Microsoft Combat Flight Simulator

Microsoft Combat Flight Simulator built on the technological foundation of the popular civilian Microsoft Flight Simulator and carried it into the combat environment of World War II, specifically the Battle of Britain. Players could take the side of the British RAF or the German Luftwaffe and fly a campaign of historically inspired missions, with the game benefiting from a sophisticated flight model inherited from Microsoft's civilian series. The combination of trustworthy aerodynamics with combat elements - gunfire, aircraft damage, and squadron tactics - made the game a popular choice for players looking for something between arcade action and a full military simulation. The game also allowed custom modifications and mission creation, which drew significant interest from the community and extended its lifespan for years to come. The gradual unlocking of new aircraft types based on campaign results also gave players a reason to return to completed missions and improve their performance. The choice between fighter and bomber also affected the character of individual tasks, since escort and bombing missions required different tactics and a different awareness of the surrounding airspace.

The rendering of the landscape of southern England and the English Channel was among the best that contemporary simulators offered, thanks to the resources Microsoft had long invested in developing flight titles. The sound design, from the roar of piston engines to onboard machine guns, supported the atmosphere of historical air battles over England well. The game also offered multiplayer missions in which players could face off in historically motivated air battles.

Microsoft Combat Flight Simulator is remembered today as a successful attempt to carry the qualities of civilian flight simulation into a combat setting, founding a new line of titles focused on historical air conflicts. For fans of aviation history and the Battle of Britain, the game remains an interesting example of how civilian and military flight simulators intertwined at the end of the nineties.

Why play: For fans of the Battle of Britain and aviation history, it offers an interesting look at how civilian and military flight simulators intertwined at the end of the nineties.