Microsoft Flight Simulator X (X as the Roman Numeral 10) is as you expect, an aviation based simulator released in 2006 by, well, Microsoft Studios. The game has recently been released on VALVe’s Steam distribution by Dovetail Games, bringing modern compatibility to a game that was (ironically) incompatible with Windows 7 and 8. The game is equivalent to the Gold edition, meaning Flight Simulator X Deluxe with the Acceleration expansion.

Gameplay: The game plays as you expect, to simulate the characteristics of piloting aircraft of varying types from private propeller planes, passenger jets, stunt planes, gliders and even several helicopters. Either this can be done in freeflight where the player chooses their craft, starting location, weather, date and time or can take on missions, ranging from tutorial missions teaching the basics of aircraft to missions with specific objectives ranging from a simple navigation and landing at airports, rescue missions like landing a chopper at a burning oil rig to rescue the workers or running a Red Bull stunt course in the Extra 300S stunt plane. The Acceleration expansion pack adds three new craft, the Boeing F/A - 18 Hornet, the P-51 Mustang and the AgustaWestland EH-101 with new respective missions such as Mustang races or more military missions with the F/A - 18 such as directing air traffic away from a shuttle launch, chasing down a UFO or, with the EH-101, carrying cargo on the lift hook. Many, if not all, missions give themed rewards, completing the taxiing tutorial would reward you the “Rubber Wings”, for example. The player also has the ability to adjust in-game settings of realism such as the torque applied on propeller aircraft, turbulence effects, etc. (These apply to Free Flight only, missions force specific settings). This game either works as a straight-up game and simulator to a training aid that people aspiring to be pilots can use to get a grasp on piloting skills, the game is even used by real-world pilots to brush up on their skills while they’re not flying for real. Part of the appeal is being able to take off from locations close to home, for example I take off from Anoka County-Blaine Airport (ICAO: KANE) frequently, which is 2 nm from my house.

Graphics: For a game from 2006, this game holds up well by today’s standards, especially since addons can be installed to enhance the graphical capabilities. They say gameplay needs focus over graphics but this is a simulator, it’s really not a crime to add graphical effects and detail into a game like this to give the potential to explore famous locations and in manners not legal or safe in real-life (such as flying in the Grand Canyon in an F/A - 18). As far as I know, the game’s optimized for nVidia cards and it seems to show. The effects can be adjusted to suit one’s taste and/or computer performance, aircraft detail, scenery density, water effects and weather effects. The camera view can either be a 2D cockpit overlay with buttons to bring up specific panels, a 3D virtual cockpit with movement effects and interactable switches, an outside “spot” view that allows viewing of the aircraft from any angle, specific outside views like from the perspective of landing gear shown in movies and a top-down view.

Sound & Music: The sounds, are, amazing. The point in all simulators is to give a player a sense of feeling and feedback and one of the best ways to do this is through sound. Either the noise of propeller planes, the blasting woosh of jets along with other effects such as the electric motors moving flaps or retracting landing gear. Of course their are also environmental effects such as rain, wind and even thunder. The developers tried their best to emulate the real sounds these aircraft make such as the iconic ringing noise in Bell produced helicopters such as the Jet Ranger. The soundtrack is only present on the menus but the main theme has a very adventurous feel, the second is dramatic, the third is a slow peaceful theme while the rest are varying techno songs, each can be selected or if desired, third-party music can be imported to play on the main menu. The voicework is also well done, the tutorial speaker’s very nice sounding, giving various real aviation trivia and letting you know what to do when needed and giving fair warning of like, say, going too fast and stressing the aircraft. The pilot’s voice is very spliced to give out callsigns like FSX2006 as “Foxtrot-Sierra-Xray-Two-Zero-Zero-Six” but it would make sense to speak slowly and robotically in a real situation to ensure your callsign is loud-and-clear.

Difficulty: The difficulty is extremely subjective but this game does carry a steep learning-curve to those new to the series or wanting to learn flying. It’s easy to take-off and fly but landing can be a challenge at first when learning the correct speeds and approach patterns. This only gets worse with helicopters that are extremely sensitive and require the utmost care when moving. The realism (and by extension, the difficulty) can be adjusted as stated before, trainees are recommended to keep options such as unlimited fuel, automatic management of fuel/air mixture, etc.

The Goods: A very fun if relaxing game with a lot of possibility. Either to set up scenarios for oneself like performing cargo runs or flying passenger jets. At least in Free Flight, things like traffic rules and ATC communication are completely optional, allowing very casual play without the requirement of flight plans.

The Bads: Early on, the game had a lot of optimization and performance issues but with the Steam edition, that doesn’t seem to be the case anymore. The game has a steep learning curve that can put of a grand majority of players.

Overall: Aviation enthusiasts, trainees and even real pilots are recommended to try this game out. Not only is it great as a game but also as a training tool (do keep in mind this is not a stand-in for real world training).

Microsoft Flight Simulator X (X as the Roman Numeral 10) is as you expect, an aviation based simulator released in 2006 by, well, Microsoft Studios. The game has recently been released on VALVe’s Steam distribution by Dovetail Games, bringing modern compatibility to a game that was (ironically) incompatible with Windows 7 and 8. The game is equivalent to the Gold edition, meaning Flight Simulator X Deluxe with the Acceleration expansion. Gameplay: The game plays as you expect, to simulate the characteristics of piloting aircraft of varying types from private propeller planes, passenger jets, stunt planes, gliders and even several helicopters. Either this can be done in freeflight where the player chooses their craft, starting location, weather, date and time or can take on missions, ranging from tutorial missions teaching the basics of aircraft to missions with specific objectives ranging from a simple navigation and landing at airports, rescue missions like landing a chopper at a burning oil rig to rescue the workers or running a Red Bull stunt course in the Extra 300S stunt plane. The Acceleration expansion pack adds three new craft, the Boeing F/A - 18 Hornet, the P-51 Mustang and the AgustaWestland EH-101 with new respective missions such as Mustang races or more military missions with the F/A - 18 such as directing air traffic away from a shuttle launch, chasing down a UFO or, with the EH-101, carrying cargo on the lift hook. Many, if not all, missions give themed rewards, completing the taxiing tutorial would reward you the “Rubber Wings”, for example. The player also has the ability to adjust in-game settings of realism such as the torque applied on propeller aircraft, turbulence effects, etc. (These apply to Free Flight only, missions force specific settings). This game either works as a straight-up game and simulator to a training aid that people aspiring to be pilots can use to get a grasp on piloting skills, the game is even used by real-world pilots to brush up on their skills while they’re not flying for real. Part of the appeal is being able to take off from locations close to home, for example I take off from Anoka County-Blaine Airport (ICAO: KANE) frequently, which is 2 nm from my house. Graphics: For a game from 2006, this game holds up well by today’s standards, especially since addons can be installed to enhance the graphical capabilities. They say gameplay needs focus over graphics but this is a simulator, it’s really not a crime to add graphical effects and detail into a game like this to give the potential to explore famous locations and in manners not legal or safe in real-life (such as flying in the Grand Canyon in an F/A - 18). As far as I know, the game’s optimized for nVidia cards and it seems to show. The effects can be adjusted to suit one’s taste and/or computer performance, aircraft detail, scenery density, water effects and weather effects. The camera view can either be a 2D cockpit overlay with buttons to bring up specific panels, a 3D virtual cockpit with movement effects and interactable switches, an outside “spot” view that allows viewing of the aircraft from any angle, specific outside views like from the perspective of landing gear shown in movies and a top-down view. Sound & Music: The sounds, are, amazing. The point in all simulators is to give a player a sense of feeling and feedback and one of the best ways to do this is through sound. Either the noise of propeller planes, the blasting woosh of jets along with other effects such as the electric motors moving flaps or retracting landing gear. Of course their are also environmental effects such as rain, wind and even thunder. The developers tried their best to emulate the real sounds these aircraft make such as the iconic ringing noise in Bell produced helicopters such as the Jet Ranger. The soundtrack is only present on the menus but the main theme has a very adventurous feel, the second is dramatic, the third is a slow peaceful theme while the rest are varying techno songs, each can be selected or if desired, third-party music can be imported to play on the main menu. The voicework is also well done, the tutorial speaker’s very nice sounding, giving various real aviation trivia and letting you know what to do when needed and giving fair warning of like, say, going too fast and stressing the aircraft. The pilot’s voice is very spliced to give out callsigns like FSX2006 as “Foxtrot-Sierra-Xray-Two-Zero-Zero-Six” but it would make sense to speak slowly and robotically in a real situation to ensure your callsign is loud-and-clear. Difficulty: The difficulty is extremely subjective but this game does carry a steep learning-curve to those new to the series or wanting to learn flying. It’s easy to take-off and fly but landing can be a challenge at first when learning the correct speeds and approach patterns. This only gets worse with helicopters that are extremely sensitive and require the utmost care when moving. The realism (and by extension, the difficulty) can be adjusted as stated before, trainees are recommended to keep options such as unlimited fuel, automatic management of fuel/air mixture, etc. The Goods: A very fun if relaxing game with a lot of possibility. Either to set up scenarios for oneself like performing cargo runs or flying passenger jets. At least in Free Flight, things like traffic rules and ATC communication are completely optional, allowing very casual play without the requirement of flight plans. The Bads: Early on, the game had a lot of optimization and performance issues but with the Steam edition, that doesn’t seem to be the case anymore. The game has a steep learning curve that can put of a grand majority of players. Overall: Aviation enthusiasts, trainees and even real pilots are recommended to try this game out. Not only is it great as a game but also as a training tool (do keep in mind this is not a stand-in for real world training).