind of pilot you want to be. The choices open to you are that of a Fighter pilot, or a Bomber pilot. Flying the Fighter is what most people look forward to in Flight Sims, but the addition makes that game a bit more well rounded toward people who would rather be out of the enemies gun range when their dropping their bombs.

Another nice point about the game is the missions selection. From what I've played thus far, there are over 20 mission types available, ranging from Recon to Anti-ship missions. Early in the campaign, you will find that Anti-ship missions will occupy the bulk of what is available.

One key point should be made. The game was designed for both air-to-air combat, as well as air-to ground combat. However, the game was designed so that you gain more Prestige through air-to-air combat rather than air to ground combat. Effectively, to get the same amount of fame for destroying one plane, you have to destroy 5 ground vehicles, ships, or buildings.

The advancement of technology through the game is extremely realistic. The Americans, as explained earlier, start with one crappy plane. Wait about 4 months (according to the game), and you get two new planes. You can also aquire new models of planes earlier by spending Squadron Prestige points.

Overall, the game itself is a great overall simulation. It gives you lots of options, which can be difficult to find in other games of it's kind.

Sound

Sound is good, especially for a flight sim. The sound of your engine starting can be considered much more realistic that some of the other games I've played, and that's just the beginning. The sound was so well done that I can hear it when someone is behind me, shooting at me.

Gameplay

The game plays like that of any other flight sim. Use your keyboard or your joystick to fly a plane. In my opinion, the joystick is more effective in this game than it has been in other games (CFS2 was better played with the keyboard, if you asked me).

One thing you'll find is that every plane is different in how it handles. The P-38 flies much different from the Folke-Wulf. And even planes from different countries will respond differently. The Spitfire responds a bit slower than the P-51 does when it comes to avoiding enemy fire.

Gameplay is actively affected by what options you set in the options menu. If you want a simple game, you can set yourself to be invincible, with unlimited fuel and ammunition. One thing should be noted, however. When the setting for invincibiltiy is activated, you will be unable to advance in rank, improve on your pilot's skills, or get new aircraft. On the other hand, on the Hardest difficulty, you have limited fuel, ammuntion, and range. On this difficulty you will find that you are actively adjusting things such as the fuel mixture and the flaps settings, to make your trip faster and more efficient. Also, you will receive maximum Presige and experience, and you will rise in rank faster and get better planes quicker.

One thing to learn quickly is to pay attention. When playing either side, you'll learn fast that the enemy always expects you, and there is plenty of anti-aircraft sitting around ready to blow you out of the skies! I'm not kidding about this. Anti-ship missions mean destroying both the cargo ships as well as the destroyers, which have AA guns. Enemy airfields and factories have AA guns. It'll be the main reason you get shot down or have your plane damaged. There is alot of flak in the air.
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Sound

The sound is like the graphics. Breathtaking in its completeness. Bullets wiz as they come close to your canopy, bullets splash when you hit the water with them, you can hear the sound of bullets ripping through metal when they hit a metal object (including yourself, ow).

Gameplay

Here is where the game slows down. Literally. After playing 4 missions, the load times get longer, and longer, and longer until you are waiting some 8-10 minutes to load up a mission. The first mission loads up nearly instantly, mission 4 you are waiting a while. You have to exit the game and restart to fix this. Increasing the paging file size either doesn't help. Other than that annoying bug, the gameplay is great. The AI is smart enough to be a challenge, and they dynamic campaign is great. I like the fact I don't have to play a particular mission if I don't feel like it.
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Summary

I`ve never been a fan of Microsoft games, they`re generally dry,lacking character and immersive qualities, and this one continues the trend.
The main problem is that it`s all been done before and better, going back nearly 5 years Janes WWII fighters was more fun, European air war has a far better campaign which is actually dynamic (two reviews on games sites actually recommend EAW as a better game), and more recently IL2 Sturmovik is a superior sim in every department, and just in case you forgot guys you gave us this game already 4 years ago and called it Microsoft Combat flight Simulator WWII Europe.
Games like Il2 Sturmovik were made by a team who were obviously passionate about WWII and tested the game on former WWII pilots, Combat Sim 3 no doubt had technically brilliant guys working on it but with certainly no interest in WWII, to put it bluntly the game is lacking charm. At least IL2 took us to a new campaign area - the Russian front and so we got a chance to experience new aircraft, Combat sim 3 fails to even give us a look at a B17.
I have to agree with an earlier reviewer that the "golden age" of WWII combat sims is definately over and they would have been wiser to end the series with CFS2. I`m not a microsoft employee earning a thousand bucks an hour, but if I were I`d come up with something more original than this, here`s a hint: how about a North African desert Campaign? it`s never been done in a sim before (not officially) and there`s an opportunity to introduce new aircraft (Italian)thats if you HAVE to give us another WWII sim, I mean how many do we need to play in one lifetime?