11 months since Microsoft Flight Simulator first shocked the world with its complete depiction of the earth, it made its debut on Xbox Series S and X. Are the magic summoned by Asobo and Microsoft Game Studios from photogrammetry, cloud streaming, and ordinary old elbow grease intact on the console? Absolutely. Can it be used as a console experience? Well, this is a trickier unpacking.
First of all, the magic.The Microsoft Flight Simulator arrives at the console as a fully-fledged PC experience, with the same functions, the same aircraft, and the same The whole planet When you rotate the map and find out where to explore next, you will have exactly the same sense of surprise. It also looks great-if you have any lingering questions, just browse the screenshots here, all of which are captured on the X series, most of which are kept at 30fps (don’t worry , Digital Foundry will conduct appropriate analysis at the appropriate time), and where the fidelity is extraordinary. Playing in 4K and HDR, from my own ordinary PC with a 1080p screen, I was amazed again.
After a few days of steady flight-and dozens of hours of using the PC version in the past year-I still breathe regularly, gazing thoughtfully at the sunset over the Thames Estuary, or the glorious time when you are in a steady, stable The moment the controlled airliner broke through the thick stormy clouds into the sky during its ascent. The Microsoft Flight Simulator on the console is as impressive as the PC version, so please consider Asobo part of its mission to successfully port it. As one of the few true next-generation games on Microsoft’s new machine, this is more than just skill.
If you want to check all this for yourself, there is no better first port of call than the new Discovery Flights that arrived at the same time as the console version of Microsoft Flight Simulator. They are short, easy-going and breathtakingly curated experiences that allow you to directly enter some of the best wonders in the Sims-a trip to Mount Everest, or Tokyo at dusk, or even from New Haven to Stanford just like you. Germany’s double rainbow glides across Manhattan, accompanied by soothing ambient music, which has become the business card of Microsoft Flight Simulator. Essentially, this is an opportunity to play those jaw-dropping trailers and see all the excitement in person. This is a wise new introduction to the world of Microsoft Flight Simulator.
Elsewhere, the flight school has gained some popularity as an extensive tutorial on everything from controlling basic flight surfaces to in-depth understanding of the intricacies of passenger aircraft cockpits, providing a solid foundation for hundreds of hours of virtual flight. However, the inescapable fact is that putting simulation games on the console—even casual and open-armed simulation games like Microsoft Flight Simulator—is always a bit awkward, although efforts have been made to force fit, but elegant When it comes to the more realistic worries of a semi-decent interface, you will find that it may sometimes be lacking in heaven.
Microsoft Flight Simulator is still a PC game first, and the cursor that pops up when you fumble on the front end will remind you constantly. There is mouse and keyboard support, as well as support for peripherals, but unfortunately, there are not many peripherals that support this console version at the moment (at least none of them I had to hand over the small pile of plastic I bought last year). I have completed all the flights on the controller in the past few days-for the sake of science, but also for convenience and necessity-when I want to learn more about the basics of flight control, or even just try basic menu navigation, I often encounter frustrations. This is also a very PC experience in other respects. When using the content manager, some mysterious menu dives are required. For example, you will manually download some recent world updates so that you can see that Microsoft Flight Simulator is at the top Good condition. This is embarrassing, and for sim newbies, I’m sure it is offensive.
The basic structure that the host player desires basically does not exist in this port, there is not much traditional game Go beyond flying school or landing challenge with its global rankings. Of course, as is the case on the PC, although there is always the option to insert third-party add-ons-the full version and the final version can achieve this, but unfortunately we do not have this option in the pre-release version. Play. I am sadly pretty sure that when support does arrive, it will be a tedious task.
The Microsoft Flight Simulator on the console may always be a tedious task. This is a proper and mature game console simulation game. You will often be reminded why this is an effort rarely tried in the past-the nature of the simulation game requires a lot of patience and patience, as well as Asobo’s own irritability. This console version occasionally It will only exacerbate this situation (trying to perform a fully manual Dreamliner takeoff using only the controller may be one of the most core challenges you can set in Microsoft Flight Simulator, PC, or other means). This is not a hardcore version, too cumbersome, and different from the degree of freedom you find on a PC.
However, in the new environment of the living room, other things in Microsoft Flight Simulator come to life. For casual tourists like me who consider it the ultimate screen saver, select a point on the map before loading and open a group of generous assistance provided-even give full control to the super capable AI co-pilot-this It may just be the ideal version. Last weekend, I started gently from outside the 747 window, watching the clouds drifting by, chasing the sun across the horizon, and lost my way all night, immersed in the amazing magic and miracle of Asobo and Microsoft Game Studios once again.
There is work to be done-and since this version is receiving future updates along with the PC version, work is already in progress-you may want to lower your expectations before you start. However, perhaps most importantly, this is all its glory and occasional clumsiness of the Microsoft Flight Simulator on the console, as well as the splendor and miracle of the small flaws along the way without tarnishing. It remains one of the most amazing video game achievements in recent years, and one of the most incredible next-generation gaming experiences to date.
