IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey
Encyclopedia
IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey, or Wings of Prey on the PC, is a combat flight simulator
video game. As with previous installments of the PC series IL-2 Sturmovik, it depicts combat aircraft from World War II
. The game has a campaign mode in which players are able to fly the Allies
against the Axis
, and also a multiplayer mode in which they are be able to select either faction. A demo of the game launched on the PSN and Xbox 360's Xbox Live
on 29 July 2009.
Birds of Prey is based around the large-scale aerial combat and ground military operations of World War II. Players can participate in some of the war’s most famous battles piloting fighters, attack aircraft and heavy bombers across a range of missions. There are six theatres of war to engage in – The Battle of Britain
, Stalingrad, Berlin
, Sicily
, Korsun
and the Battle of the Bulge
, representing the main airborne battles of World War II in Europe
.
Birds of Prey has a new damage effects engine. Players can see real time damage to the aircraft such as holes in the wings and trail lines during dog fights. IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey features hundreds of aircraft taking part in air battles. The environmental engine also produces high detail, realistic landscapes that allow players to easily see ground support actions.
average of 80% on the Xbox 360, and 81% on the PlayStation 3.
IGN
gave it 8.6 and said that the "strength of its play mechanics and attention to detail make it one of the best choices for console-based flight combat". IT Reviews commented that it was "thunderingly atmospheric and visually breathtaking, [but] it has some balancing issues". Eurogamer
said that it was a "rousing aerial shooter... [but] sadly rather too easy to complete".
List of military vehicles in the game.
United States of America
USAAF
United Kingdom
RAF
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
Военно-воздушные силы (Soviet Air Force)
Советская Армия (Soviet Army)
Nazi Germany
Luftwaffe
Heer
Kingdom of Italy
Regia Aeronautica
Combat flight simulator
Combat flight simulators are video games used to simulate military aircraft and their operations...
video game. As with previous installments of the PC series IL-2 Sturmovik, it depicts combat aircraft from World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The game has a campaign mode in which players are able to fly the Allies
Allies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
against the Axis
Axis Powers
The Axis powers , also known as the Axis alliance, Axis nations, Axis countries, or just the Axis, was an alignment of great powers during the mid-20th century that fought World War II against the Allies. It began in 1936 with treaties of friendship between Germany and Italy and between Germany and...
, and also a multiplayer mode in which they are be able to select either faction. A demo of the game launched on the PSN and Xbox 360's Xbox Live
Xbox Live
Xbox Live is an online multiplayer gaming and digital media delivery service created and operated by Microsoft Corporation. It is currently the only online gaming service on consoles that charges users a fee to play multiplayer gaming. It was first made available to the Xbox system in 2002...
on 29 July 2009.
Birds of Prey is based around the large-scale aerial combat and ground military operations of World War II. Players can participate in some of the war’s most famous battles piloting fighters, attack aircraft and heavy bombers across a range of missions. There are six theatres of war to engage in – The Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain was the fourth of Frank Capra's Why We Fight series of seven propaganda films, which made the case for fighting and winning the Second World War...
, Stalingrad, Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
, Korsun
Korsun
Korsun may refer to:People*Nikolai Georgiyevich Korsun , a Soviet military historian*Nikolai Nesterovich Korsun , a Soviet army officer and Hero of the Soviet Union...
and the Battle of the Bulge
Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge was a major German offensive , launched toward the end of World War II through the densely forested Ardennes mountain region of Wallonia in Belgium, hence its French name , and France and...
, representing the main airborne battles of World War II in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
.
Birds of Prey has a new damage effects engine. Players can see real time damage to the aircraft such as holes in the wings and trail lines during dog fights. IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey features hundreds of aircraft taking part in air battles. The environmental engine also produces high detail, realistic landscapes that allow players to easily see ground support actions.
Reception
Birds of Prey received a favourable reception on consoles. It achieved a MetacriticMetacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
average of 80% on the Xbox 360, and 81% on the PlayStation 3.
IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
gave it 8.6 and said that the "strength of its play mechanics and attention to detail make it one of the best choices for console-based flight combat". IT Reviews commented that it was "thunderingly atmospheric and visually breathtaking, [but] it has some balancing issues". Eurogamer
Eurogamer
Eurogamer is a Brighton-based website focused on video games news, reviews, previews and interviews. It is operated by Eurogamer Network Ltd., which was formed in 1999 by brothers Rupert and Nick Loman. Eurogamer has grown to become one of the most important European-based websites focused on...
said that it was a "rousing aerial shooter... [but] sadly rather too easy to complete".
List of military vehicles in the game.
United States of America
USAAF
- Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress
- Douglas A-20G Havoc
- North American P-51D Mustang
- Republic P-47D Thunderbolt II
United Kingdom
RAF
- Bristol Blenheim Mk.IV
- Hawker Hurricane Mk.IIb
- North American P-51B Mustang
- Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IIb
- Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IX
- Supermarine Spitfire Mk.XVI
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
Военно-воздушные силы (Soviet Air Force)
- Ilyushin Il-2
- Ilyushin Il-2M
- Ilyushin Il-4
- Ilyushin Il-10
- Lavochkin La-5FN
- Lavochkin La-7
- Lisunov Li-2
- Polikarpov Po-2
- Polikarpov I-16 Type 24
- Polikarpov I-153P
- Yakovlev Yak-1B
- Yakovlev Yak-3
- Yakovlev Yak-9T
Советская Армия (Soviet Army)
- T-34
Nazi Germany
Luftwaffe
- Arado Ar 234
- Focke-Wulf Fw 190A-5
- Focke-Wulf Fw 190D-12
- Focke-Wulf Fw 190F-8
- Focke-Wulf Ta 152H-2
- Heinkel He 111H-3
- Heinkel He 111H-6
- Heinkel He 111H-16
- Heinkel He 162A
- Junkers Ju 52
- Junkers Ju 87B-2
- Junkers Ju 87D-3
- Messerschmitt Bf 109E-3
- Messerschmitt Bf 109F-4
- Messerschmitt Bf 109G-2
- Messerschmitt Bf 109G-6
- Messerschmitt Bf 109G-10
- Messerschmitt Bf 109K-4
- Messerschmitt Bf 110C-4
- Messerschmitt Me 163B
- Messerschmitt Me 262A-1
Heer
- Opel Blitz
Kingdom of Italy
Regia Aeronautica
- Macchi MC.202 Folgore