DCS World Steam Edition

Challenging for me to learn the essentials, but there is so much to do and the more you play, and practice, the more rewarding the game.

The developers of this game put a lot of attention to detail when making the aircraft models. I can only speak for the F-18; but when flying the F-18 on DCS, for example, replication of all engine status is possible ("NORM," "PERF90," "AB FAIL," "THRUST," "IDLE," and "SHUTDOWN"). In testing the cockpit indications, the F-18 in DCS accurately switches cockpit indications for when in-flight versus when the aircraft is on the ground or below 80 KCAS after landing (i.e. FADEC and BIT advisories for in-flight and ground, but then DEGD replaces OP GO, with CH A and CH B, lined-out of engine display when on ground).

If you're new to this game, and you're working on carrier landings in the F-18, enter the carrier traffic pattern, level-break upwind, when abeam carrier at about 800 feet, then drop tailhook. When you get crosswind, 250 KCAS, flaps down. When you get abeam downwind of carrier, drop down to 600 feet, wings level, then the landing checklist. At the downwind leg, abeam carrier touchdown, you should be about one and a half miles, with about 85 percent RPM. When turning "base," you should be at about 500 feet AGL, then turn final, to intercept glide slope, at about 3/4-mile final, on-speed, maintaining about 85 percent RPM.

When landing on the carrier versus a ground runway, there's more line-up correction required, presumably because of the angled-deck; obviously, this is made difficult when sea conditions are not ideal, and there is erratic "ball" movement that correlates to less-than-ideal sea conditions. This game does a really good job replicating this, though I've never flown the F-18 (or any jet aircraft) IRL. Overall, DCS is a fairly intricate game, at least speaking for the F-18 add-on, and it will take some time to master. Figuring out the basics, however, including startup, catapult launch, and straight-and-level flight shouldn't take too long. There are also missions where you can jump right to final approach to carrier, so you can practice even night carrier landings, without having to go through an entire mission or traffic pattern.

I recommend this game ONLY if you do not mind spending money on every little thing. There is no star rating b/c this would not be a 5/5 because of how annoying the pay wall structure is, and as much as I hate games that have this structure...it IS a good game. Wait for a sale to buy things is my advice for it to be a "YES" in the rating department.

Great sim, however, version to version lacks optimisation.

It continually crashes

Challenging and loads of fun.

It is a fun game but I prefer to not sacrifice all my mortal possessions and make a blood pact with the devil to just buy one aircraft expansion

yeah its fun but a lot of controls 5 stars

Wow I finally learned how to take off and land in the F-14!

An absolute joy to fly in the DCS universe

One of the best & immersive flight simulators around. If you love flying, then I'd recommend giving this game a go.

The premier flight sim currently available. Nothing even comes close. This game is a magnet for older, prior service dudes to get together and nerd out over the toys their saw, used, or heard of in their time in. If you have the money for gear and modules, time to invest in learning the aircraft, and patience to spend years learning the intimate little things about aircraft - this is for you.

I have no idea what I'm doing. 10/10

The developers have don a great job. It works! The flight model is accurate and it loads! unlike MFS

Let me share my journey with this game. Started almost 20 years ago, i enlisted, went threw boot, get my job. Aircraft armament systems specialist, sounds cool right. Totally not, 16-hour days, basically a slave taking care of the jets. My first aircraft was the A-10 so when the a-10 DLC was released i was so excited, but after seeing the price, my aspirations where shattered. a game should not cost that much. So years later when i see that it is 50% off i finally have the money. Disabled vets don't make shit for money. so this was a big deal to me. Turns out that you have to make a account on top of the steam account. Which we all learned from the Hell divers fiasco that it is unnecessary and solely for the developer. THen on top of that when i go to log in they say my account don't exist. so i do the forgot password and then get no response. seems like a huge scam. The more i get into this the more i get frustrated and don't think this was a good idea at all.

steam keeps on asking passwords log in FOR A 133 DOLLAR GAME NO GOOD CANT PLAY IT ROBBY

Perfeito.

Best aviation simulator game I have played, I bought the F/A-18C and Super carrier DLCs and absolutely no regrets.
Strongly recommend this game for all aviation enthusiasts out there.