Birds of Steel

Birds of Steel is an amazing flight sim mixed with a aerial fighter game. I would have given it five stars, but it is lacking in some areas. But over-all, if you are seeking a great flight game for whatever console, this is the game to get.

Birds of Steel is pretty amazing. It connects several genres of flight games and turns it all into a swirling story of flight and fight during World War II. There is plenty of history in the story for the history buffs. There is plenty of ability to control the game for those who want a simulation. There is plenty of arcadeness (if that is a word) for the person who wants to just shoot and kill. This game really has a lot.

Birds of Steel has several settings, rather than selecting difficulty. There is "Simplified" for those that want a simple control set-up. This seems best suited for typical controllers. "Realistic" setting provides more physics and less arcade, while providing more simplistic settings. "Simulator" gives the player the full effect available of feeling like they are in control of a WWII era plane in battle. As well, you can set fuel and ammo on unlimited, limited fuel, limited ammo, and limited fuel/ammo. A combination of any can make for insane difficulty.

The controls can feel simple in "Simplified" mode (hence the name) but actual command over the plane feels edgy, especially when your plane is driving through flack. At the simplest moments in this mode, such as taking on targets trough dogfights, bombings, torpedo runs or aircraft carrier landings, this game plays like your classic Top Gun for the NES with better sound and graphics. It is only uphill from there. The actual ability to change throttle and such brings a realism never experienced on consoles in such completeness. For the adventurists, I here you can plug in even the most basic PS3 compatible flight sticks and they work great with this game.

The sounds of the game are as epic as one could expect. There are your typical generic "going to war" video game musical pieces. Intertwined with these are classical pieces that give an aerial feeling to the play. The most amazing part of the sound comes from the stories told of the engineers of Birds of Steel. Supposedly they went far and beyond to find the correct engine and weapon sounds for every plane in the game. This includes inside and outside views. Take offs hum into life. Even edging water with your wing has a realistic sound (I tried it before I slammed into a Japanese destroyer on a torpedo run). The sounds really make the game fun.

There are also unlockables. These include planes and decals for those planes. There is an online mode that I have not been able to play. I signed on and waited forever on a page with guys ranked way higher than my level one. We never started a match. I cannot comment on this aspect.

There is a huge learning curve for those without sticks compatible for the consoles (as I don't have any flight sticks... I am going off my experience vs those who have flight sticks). There is also the realization that this is only a console game. It does not compare to the typical PC flight sim. However, it is unfair to make such comparisons. The game has many check points, but failure of a mission seems to restart the whole mission. These bits can be seen as flaws, but they aren't horrible for a flight and fight game with the scope of this one's.

I am a huge fan of flight simulation, be it fantasy or historical. I am also a history major, but I tend to favor classical and Middle Age/Renaissance history. I don't love war games. I did enjoy the Call of Duty and Medal of Honor games that involved historical events... so maybe I just like historical war games. I will say this is the best flight game of any type you will find on a console. That is not an opinion. Now I want to see Drew, Dave, and Vinny do a belated QL on this game.

PS There is a neat system to look around your plane on this game. It is no Track IR. However, it works very well.