We tested the latest in aerial simulation, Microsoft Flight Simulator, within the framework of the X019.
Microsoft Flight Simulator marks the return more than thirteen years after a saga that had been enshrined as a header for air simulation fans. Having an up-to-date delivery to the current times means, again, the commitment of the Xbox division to grant creative freedom to their studies. It was time to enjoy new experiences within your ecosystem.
During the past X019, we had the opportunity to test a specific build for this event through two small demos that demonstrate the technical and playable capabilities of a simulator with all the letters.
You put the limits
The entrance door could not be better. The company had enabled a space in which to approach how a pilot would experience being at the controls of a real plane. We had our own navigation helm, speed levers, control of external flaps and pedals that not only allowed us to control the rear train, but also pushed them to slow us down with the plane on the ground. The set was not just any hotas you find online.
"Only the rudder costs 400 pounds," one of those responsible responds. It is not for less. The opportunity to experience something like that is not frequent; The finishing of the materials had nothing to do with other current peripherals, such as the Logitech G Pro Saitek. Impose sitting on a set of such caliber.
While the two tests are preset sets, in the final game you will be able to choose with complete freedom which routes you want to establish across the globe. In our case, the first one was a small learning tour of the city of Seattle: take off, fly over the city and land at the same airport.
Flying a plane in Microsoft Flight Simulator goes beyond starting the engine and turning a helm. Here we must be constant, attentive to any aspect that occurs outside the cabin. During the flight you must correct the address at all times, pay attention to the indicators so as not to over revolutionize. Playable depth levels reach limits shortly before seen in a simulator of these characteristics.
Simulation, with all the letters
While we chat with the person in charge during the demo, we put the example of Euro Truck Simulator 2. “Saving the distances yes, we are a kind of ETS2 in the air, but the big difference is that here the simulation is much more demanding. This game is designed so that professional pilots can feel the same as when they are in the air, ”he says.
And the truth is that everything points to it. Not only because of the possibilities, but because of the way in which the external elements affect the piloting conditions. It is simply on another level. The unexpected change in the wind can become an odyssey. A surprising moment was to see how it goes through all the real-time time conditions, all without suffering a whit of performance. Tremendous. It happened during the second demo; the sky of Naples reached a beauty like no other.
Two types of conditions are allowed: either we choose the time and weather we want, or select the actual moment through which the selected area passes. Thanks to the internet it becomes a powerful tool, sick to find the detail. The loading of the maps through the cloud is just the tip of the iceberg. How will the system work? They explain it to us: “When you start the game for the first time you will have to be connected to the internet. Once the loading time is completed, your map will be cached; If your connection is gone, you can continue playing without any problem. ” We confirm that it will not require permanent connection, although with nuances. The point is that there is room for flexibility for those who still do not have a stable internet connection.
Users of a title of these characteristics seek maximum fidelity with real life. Therefore, eight frontline aviation companies have confirmed their presence so far: Airbus, The Boeing Company, CubCrafters, Daher, Diamond Aircraft Industries, ICON Aircraft, Robin Aircraft and Textron Aviation. Despite not having a specific release date (it is only planned for 2020), the game feels very formed, almost to leave.
Insurmountable sensations
Together with Bleeding Edge, they were the only two builds in which we did not witness major problems, even in technical terms. Microsoft Flight Simulator left us unsurpassed taste. A simulation in which professionals and neophytes can come together to enjoy equal parts of an aviation universe without rivals today.
We find it hard to imagine this visual power on an Xbox One. It amazes from the first moment. We do not remember such a faithful representation of the clouds, in the way they are formed and diluted by the storm. We want to fly free once it reaches the market at some point next year.
