Ongoing Evaluation of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024

Much like its predecessor, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 opens up the entire world for you to explore and offers a seemingly endless array of adventures. Back in 2020, I awarded a perfect score of 10 to Microsoft Flight Simulator, marking it as the only title to ever receive such a score from me. This latest installment impresses with new features, though some of the old issues still persist, dampening its potential brilliance. The game launch was rocky, with codes not being readily available and unexpected glitches preventing any gameplay for the first 24 hours. While I’m still navigating my virtual piloting journey for this review, I find myself in awe of some concepts but not as overwhelmed as I was last time. It’s impressive, just not quite jaw-dropping.

The spotlight feature in Flight Simulator 2024 is undoubtedly its career mode. You start by choosing a home airport, securing a position with a fictional aviation company, and embarking on your pilot career journey. It’s akin to navigating a skill tree in a traditional video game: excel at the initial missions to unlock new ones, each completion paving the way for further opportunities. For instance, getting a tail wheel endorsement follows earning your commercial pilot’s license, opening doors to new aircraft and roles like search and rescue. You can even branch into rotorcraft, graduating to flying advanced machines like sky cranes, which for someone like me, makes me say, “heck yeah.” Each endorsement allows you to tackle various jobs, ranging from simple sightseeing flights to more intricate helicopter tasks.

Eventually, you’ll gather enough experience and reputation to break free from your employer and launch your aviation enterprise. I’ve yet to reach that milestone, but I’ve been progressing steadily with my fixed-wing endorsements. Where this path will lead, I’ve yet to decide, but the prospect of running my own business and raking in the profits is thrilling. Those profits are, of course, the stepping stone to expanding with a fleet of aircraft, and I can’t wait.

The initial career mode missions resemble basic flight lessons, helping you get acquainted with flying fundamentals. To my dismay, these lessons are almost identical to those in 2020, sharing the same location at Sedona, Arizona, and repeating the tasks verbatim. The AI-generated instructions and on-screen cues are more explicit this time around, which proves helpful. With endless buttons performing myriad functions, the tooltips of 2024 are a blessing, saving me from my frequent trips to Google for reminders, like figuring out how to release my parking brake. Unlike before, I’m unlikely to turn them off as I did in 2020, due to my forgetful nature.

As you progress in career mode, you unlock a wider variety of missions. It struck me as odd, however, that not all new missions are available near your home base. Starting at a small airstrip in Maine, I was soon dispatched on missions in Europe, which felt detached from the career narrative I was crafting for myself. Not a huge issue, but it momentarily broke the immersion.

Reflecting on the 2020 version, Microsoft Flight Simulator was groundbreaking. The experience of piloting an aircraft anywhere around the globe was awe-inspiring. With 20 aircraft in the base game and adjustable assists, it catered to all skill levels, providing a genuinely unmatched virtual exploration of our world despite lengthy load times. Flying over iconic landmarks or landing at renowned airports or remote airstrips was astonishingly exhilarating.

Despite the quirks, I find myself thoroughly enjoying the career mode in 2024. In 2020, I concocted missions for personal enjoyment, like flying pizza to offshore Maine islands. Having structured missions in 2024 offers motivation to explore aircraft and aviation patterns, gradually honing my piloting skills. It’s clear this aspect is the highlight for me, with aspirations to start an airline or helicopter company. Or both, given the time.

Another new feature I appreciate is challenge leagues. It feels more game-like yet retains the authentic simulation elements, offering weekly challenges and leaderboards. As a competitive individual, I’m drawn to this. One standout challenge was an F/A-18 rally race through the Grand Canyon, demanding speed and precision through canyon gates. Despite numerous attempts, my time of 1:54 placed me merely in the Bronze league, but the victory over my unknown Xbox Live rival was sweet. The previous iteration’s landing challenges were fun but didn’t match the thrill of navigating a fighter jet through a natural wonder.

Another feature I admire from the last edition is the ability to virtually explore places I’d never otherwise visit. In 2024, photo challenges bring this to the forefront, inviting you to iconic spots worldwide to capture landmark photos. The criteria varied, with one challenge requiring a photo of the Great Sphinx with the sun positioned above its shoulder during an equinox, compellingly narrated on foot.

A significant enhancement is the ability to land, disembark, and explore on foot. However, walking speed matches realistic pacing, which might feel painfully slow for those used to quicker game navigation. Moreover, visual detail varies based on several factors like PC power, internet strength, or server health, leading to inconsistent experiences.

Despite some quirky GoldenEye-like objects around historical sites, the ground textures are remarkably realistic. Tracks left in terrain, like grass, snow, or mud, reflect the natural environment, with speculative effects on aerodynamics.

Adding to the realism, animals now populate natural habitats rather than simply marking map locations. I felt the authenticity when a moose strolled across the airstrip in Maine before my takeoff. Although other animals remain unseen by me, the game draws from an open-source database, suggesting lions in Africa might await my visit.

When you extend your view skyward, the improved graphics can be breathtaking, particularly in sites like the revamped Grand Canyon. Running Flight Simulator 2024 on a potent PC setup greatly enhances visuals and performance, although cloud streaming remains an issue. On a Venice trip, Saint Mark’s Basilica appeared as a low-res, purple-checkered form amidst the otherwise detailed cityscape. I’d prefer a hybrid model with world detail stored locally, but the streaming reliance seems unlikely to change soon.

Even with powerful hardware, maxed-out GPU usage at recommended graphics settings is a concern, suggesting optimization challenges.

Despite a chaotic launch, I find Microsoft’s Flight Simulator 2024 captivating, even if it doesn’t quite steal the show as the 2020 version did. The awe-inspiring novelty may have faded slightly, yet with technical issues subsiding, I’m focused on its core pleasures. Diverging from aimless flying, career mode offers meaningful objectives and insight into commercial aviation.

I’ve yet to deliver a definitive verdict, but initially, Flight Simulator 2024 impresses, leaving room for further examination of its ambitious scope. It hasn’t recaptured the magic of its predecessor but is still a remarkable flight simulation experience.