Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004: A Century of Flight.

Des McNicholas is flying high after blazing through the skies in Microsoft's latest sim.

Debate still rages about Wilbur and Orville’s claim to fame, but this year is generally accepted as the centenary of powered, controlled flight. The 12 second, 37 metre hop at Kittyhawk - flown by a prone Orville Wright straddled across his flying machine - heralded a new age of adventure that saw pilots from around the world seeking fame and fortune by flying higher, faster and further. Microsoft recaptures that excitement in a new version of its remarkably successful Flight Simulator, with a combination of flyable historical aircraft, new adventures based on the 20th Century’s greatest feats of aerial endurance, and a revamped flight engine that clearly shows the difference between seat-of-the-pants and fly-by-wire aviation. 

Those without an historical bent will be just as pleased with Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004: A Century of Flight, because Mr Gates hasn’t forgotten the millions of fans that grew up on the franchise’s well-founded reputation for recreating the environments, black boxes and systems that define the modern pilot’s world. Century of Flight doesn’t look like a major step-change on the surface (and it certainly isn’t in some areas), but it’s far more than a simple cash-in on the Kittyhawk anniversary. This year also marks Flight Simulator’s 20th birthday, and Microsoft has celebrated by tweaking most aspects of the game in ways that will please long-haul veterans and new-comers alike.

The strength of Flight Simulator’s online community arguably means that the number of flyable aircraft in the box isn’t that important anymore, but Microsoft has still delivered on some terrific new planes and enhanced old standbys like the Lear Jet and Cessna.

History’s classics include the original Wright Flyer, the famous Ford Tri-Motor, the outstanding deHavilland Comet (pick of the bunch) and the venerable DC-3; supported by more recent designs such as the Boeing 737-400, the Beechcraft Baron and the Schweizer SGS Sailplane. It’s an outstanding mix that opens up a host of new opportunities and experiences for desk-top pilots, and one that should spawn a stack of new mods, adventures and add-on packs over the next couple of years.

Microsoft has done an excellent job with the exterior design and artwork on the older aircraft, and the attention to detail has been carried through to areas such as retractable undercarriages and movable surfaces. The introduction of a new 3D virtual cockpit option makes things look just as good on the inside, and players will welcome the opportunity to directly toggle switches and turn dials - which is all the more exciting when struggling along without modern flying aids. The disappointing lack of any real attempt at period settings (airfields, cities etc.) detracts a little from the atmosphere, but it doesn’t really affect the flying experience and the omission will no-doubt be corrected quickly by the online fan-base.

Microsoft's in-flight entertainment is better than ever, thanks to excellent flight models in the historical aircraft that strike a neat balance between the demands of flying a wooden box without ailerons and the generic realities of a simulator that tries to cover so much.

Some of the modern aircraft seemed to have been tweaked as well, and the massive revamp of the weather system brings further improvement over the already solid Flight Simulator 2002 experience. The new three-dimensional clouds look great (although the effect tends to drop off with distance), the weather patterns seemed far more realistic over long distances, and the introduction of optional weather themes adds an extra level of interest and simplifies flight setup considerably.

Veterans will welcome the game’s unquestioned focus on realism, from the air traffic control (ATC) system to the comprehensive flight planning elements, but Century of Flight also continues Microsoft’s recent efforts to attract new fans. John and Martha King are back with their homespun introduction to the joys of flight, supported once again by Rod Mochado’s flying school and full online documentation. A new web-style Learning Centre covers just about everything a new pilot needs to know, including some very useful flying tips, and the improved flight analysis screen supports detailed post-flight reviews. None of it makes up for the lack of a paper manual, but it’s as good as we’re ever likely to get.

Microsoft Flight Simulator: Century of Flight does a great job of honouring aviation's past while providing yet another glimpse of simulation’s future. More importantly, it’s by far the most fun of the whole series!