Microsoft Combat Flight Simulator 2
A Product Review by Eli Black

Microsoft has long been known for its flight simulator programs. They are entertaining and extremely detailed, allowing you to fly everything from a single engine Cessna to a Concorde SST. The detail and realism in MCFS2 is definitely on par with that reputation.

The basics:
Combat Flight Simulator 2 comes on two CDs, and has a fairly large install size. At 831mb for the recommended installation, it’s about average for a game with lots of graphics and sound files. It also has the option of a custom install, where you can remove some components; the maximum installation requirement is 950mb, the minimum installation is 343mb.

The manual is nearly an inch thick and runs to 310 pages. It’s packed with everything from basic game information to short bios of WWII fighter pilots. It even has information on aviation and combat maneuvers. Besides the manual, the review copy also came with a free strategy guide, a rather large book that details the advantages and disadvantages of all the planes, has walkthroughs for all the missions, and includes other standard strategy guide fare. Overall, the documentation for this game is incredible, compared to some games that come with only a small manual and some brochures.

The Gameplay:
Compared to many other 3D games currently on the market, the requirements for MCFS2 are minimal. It ran perfectly on my computer with most of the graphics features enabled, and on a slightly better machine with every possible option on. The controls can be set as basic or as complex as you want. You can let the computer automatically manage fuel, rudder, and other things, while you just use a joystick to fly, or if you’re more of a simulation buff, you can do it all yourself. This flexibility opens up the game to people who aren’t into total realism, while leaving the option there for those who like it. Besides the controls, this feature can be seen in the other options of the game, such as whether or not wind will affect your plane, if G forces will cause you to black out (the edges of the screen get hazy black), and how much damage enemies will do. This is all very impressive because it not only opens the game up to a much wider audience, it also allows users to grow into all the options.

Overview:
It’s obvious that a lot of work went into making this game authentic. From the 40’s-style animation in the cut-scenes to the authentic sound of a wing-panel breaking loose (they actually interviewed pilots and had them approve all the sounds), it’s extremely detailed. In the several hours of play testing that I did, I did not encounter any crashes or bugs, which is good for a game that hasn’t been out long. Something that I noticed immediately, though, is that the game is extremely difficult to play without some kind of game controller. So I borrowed a Tigon joystick from The Computer Place. It worked great, installed easily, and the four-button configuration was quite handy.

System Requirements:
Processor: Pentium 266 or higher.
Memory: 32mb RAM for Windows 95/98; 64mb for Windows ME or Windows 2000.
Hard Drive: 350mb available hard drive space (you really should have 800mb-1gb).
CD-ROM: 4x or higher CD-ROM drive.
Video Card: 3D accelerator with at least 4mb.
Joystick or flight controller recommended.

Review Systems:
Pentium III 500/667mhz
384/128mb RAM
Diamond Viper 550 16mb / Hercules Prophet GeForce 32mb DDR
24x CD-ROM / 40x CD-ROM
Tigon four-button joystick on both

Microsoft Combat Flight Simulator 2: WWII Pacific Theatre © 2000 Microsoft, $50
Tigon JSK220 Joystick, made by Maxxtro, $25