Article Type: Feature
Article Date: July 18, 2001
I was holding off on this newest addition to the history-rich Microsoft Flight Simulator (FS) series. When Microsoft first added weapons to their FS engine in Combat Flight Simulator (CFS), I was less than impressed. The graphics, flight model and training were up to snuff, but as a single-player campaign junkie, this area conjured up the lines from an old Pink Floyd song. "Wave upon wave of demented avengers March cheerfully out of obscurity into the dream". The super-sim studs among us may have had a chance, but my meager capabilities kept me from getting very far in this pass/fail environment.
Luckily, I was not the only person to have this feeling of hopelessness, especially since the AI wingman are little more than shadows in CFS2. Barkhorn's Realism Patch makes changes to all thirty USN missions. Most of the changes are based on historical data, but a generous amount deal with gameplay. Such items as the Shokaku being at Midway, and the Order of Battle for both sides' ships and aircraft. Playability tilted the Ace vs. Rookie balance to a more even footing, and the extreme number of kills required to pass were, in most cases, adjusted down. As the readme points out, "If you were managing this on each flight in WWII, you would have a chest full of gongs!" I couldn't agree more. Hell, I actually finished the campaign, thanks to Barkhorn.
 |
Campaign Completed!  |
My introduction to the FS line started when I was bored one day and discovered Flight Simulator 2 on my Dad's old Apple computer. Since then, I purchased FS '95 and FS '98 when they were released. I do enjoy the pleasant diversion of toodling around familiar climes with user-created add-on aircraf and scenarios, but the ability to blow things up REAL GOOD has kept me from feeling fully immersed. Tying FS '98 scenery with CFS aircraft and weapons came close, but the satisfaction was short lived as the exciting explosions witnessed in familiar places did not flatten the area as desired.
 |
| The Flat Maker! |
Now, when it comes to getting things real flat, real fast, there are very few items that fit the bill as well as a nuke! A fine shiny delivery vehicle is a bonus, as has been created by a group calling themselves "CFS2 Manhattan Project". These four gentleman have re-created project Trinity with the Fatman thermonuclear warhead. Included for delivery purposes is the B-29 tail #4427297 "Bokscar". This was the delivery method for the Nagasaki strike on 9 Aug 1945, forcing the cessation of hostilities with Japan two days later.
When I installed it, the option to choose it as a player flown aircraft in campaign seemed risky to wingmen and other nearby friendlies. I found a single fighter run on Lae in the RAAF series, elaborated upon later. I hand flew the Lae mission after warming up on the included Bikini Atoll test. I wanted to get the big silver beast over 20,000 ft., so as to avoid the shockwave. The results were impressive.
 |
| 1 Bomb 84 kills |
Speaking of impressive, a gentleman from New York and another from Caracas, Venezuela teamed up to create a scenario called In Defence of Australia 1942. Talk about international! It is a complete campaign that is loosely based on the exploits of the 75th Sqn., RAAF. This ill-fated squadron flew from Southern New Guinea in 1942 in the Australian version of the P-40 which they called the Kittyhawk Ia Schuftie.
 |
| Kittyhawk IA |
 |
| Shuftie Bags a Nell |
This newly modeled and paneled aircraft is included with the above download link. The campaign missions take the Microsoft ramp-up approach where the first missions are cake walks and the last of these thirteen missions have waves of the enemy swarming all over you—your mission being to take down the majority of them. Overall, a very nice add-on with a polished and professional feel to it. The web page that installs itself to desktop is very rich in history and specifications for the Shuftie, her twin, and the added G3M2 "Nell" opposition bomber.
There is one last item I'd like to touch upon in this edition. Is the full screen (No HUD) view a little limited for you? I know it is for me, as a compass would be handy. Well, if you would like that and more, try out ELEPHANT_O's HUD replacement. It even lets you know your trim settings.
 |
| All the info you need. |
One of the neatest places on the web for CFS2 items is Eric Joiner's Aluminum Cloud site. As he states on the front page, "The name 'Aluminum Cloud' was a nickname given to the Convair B-36, due to its huge size and bare metal livery."
 |
| Beautiful 3 engine Dutch DO-24K |
I just know that the site by this name is pure class. I've known Eric for many years, all the way back to when he created a stand-alone product for DI's Tornado called the "Tornado Command and Staff College". He has been creating award-winning add-ons ever since. He has one of the widest selections of alternate skins available for CFS2, and they are all his artistic endeavors. Highly recommended.
 |
| CFS2 Box cover |
Some folks from Italy have been toiling away on a completely new theater of operations for the game which will include new aircraft terrain, campaign, and alliances. The AMAC group's Desert Air Force 1942 deals with the North African campaign in late '42 and early '43. The aircraft are re-tooled and re-skinned for the Mediteranean theater and are resplendent in their desert colors.
 |
| Axis aligned C.202 flies by a C.200 |
The aircraft involved are the most complete part of the project currently. The maps of the area and airfields have all been placed, along with the historical frontlines. The airfields are a bit sparse, as this is a work in progress. The only campaign available, as of this writing, is the Axis for Italy. If you would like to fly and Allied campaign, you'll need a campaign generator.
 |
| Dynamic Campaign generator V4.5 |
The Dynamic Campaign Generator by Paul Lowengrin is one very nicely done add-on. There are copious instructions on his pages on how to change sides in a campaign, what other campaigns come with it, recommended add-ons, the whole ball of wax. I like this forward thinking inclusive of others attitude. Not only making a very usable CFS2 life extension, but incorporating others ideas brings new depth to the whole community.
Now, as you may have guessed, I have barely scratched the surface on this title, and have only hit upon some of my personal favorite additions. There are even a few folks out there that sell add-ons, which I have yet to purchase, but may in the future. Be sure to rummage through our list of site links found below in the Resource section—you're bound to find something in the CFS2 community that will fit your own personal tastes:
