IL-2 Sturmovik: Cliffs of Dover

IL-2 Sturmovik: Cliffs of Dover is another representative of flight simulators genre. The game was created and released by respectively Maddox Games and Ubisoft. The duo had already worked together before, giving the world two well received series: IL-2 Sturmovik and Pacific Fighters.

This time the focus is on one of the most famous (if not the most famous) air battles of World War II - Battle of Britain. The game developers prepared a dynamic single-player campaign, as well as online battles for 128 people. The landscape you fly over is very diverse. You fight over cities (including London, of course), villages, road junctions, airports, harbors, radar stations, and industrial facilities. Moreover, all the locations are living – they are not just static backgrounds. Thus, you can observe people moving and working, sea waves washing up the shore, and a whole lot of other details, such as double-decker buses in the streets of London. The 3D game engine, tailored specifically for this title, makes it possible to display details with extraordinary accuracy. Each aircraft consists of 40 destructible elements. Also, the damage visualization system was improved: bullet holes now appear exactly where they should.

Players can sit behind the steering wheel of many historical machines, both fighters and bombers. You can choose from, e.g. British Hurricane and Spitfire, or German Messerschmitt and Junkers (to name only the most famous ones). Antiaircraft ground forces also take part in battles. An interesting solution was used, when it comes to cooperation and combat squadrons. Each of the in-game pilots has their own character, fighting style and favorite tactics. Knowing these, the player can modify the squad by selecting right pilots for specific tasks and challenges appearing in particular missions. Apart from piloting skills, the outcome of battles is affected by such elements as dynamically changing weather and physics. You have to take under consideration that flying too close behind an enemy machine may cause turbulences. You can also use clouds to hide your maneuvers and avoid blinding flashes of the sun. An important element is proper cooperation with ground troops: the commanders, friendly anti-aircraft artillery, and radar crews.

The authors of IL-2 Sturmovik: Cliffs of Dover also took care of those who take their first steps in the art of flying. Thanks to the Novice Mode the game is accessible not only to aviation aces.

Last updated on August 14, 2015