User Score
7.5 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 539 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Negative: 94 out of 539

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  1. AnonymousMC
    Dec 16, 2003
    7
    ED/UBI know how to make a flight sim. Graphicly LOMAC will amaze you with it's level of detail. Each of the flyable aircraft have a distinct look and feel. Some people say it's a survey sim but they are wrong. You will have 100s of hours of gameplay as you become proficient with each aircraft. The mission editor is probly the best ever seen in a flight sim. The campaign unfortunatly is not dynamic. Multiplayer runs well and is a good time when you can find a game you want to join. There are some things that prevent the game from getting a higher score...lack of printed manual, poor quality PDF manual, varius bugs that can range from slight annoyances to very frustrating...and what has been the biggest problem with the LOMAC community...the VERY hefty system requirements to see the game run with much, if any of the graphics set to high. LOMAC has some problems but the game is still amazing and you will be blown away by the sence of flight, the weapons, and the landscapes. For any flight sim enthusiast this game is a must have that will only get better as patches are released as UBI/ED is currently to working on patches for the game. Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  2. AnonymousMC
    Dec 16, 2003
    8
    This is not for the weekend arcade gamer. LOMAC makes a great attempt to keep it as real as a flight sim game can. From the modeling to flight charecteristics all the way to the graphics, hands down this is the best looking modern combat sim around. Worth every penny!
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  3. AnonymousMC
    Dec 16, 2003
    7
    As a Flanker 2 fan, I had waited a long time for this "sequel". Along the road, delays were announced, and features (dynamic campaign, Su-39, etc) were dropped. I had mixed feelings about it, but kept thinking positive. Now, the game is finally available. On the publishing part it should be noted that too many mistakes were made. First there was the decision to omit a printed version of the manual (although an excellent third party substitute was provided by Nic Cole). What makes things even worse (documentation-wise) is the fact that in several localized versions, the online PDF manual was missing, leaving the users with no manual whatsoever! Also the PDF-based keycard didn't appear to be present (in all versions). Even though these documents were quickly offered for free download, this isn?t really a professional way to do business, especially considering the fact that it's very easy to get access to illegal software nowadays. A professionally written, printed manual could be a means for the publisher to reduce warez. More communication and support for the community from UBIsoft (and to less extent ED) and support for fan sites (the smaller ones, that aren't "close buddies", to put it politely, with producer Matt Wagner were left out). The publisher should support the community, not the other way around. The game itself has both positive and negative aspects. To begin, the performance of the game is quite poor, even with sufficient hardware, and when the graphics settings are lowered, resulting in less than amazing graphics (yet still good enough). There are some elements of the graphics that will cripple performance, even on the fastest systems out today, while they shouldn't be such a large performance hit (flares will slow down performance even when not in view). (other performance culprits are smoke, fire of destroyed tanks, water which is rendered even when not visible [covered by terrain] etc) Optimization of the graphics and other parts of the game should be able yield significant improvement. Regarding the performance of the aircraft, it was sad to see the "advanced simulation" package being dropped. It wasn't finished and is thus understandable to see this happen. The radar (low altitudes) and performance of some missiles needs to be fixed. There are also some other minor mistakes (some of which have been acknowledged and may not be hard to fix, such as the amount of rounds for the MiG29?s gun). The game's user interface looks nice but doesn't always work as expected. In some cases it's even confusing. I know I've said quite a few negative things. They should be considered according to their proportion. Overall, playing the game itself is absolutely great, especially in multiplayer coop missions. As said by others, the game is scalable so rookies and veterans should be comfortable (those who want more complexity may always fall back on F4 SP3 ;) ). Final verdict: a great game, with a bumpy release, and some issues (technical and gameplay), most of which can be fixed with further support (patches). Let?s hope Lomac is the base of further modern air combat simulations. Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  4. AnonymousMC
    Dec 16, 2003
    0
    This game isn't even half-way finished. If I buy a car, I expect it to be delivered with wheels so I can drive it. Its a reasonable assumption, isn't it? This game is unstable and unplayable even on high end machines running XP (which im using). A game cannot be released for hardware that hasnt even been invented yet. The minimum system requirements on the cover is not only a joke, is also a legal cause to return the game and getting your money back purely because its a lie. Furher, there isnt a patch in this world that can fix everything that is broken in this game. Im not even going further into that, because its already been dwelled over and over again by hundreds. My advice to anyone considering to buy this game is to think twice (just read the forum posts). Why should you spend your hard earned money on a product that isnt even finished. Its a beta1 release only witout the ?beta? label. If you buy it, youre only going to be dissapointed and feel cheated, like I did, no matter what hardware you have. This game is an insult to all of us that paid good money for it, just to get a box of frustration. It doesnt even come with a proper manual. I could live with that, simply because the good old days of Falcon4-type-of-manuals are long gone and will probably never come back. If the game should be delivered with a proper printed manual, there wouldnt be just as much money over for the sharks, now wouldnt it? What really bothers me though, is that it doesnt even come with a proper un-printed manual!! The documentation that follows this game is the same kind of joke as the system requirements. So what am I exactly paying for? A half way finished, poorly documented pre-beta release for a full retail price. I admit, I must be stupid to have such high expectations. After all, its only a game. Gamers/simmers aren?t real customers, theyre just a bunch of stupid kids we can cheat money from over and over again.. Think again, Ubisoft. The amount of effort put in by the developer in this game is yet amazing. Still, its all wasted because of the short-term economical-or-whatever disaterous descisions leading to this premature release of an unfinished product. I feel cheated, and I?ll certainly think twice before buying anything from Ubisoft again. I also feel sad for the developers that put their hard work and effort into bringing this game to the sim world community. I feel sad because they dont really deserve all this critisims. However, as a paying customer I reserve the right to make some demands. I dont demand a perfect product. At the least however, I demand that the game is playable more than five minutes, has more than 1 fps on a high-end machine 5-6 times faster than the ?minimum? specs, and doesnt contain a zillion bugs and wrongs that ruins the whole experience. Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  5. HaraldSeisenbacher
    Dec 17, 2003
    9
    This is a very serious attempt at a simulation of flying jets of the late 20th centrury era. The flight models are impressive, the eye candy is unsurpassed and the full mission planner potentially gives you a tool to fly whatever mission you might dream up. Of course there are som bugs to be squashed still - but show me one pice of software without the need for at least one patch nowadays. As for the needed sys-specs: I always wonder about people who turn everything up to "maximum" on their outdated systems. Either turn the options down if you have an old machine (that is the reason for having options in the first place), or go buy yourself a new one. It´s that easy. This simulation will still be interesting from with tomorrows machines - I for my part, I´m apreciating this. Harald, a.k.a. Odin914 Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  6. DaveCarpenter
    Dec 17, 2003
    8
    Great sim I'm running it on a mid level machine and it works very well for me. I've had to back off on the graphics settings somewhat to get a reasonable frame rate but the game still looks great and runs well. Documentation is a weak point but the interface is pretty friendly.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  7. DavidDuce
    Dec 17, 2003
    3
    Buyer BEWARE and not so fast my 9/10 rating friends. This game may be a 9/10 in a few years, but right now it?s just another little light on the horizon. Many things are wrong with this game that will need heavy patching to fix. 1. System requirements, high and low end: Who came up with them? They are way off and badly misleading to the consumer. Looks like a badly programmed graphics engine. Heavy optimizations are need to allow the average consumer to play this thing. 2. Gamplay: Too scripted, boring, and clean. Limited missions for those that want to jump in and have fun. Seems to an update Flanker, another boring game. 3. Encyclopedic bug list: Way too may to have let this product hit the market, Why? Where was QA? Does the company expect buyers to be beta testers? If so, we deserve a rebate! 4. Documentation: No keycard shipped, but you can download one. How about the people without the means to see that chance? Disgustingly useless PDF manual. When you try to print it, it?s unreadable. But wait! You can purchase anadditional manual for $40 plus shipping. What a deal, they sell you a game without the documentation to properly play it, but will gladly sell you one. What a scam. People, educate yourself before buying this game, in its current state, it can?t be called a SIMULATION. To compare it to previous SIMULATORS is a slap in the face to them. Take the advice of several other reviews here and elsewhere, wait at least a year before buying it, you?ll save yourself a lot of wasted time and by then, hopefully, the beta testing period will be over. Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  8. BruceL
    Dec 19, 2003
    4
    Definitely doesn't deserve an 8 or above. There are just to many things wrong. Still I can't rate it higher than a 4 for several other reasons; poor gameplay, controller setup doesn't work properly, amd the documentation is poor. And I will not be strong-armed into buying another manual for $40 when the proper documentation should've came with the game.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  9. JackCurzon
    Dec 16, 2003
    8
    First off, this isn't the most user friendly of sims; no doubt about it. If you want to enjoy it, you will have to put some time in. The plus side of this is, if you do, you will discover an incrediably detailed and rich sim that will keep you entertained for days, nay years! Attention to detail is at times breath taking. The most obvious example of this is are the visuals. Simply amazing. Aircraft and ground vechiles weapon system are all fully modelled, but not overly complicated - again however, a bit of perseverence is required. Aside from the investment in time the only other 'downers' with Lomac are 1) it has a few bugs (a patch is expected in few weeks); nothing to serious but there are some irritating issues, and 2) system requirements. Put simply this is a hog. Don't expect to ramp all the graphics up to high. A computer that can do it hasn't been made yet - but if you ask me, that's just another feather it's cap to secure it's longevity ;). Overall, if you like jets and have bit of time to spare this is somthing you can't miss! Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  10. MarkDeFilippis
    Dec 16, 2003
    9
    I played it for < 8 hours. Not even enough time to get it set up properly. But having dealt with FA/18, Falcon 4, and SU-27, and having to back down to Novalogic F-22 Raptor, (Sorry, I just can't get myself to buy a Micrsoft game. Bad enough I have to pay for their OS, so FS is out). Until now, there was not a "die hard" sim that gave you the chance to build up your skills. It was either "Arcade" or "Die-hard", really should have been called "Die-real-fast"! In a few hours I was flying @ 500ft, got below the power lines, and to my surprise, I bounced off the ground"! What a great concept! Fun aside, this is a game that has the ability to be a lot to everyone. For the Arcade style that want to fly and shoot, it can be there. For the die hard, well that too. For someone like me, with an engineering background, physics and some avionics, I am working a bit at a time on manuevers, and flight, and as I do, I can "turn the pot" up to attain more reality. I think a lot of people missed that. If I were to read this board I would get the impression that this was only a "die-hard" sim, and it is a lot more. First hour I actually landed the F-15! It landed, bounced 15-20 feet, and settled on its right wing. (;-)) After 8 hours and turning on some reality, tried again and made a big-a-hole! It is great that this sim can appeal to many... thats large sales. How much more value can you ask for?? $50 and you get a lot of play value out of it. Knowing just enough that I know, I realize I can't really enjoy this sim until I start lighting up those difficulty buttons. It is probably as close as I will come in my lifetime to controlling the real thing. Md Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  11. AnonymousMC
    Dec 17, 2003
    9
    This game is a bundle of joy to play and a truly amazing simulator both graphically and technically. What you get is a very detailed simulator of not one but 8 different aircraft from both NATO and ex-USSR forces, with a very high level of realism combined with a high entertainment value. Graphics: 10 Even at medium settings, this game easily matches the image quality and detail level of IL2:FB, the current benchmark for flight simulator graphics. Set to max this game looks nothing less than amazing, but with a definite performance impact. Like the Janes series from EA, this game was written with an intention of a LONG lifecycle and so the graphics engine was written to use the added performace of current and upcoming high-end products as well as what is common in the market today. Unless you own a radeon 9800PRO or GeForce 5900FX, setting detail to max is madness and completely wasted as your hardware was not designed to handle this amount of load. As I said the game equals or surpasses IL2:FB even on medium settings so do not let the previous sentence in any way deter you from buying this game if you do not own todays state of the art graphics processor - my own config is decidedly midrange by todays standards and I am getting 30 fps average dropping to ~15 only for short times and when things get very crowded. That being said, it the game could have been even more future-proof had Eagle Dynamics implemented DirectX 9.0 shader support as well - this would have added even more eye-candy in the future when those products become more prevalent. Sound: 8 Very high quality sound, and to a non-pilot like myself everything sounds pretty much right. You may prefer to turn up the cocpit volume a bit, to make it easier to hear your engines, gear and flap noises etc - the soundlevel you get at default setting is realistic (a fighter pilot is cocooned inside a bulletproof class canopy with a helmet and headset) but personally I feel that the exaggerated noiselevel improves the feeling of immersion. A minor detractor is the rather sparse ambient voice comms from other aircraft - compared to Jane's FA 18, this is a bit lacking, and I do feel that those wannabe fighter jocks out there would have appreciated a more 'realistic' amount of voice comms in what is after all a combat environment, but I guess the developers chose to 'declutter' the voice comms and focus on the information relevant to the game player. Fair enough and a minor point. Gameplay: 10 This is a tall order but I really mean it: this game is so much fun to play and has such an amazing replay value that it deserves the top rating for gameplay. Buyer please note: Most of the bad ratings given on this website have one thing in common: people having problems with their local OS installation and jumping to the conclusion that the game does not work at all on either Windows ME, XP, 98 etc. While there are issues that need resolving, these problems are NOT indicative of the general quality of the product. I personally run the game on WinXP on an AMD XP2400+ and GeForce 4 4600Ti with 1024MB ram, and it hasn't even crashed on me once. Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  12. ChrisB.
    Dec 16, 2003
    10
    This Sim has it all and then some! Its photo-realistic graphics lure me up to just fly around and simply enjoy the view... The attention to detail is astounding. Couple that with high fidelity avionics and flight models and you have a bleeding edge sim for a relatively small investment. The Dev team has a 'hands on' approach with the community and is not afraid to get their feet wet and take praise or criticism for their product. More importantly, they interact with the community on a daily basis and actually listen to them.-KUDOS- This approach is better than any shiny box for building a customer base. Looking forward to the 1st patch! (and ANY addon these guys put thier mitts on). Thanks again everyone involved. Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  13. JohnB.
    Jan 14, 2004
    9
    The V1.01 patch is out at www.lo-mac.com. It makes a HUGE difference. Before the patch I would have given this game a 5, but after the patch is really ROCKS! I love it. I get great performance and my multiplayer problems with my Nforce chipset are no longer causing problems. It is a blast to play this multiplayer. The game is going to be a classic. Those that still complain after the patch most likely have low end equipment. Don't make the mistake of passing this one up. Buy it , get the patch, and have fun flying jets!!!! JB Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  14. JohnHarrian
    Feb 16, 2004
    8
    Very beautiful sim. The graphics are truly stunning. I've had some problems with performance but thanks to the reviewer below that mentioned the new 1.01 patch, I am running very smooth now. Thanks. I have only started the campaign for the F-15 but so far it has been lots of fun. It's hard, but really fun. I am glad I ran the training missions before patching to V1.01. Great job Ubi Soft! This is a great game. Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  15. JuanL.
    Oct 29, 2003
    10
    Awesome.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  16. MikeG.
    Dec 2, 2003
    9
    Why would you rate this game if it didn't work for you? Everyone should have Win XP these days anyway. The developers worked long and hard to bring this game to the sim community, and you go and bash it because you're running an ancient system. So please if you havn't played the game, DON"T REVIEW IT!!! Anyway, i love this sim, sure it has it's fare share of bugs and it does require a monster system to have all the graphics turned up but every plane has it's own FMs and radar which are very complex. The graphics are incredible and are probably the best i've ever seen, when on a good system that is. So if you like Hardcore Sims, and you have a good system pick this game up it's a treat. Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  17. BrianY.
    Nov 21, 2003
    9
    Great flight sim, upholds the high standard of IL2, and Flanker. Steep learning curve, and poor manual are the only pitfalls to this masterpiece.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  18. Ferdy
    Nov 23, 2003
    4
    + Realistic flight modelling (some of the best ever!) + Great graphics would be a 9 of 10, but... - riddled with many bugs e.g. missing radio communications between US airplanes and some graphical glitches e.g. planes dissapearing - Doesn't even start under Win 98SE/ME on three different PCs! - CD recognition problems with some drives - rebooting system problems - blue screen of death - un-user friendly menus (same als Flanker 2.0/2.5) - un-userfriendly battle planner (same as Flanker 2.0/2.5) - small printed manual, ok at least a big one is on CD. - NO keyboard keycard included! - serious framerate/performance problems even on state-of-the-art systems so the best it can get in the current state is 4 points. Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  19. EagleD.
    Dec 16, 2003
    9
    Things will never be the same after this one. The bomb, destined for great things. Great out of the box, and just wait until the first patch is out and watch the add ons and com mods role in. They will be talking about this one for a long time.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  20. FD
    Dec 16, 2003
    9
    Minor bugs exist. There is no way around that. The game is also very demanding on your system; anything less than top of the line and you will have problems. It should be expected that old hardware will work poorly with new software. The realism, the most important thing in a flight sim, is sufficient. No, it doesn't come with a real F-15C, but it's good enough that real world tactics can be applied. The A-10 and Su-25 introduce something that has not been seen recently in flight simulation. Their style of close air support is very different than a way an F-16 or F/A-18 might approach mud moving. I haven't much bad to say about it. The manual is quite poor, but if you are experienced in any modern flight sim, learning LOMAC will not be very hard. And if not, fly the training missions, which are excellent. Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  21. RacingSloth
    Dec 16, 2003
    6
    Although the graphics are gorgeous and I don't have many problems running the game, my score reflects the manual, lack of polish which an average QA rep could find within an hour of testings (spelling mistakes in training, buttons in the options not sticking, invisible planes are airfields etc), lackluster missions and poorly implemented ground combat units. In 6 months it might be a 9/10 but as of now, I say 6 Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  22. MarkusB.
    Dec 16, 2003
    5
    this game will be great once the bugs are ironed out. in its current state it is hardly playable.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  23. RonB.
    Dec 16, 2003
    9
    Will take time to learn all the options but once you know how to operate them the game is great. Only problem I see is the water has to much impact on the frame rate
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  24. DMoust
    Dec 16, 2003
    2
    Waste of Hard Drive Space !!!
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  25. ErichH.
    Dec 16, 2003
    5
    While I see the potential I find it very lacking. The publishers charge teh same amount $39.99 and give you a game with no manual but do place it on the CD if you want to kill 168 pages and dry up your print cartridge. The interface is easy enough and the training missions are ok. With the amount of lag though due to graphic drains even on high end systems, locking on with Mavricks is best saved for auto. The layout and key commands are very clumky and not very well laid out. I recommend spending about an hour going in and reassigning all of the key funtions for not jsut your keyboard but you stick as well. A HOTAS setup with save you lots of time but with the lack of a mouse selectable cockpit there are to many functions that asre basically jsut for fine tuning radar settings etc. BEing able to use the mosue and have an interactive cockpit control enviroment would have really helped. Again though to get decent frames I had to turn many of the eye candy off and I am running a AMD2800+ with 1GB of PC3200 on a GeForce FX5900 256Mb card! Still fun to tool around in though but I am waiting on a patch to see if this simm can then shine. Expand
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  26. Dayak
    Dec 16, 2003
    5
    the game need to be optimized and alot of bug to be squashed.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  27. J.Williams
    Dec 16, 2003
    8
    Great game that needs polishing. Needs a lot of bug fixes to really be solid. It seems that regardless of your machine specs this game has a difficult time running at 30 fps. Excellent graphics and flight models. Waiting for a patch before beginning the campaign mode is good advice. Even with the bugs, and fps performace, this is a stand out product.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  28. RudiVanZyl
    Dec 16, 2003
    0
    Had to install it 3 times before the multiplayer worked. Whenever me and my friend fly against each other, and one is shot down, both of us are thrown out of the game. Biggest fault i have made with this game is buying it.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  29. AndyM.
    Dec 16, 2003
    9
    great game, I realy dont have any problems running it at all. Ok ive got a high spec computer but if you want to run a high spec game like this then you need the hardware to run it. I some times have to reming my self that its only a sim, the graphics are that good. I know there are some problems for some people but hopefully the up comming patch should sort those problems out.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  30. DiamondMilzy
    Dec 16, 2003
    10
    Considering it has been the only Combat Sim released in the past few years worth playing, how can it be anything less than a 10?
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  31. MattD.
    Dec 16, 2003
    9
    Stunning, no other word for it - the best flight and combat simulation yet. The attention to, and breadth of, detail is astounding. Somehow they have manged to make you feel part of a war, it is a difficult feeling to describe but it is truly a sublime experience watching the world around you unfold as you play your part. There is also a fantastic multiplayer capability, that 'feels like' the single-player game - Lock On will grab your attention and not let go whether you want single or multiplayer action. To see it at it's best, you will need a top-end machine, but the game is scalable in terms of what graphics settings it will run on and you should be able to find a happy balance between beauty and performance. I should add that the game is also scalable in terms of difficulty, so it will appeal to novices and experienced simmers alike. Some reviewers have given this game an unjustly hard time. There are a couple of _minor_ bugs (don't all games have them?) but they'll be fixed. It is truly a gem and the most impressive game I've seen for years, right up there with Doom 3 and Halflife 2. Additionally, it will only get better and better - just like IL-2 and IL-2 Forgotten Battles have. The community is also a great resource for new missions and aircraft 'skins', not to mention being very supportive. There is even an additional, leather-bound, manual available at extra cost. It's well worth getting as it has a wealth of extra information in it. Ultimately, if you want to be able to fly a great range of aircraft, feel a fantastic level of realism, have great multiplayer and single player games and marvel at jaw-dropping visuals - there is simply no other choice. Lock On is THE BEST flight and combat sim around. Go and buy it now, you won't be dissappointed. Matt. Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  32. JohnS.
    Dec 16, 2003
    8
    If you are an avid flight sim nut then you appreciate the beauty of LockOn. It is great currently but has some few growing pains. One thing to remember is all the best flight sims had growing pains. Be patient, get the patch when it comes out and watch your 6.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  33. Zembla
    Dec 16, 2003
    7
    The game is known to bring even the best platforms to its knees, reason for this is the complexity of the game. A rather unpleasant side effect of this is the prone-ness to bugs, simple logics. Unfortunalty the the game currently is far from bug-free, even though the designers spent lots of time debugging the product some evident bugs have slipped through to the "gold disc". Additionally the creators have done little or nothing to improve compatibility with common hardware such as for example the GeForce 4MX line of graphical cards. Eventhough they have made improvements in that regard, the effort seems a little sloppy through some evident bugs that are connected with this compatibility. One would wonder what's the best suitable system for Lo-MAC? I don't know, I'm able to run it on my P4 2Ghz 768MB PC2100 and my GF4MX460 pretty fine (part from the bugs). Of course if you're used to FPS framerates you'll be disappointed when seeing the FPS readouts. The game itself is magnificent in every way, perhaps the lack of a dynamic campaign is a little disappointing, but the gameplay and realism make up for this, this realism however is something that's not entirely bug-free - BUT don't start saying they're biased in their 'accurate' modeling of softicitated military hardware. The graphical beauty is endless. Get's a 7 from me... Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  34. Archangel
    Dec 16, 2003
    7
    Every game has it teething problems, and LOMAC is no different. I find this game very good value and a hell of a lot of fun. It will take a bit to learn but that gives the game longevity. All I ask is PLEASE, PLEASE bring out addons for this game and please make it so we can customize our skins!! Way to go UBI! your close to having another winner.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  35. JohnM.
    Dec 16, 2003
    8
    Il2 with modern jet combat. Requires a superlative video card to make the most of its graphics, some of which can't be run on the fastest of todays PCs, however - the best of it genre.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  36. DarthMaul
    Dec 16, 2003
    9
    A very nice game. The Flanker roots are still there. Same Mission Editor witch is good. The interface is very easy to use. Only some small bugs,Missiles should be more efficient(all missiles Blue or Red). It is working on modes computers like mine.(XP2000/256Mb/Gf2MX).
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  37. BisonBranco
    Dec 16, 2003
    10
    Hey, it´s the best! Simple as that!
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  38. MJ
    Dec 16, 2003
    8
    Needs work, but has the potential to dethrone Falcon 4. Steep Hardware requirements, but third party hotfixes to tweak FPS are out already, a patch to squash some bugs mentioned earlier is on it's way. A must for fans of Migs and SU's.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  39. Eagle
    Dec 16, 2003
    9
    I love the game. I have a nice system with WinXP Pro and it works wonderfully. If you have a large system to run it the game is wonderful. I'd have liked more depth, but it's still a LOT of fun.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  40. MathewR.
    Dec 16, 2003
    6
    LOMAC is destined to be a good sim in the long-run, assuming the developer follows through with their promises, which I have confidence in. I'm really enjoying it already, but can't give a high score until the overall program code is more refined and stable. I look forward to that taking place. Regarding complexity, I had expected LOMAC to be very challenging to learn the controls and flight, and as it turns out, it's a lot easier than I expected. I somewhat hope there's an enhancement to the difficulty, later, once they release the more important fixes. A dynamic campaign system would be great, especially if it worked for Multiplayer. Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  41. Blaze
    Dec 16, 2003
    10
    This Simm is 10 times as good as any FPS out there and Forgotten Battles doesn't even come close to the techincial level this simm has set. Go ahead and purchase this one but be prepared to work hard to achieve any type of success.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  42. HaraldS.
    Dec 16, 2003
    8
    a must for everyone interested in military flightsims - BUT: a real fps-monster! Hope the patch fixes the drastically dropping fps while flying through smoke...
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  43. KristofferR.
    Dec 16, 2003
    7
    Very nice game, well done but eats a lot of your pc's performance.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  44. Tom
    Dec 16, 2003
    8
    This a fantastic flight sim even with the current issues which I am sure will be resolved in the coming patch. I have flown flight sims for over 20 years and this is as close as it gets to the real thing without being overly "button pushing" realistic. I have already got my moneys worth and it will be what I fly for years to come. Be ready for some steep hardware requirements but it is worth it.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  45. NazgulN
    Dec 16, 2003
    9
    Its just another milestone in Flightsim history, it has great potential to become the best. I play Flightsims for over 20 years now, and ive seem them all, and played most of them. I gave it a Fat9, cos i know that nothing is perfect and complete, But Lock-on will, and then ill give it a 10 with stars*****
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  46. JackS.
    Dec 16, 2003
    3
    If Ubi/ED hadn't pumped up this sim for so long, I would feel better about it. But with all the promises and hype (3 years?) this program should work better than what it does. Runs poorly on box specs, or even worse on high octane machines. I know it's been built for the future, but what good is it if it runs poorly now, or not at all. Bug ridden...and the manual is an obscene joke. Wait til they fix this thing before you consider buying it...you'll be really disappointed. Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  47. ArthurK.
    Dec 19, 2003
    8
    + Very nice graphics Good mission editor Excellent flight model Slightly simplyfied but still very good avionics wounderful cocpits - no dynamic campaign some bugs (crashing in some situations) horrible hardware reqirements for high settings errors in the German version weapon texts bad tutorials no printed manual (only to buy separate)
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  48. FreyaN.
    Dec 16, 2003
    10
    Supergame!!!!
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  49. Carl
    Dec 16, 2003
    10
    Initially, I had serious stability issues in Win2k and 98SE. After installing XP and a shader-equipped video card, all performance/stability issues disappeared. This game is fantastic, truly reminiscent of the "golden oldies" such as Falcon3 and Torando. Well done ED/Ubi!
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  50. CharlesK.
    Dec 19, 2003
    5
    Other than the flight models none of the combat is very realistic, if it has to do with anything on the ground then it's completly unrealistic.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  51. Kit_
    Dec 16, 2003
    8
    I like the game alot, but I think it needs a better free manual, and not have to spend more then the price of the game for a nice manual $53.00USD. I would have paid more for the game in the first place if it came with a better manual, My keycard was missing too. As far as the gameplay, I'm pleased with it.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  52. PatrikH.
    Dec 19, 2003
    10
    Excellent game, detailed graphics, correct modeling, realistic voice communication and a superb controlling system.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  53. MarcusR.
    Dec 16, 2003
    9
    Yes there are some bugs in the initial release, BUT it's still awesome in it's current state and as the bugs slowly get ironed out, this sim can only improve. I run it on a 2Ghz P4, 1GB Ram and 64mb GF440 MX. and love it!!
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  54. WilliamW.
    Dec 16, 2003
    9
    The best graphics in a flight sim yet (you do need a high spec system). Do yourself a favour and get a mike and Shoot software to rattle of voice commands to your wingmen. Forthcoming patches will no doubt improve this sim and let me use my TrackIR effectively. Don't worry about the lack of a comprehensive manual, there are already lots of brilliant articles coming on stream. This sim is an absolute must-have, congratulaions and thanks to the ED team and all concerned for giving hours and hours of fun & pleasure Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  55. JohnD.
    Dec 16, 2003
    8
    This game has good emersion and excellent graphics even at lower settings. Still some bug but seems to be well suported by Ubisoft.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  56. AntonS.
    Dec 16, 2003
    10
    Best flight sim out yet, NOT for W.S.A.D people.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  57. RichT.
    Dec 19, 2003
    2
    This has got to be a joke. A company should not be allowed to release something in this state and people give it a 10? On what basis do they give it a 10? These people are mindless Lemmings that would by the Grand Canyon if you tried to sell it to them. Do believe a game in this condition is a 10. If you buy it now, you'll be sorry and if's a gift, you'll be laughed at! Make an informed decision. Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  58. MeMyself
    Dec 16, 2003
    9
    Just a great game. Some people have bugs but with a good config you should be fine. The graphics and flight models are outstanding and the many planes flyable allows great diversity.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  59. JakeyZ.
    Dec 16, 2003
    8
    Out of the box I believe this game is an 8 easily. The graphics are amazing.. there's no question of this. It's hard on your system though, so be prepared to tune things down. Even so, on the lowest it still looks good. With a patch coming out soon to fix the minor bugs, this will be at least a 9/10!
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  60. Habu
    Dec 16, 2003
    6
    Diamond in the rough. Great flight models and terrain graphics. Mission editor has limited functionality. Avionics shortcuts reduce realism. Aircraft are dang fun to fly around in, but the combat part and AI need work. Runs fine on my system: XP, P4 2.7, 1 gig DDR, G4.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  61. JamesT.
    Dec 19, 2003
    1
    Terrible game. Got it for me and my roomate. Yet to get his to work and mine will load, but framerates are terrible. No voice and images will ghost at various times. Have to spend hours and hours learning to fly and Sturmovik I got into the cockpit and was flying in seconds. Next time make it as easy as Sturmovik and not such arcadic graphics like it is.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  62. RowanN
    Dec 16, 2003
    10
    I thinks it great, and i,m in love with this game. Superb graphics, and a realistic flightmodel.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  63. GeneD.
    Dec 16, 2003
    4
    Poor performance, non clickable cockpits and the lack of a printed manual make this game more of a headache than anything fun.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  64. [617th]Joker
    Dec 16, 2003
    9
    Excellent game, like most sims, it requires constant tweaking, which for me is a part of the game, and I don't mind it at all. This is going to be an interesting game for many years to come, with an active community, so I can only rate it high!
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  65. TomD
    Dec 16, 2003
    2
    Unfriendly user interface, taxing mission editor, vague missions, bugs bugs and more bugs. The game was rushed out, if your not into tweaking and tweaking then leave this on the shelf until the developers finish it of properly.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  66. PeterF.
    Dec 16, 2003
    5
    Bugs,Bugs,and more Bugs...had to call the orkin man to get it to run. System specs on the box are a bald-faced lie,F-15 radar doesn't work right,Aim-120 doesn't work right, and a host of other stuff. Support is almost non-existant on the ever-slow UBI boards and anybody not happy with the product wil be jeered by the fanboys and banned by the officials. Was really looking forward to this game, but UBI ruined it after making me wait for 2 extra years by putting out a product that doesn't work as advertised or on the systems written on the box. Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  67. ChristopherH.
    Dec 16, 2003
    10
    Top quality game. The bugs are being patched as we speak and any issues are USUALLY the result of people who can't tell one end of the PC from another. Top quality future-proof game that I'll be playing for years to come.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  68. BuddyA.
    Dec 16, 2003
    10
    The BEST
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  69. DanC.
    Dec 16, 2003
    9
    Outstanding Sim! There are so many positives about this that I could easily fill a page with praise! There are a few bugs in the sim (what new release is ever bug free?) but it's the bugs that aren't there that shows just how great a job was done by Eagle Dynamics! Several flyable aircraft with sliding realisim and minute attention to detail.. and it all works! This Sim shoul dappeal to many.. Flight Sim enthusiasts can take to the skies and fly around the beautiful landscapes and do some sightseeing around the varius historic landmarks and structures of the region. Military enthusiasts can strap on some of the best combat aircraft and get some metal on target. You can even create missions where the AI battle each other using naval, air and land assets. Sit back and watch the battle unfold! A great sim which will continue to improve grow as new flyable aircraft are added in the future. Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  70. ChuckC.
    Dec 16, 2003
    8
    I give the game an 8. The graphics are stunning especially down low. The cites are very well modeled. People have had troubles running it in Win98/Me but if your a gamer you most likely aren't using those old versions of Windows anyway. I use Windows 2000 and it works fine. There are some bugs but that is to be expected. None of the bugs I've had are game stopping. Great visuals, realistic flight model, good enemy pilot AI. It's a great game. System I use to play Lock On AthlonXP 2600, 1GB of RAM, Geforce 4Ti 4600 Windows 2000 Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  71. VaporB.
    Dec 16, 2003
    8
    Great game with lots of potencial but a FPS killer.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  72. Cudaguy
    Dec 16, 2003
    7
    I give this a 7 out of 10. It's got great potential to be the best flite sim out there for the next few years. But the glaring bugs it shipped with tells me this was rushed out unfinished for the Xmas season. I really detest paying 40bux to be a beta tester. Having said that the upcoming patch will "hopefully" fix alot of things that this sim shouldn't have been released with.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  73. RuudG.
    Dec 16, 2003
    9
    Stunning graphics, months (or years) of fun involved in managing the avionics / flightcharacterics. Huge potential.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  74. Essemmnope
    Dec 16, 2003
    4
    fps issues...bugs...poor coding...I can't play online b/c I have an NForce chipset...not a good game
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  75. JData
    Dec 16, 2003
    7
    For its release, LOMAC isn't bad at all. There are some areas that need a tweak here and there but they sure aren't show stoppers. There would be hardware and gameplay issues for people not familar with the minimum requirements on the box. Most people would tend to expect a lot from LOMAC in regarding FPS but they forget that a modern combat game/simulation takes far more calculations than your standard prop WWII game. Graphically, it is beautiful with its stunning landscape, weather, andeffects/damage modeling. Some 3D models are updated and some are not. The overall color palette is tad bright for my tastes but I do prefer the winter landscape over the summer any day. Artificial Intelligence behavior needs a tad bit of work as they don't use correct logic nor are they using their true aerodynamic capabilities and the redundant/repetative audio calls can be a sore spot. Moreover, the overall atmosphere lacks as they are no abundance of calls from other flights which could lead to a lack of immersion as it is just bland. Yet, in RL isn't exactly Hollywood with its glitz and glamour in the communication department. Flight modeling is nice with the scripted high AOA behavior. Yaw authority is a bit too sensitive enough I have tried modifying the axis curve and it still feels artificial. The bottomline? Well, LOMAC is above average in most areas and below in others. The PROs outsway the CONS IMHO but I don't see higher than 9+ given its current state. Let's just be honest. LOMAC has a lot of potential and hopefully the sales will continue and the saga continues. *crossing fingers* Jewels Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  76. Dave
    Dec 16, 2003
    8
    Game is definatly worth the 40bucks, but I think it was a little trumpted up in a few of its features.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  77. Jenikov
    Dec 16, 2003
    9
    Amazing graphics, sweetly modelled planes and incredibely cool ground battles. Good multiplayer and a great sense of teamwork if you play with the right crowd. Cons: Some instability issues, system hog, memory leak, and occasional weird behavious of planes/avionics. Finally: Best modern day sim to date, period.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  78. OscarK.
    Dec 16, 2003
    6
    This is a great aircombatsim but there are many bugs . the grafics look great when they work. don,t get me wrong i love this game , but it just aint finished yet. also some things important for a good flight experience such as training for in flight relueling is not included.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  79. SucelusM.
    Dec 16, 2003
    6
    Manual is poor PDF in vital information. Paper manual is inexistent. Printing PDF is money taxing as it is NON B&W, on an inkjet you´ll waste 3 times the game price. Independent manual taxed40US is lame, it only add screenshot and enciclopedia. The training missions are good but do not provide enough infos. Some missions are buggy and your find yourself looking at your lap. Canned missions, no dinamyc campaign.(usually not a problem as comunity work fast on it, but if a win it or redo it situation pisses you badly stay falcon4) Game engine is great but buggy, looks like patchwork thrown out for christmass probably UBIreapper work. By experience this shall be fixed if UBIthieves support the game. Visual is great, but due to problems only an Athlon 3.2ghz f51 with a giga+ ram and a rateon 9800xt 256mg will be able to run it near its splendor. Counsels : Wait for patching then grab it. When patched it´ll be a classic. Invest in your rig if you don´t want to deceive yourself If you want to get in and bust asses right on with full reality be sure to have mastered Flanker 2.5 if your patient, get it, it surely will be a extremely rewarding piece of software in some months. If UBIcrappers don´t cut it to another SAME product (IL2-> IL2FB) Fact : I play it everyday and sent any other modern flightsim to hell. Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  80. MichaelR.
    Dec 16, 2003
    10
    Excellent physics, excellent graphics.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  81. NealG.
    Dec 16, 2003
    6
    Tried a lot of other jet combat sims, found none worth climbing the hefty learning curve - until this one. It has it's problems...lots of them...and constant tweaking is needed to get it to run acceptably even on higher-end machines ( and that depends a lot on one's definition of 'acceptable'). And due to bugs, sometimes one doesn't know if changing settings even worked...but, all that taken into account, this one has the promise that might get me to finally advance from the WWII prop planes. The sim itself deserves a higher rating, but I cannot honestly give it until some of the major bugs are squashed, including the lack of Win98/Me support and the use of newer copy protection which serves only the purpose of penalizing the legitimate purchaser while not slowing down the 'pirates' one iota. The sim is definitely a 'keeper', though, and this is from a WWII simmer whose motto heretofore has been 'no jets!'. Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  82. RichyR.
    Dec 16, 2003
    9
    The IL-2 of modern air combat!!!
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  83. HogDriver
    Dec 22, 2003
    1
    Don't buy this over-hyped bug ridden piece of garbage. The LOMAC community is laced with zealots that attack any owner/poster with anything negative to say. It's slow, the bug list is huge, and the promise of a patch keeps sliding into the future. Buy something else this Christmas.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  84. Qaiser
    Dec 16, 2003
    9
    Excellent game a few bugs that will be ironed out by the patch and of course this game has plenty of potential....love lomac :)
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  85. YourDaddy
    Nov 27, 2003
    1
    Beware dont buy this game if your not running windows XP even though the box says 98/ME it doesnt work. be sure to check their website before buying.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  86. NS
    Dec 17, 2003
    10
    Its everything a sim should be.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  87. CoolSpy
    Dec 17, 2003
    8
    This sim has some clear potential to become the top one for the years to come. Sure, it has its issues for now: crashes, choppy framerate, bad TrackIR 2 support. But my friends, sims always suck when they come out, don't they ? Remember Falcon 4 at its beginnings ? Look at how Falcon 4 is like now !? When we get the proper patches, this will become an amazing product. The only BIG COMPLAIN about the game (which explains my rating) is for me the ridiculous manual and missing keycard i found in the box ! Sure there is a PDF, but Jesus, we are talking about a flight sim ! We need a decent manual with the game, even if we have to pay a few more bucks for it ! I still remember the Falcon 4 doc or the Flanker 2.0 one: this is what we needed guys ! Except this, Lock On is a jewel: great graphics, great flight models and radar modes, great HOTAS support ... really you will love it for the years to come ! Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  88. TorL.
    Dec 17, 2003
    2
    Poorly written graphics engine, will not perform on current hardware. Minimum specs (on the box) is a joke / marketing ploy. I returned the game for a refund.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  89. kaloS.
    Dec 17, 2003
    10
    Just the greatest air-simulator ever created alongside with Il-2FB. There are bugs, but they could be corrected and are being corrected. It is ade for top rigs, but this is called to look in the future. I play it on my P3 1000 Mhz, 512 RAM and GF4 MX 440SE, I don`t get all the great effects, but still I love this game.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  90. Wakner
    Dec 17, 2003
    8
    Has the foundations for a great game ... but still a way to go in terms of bugs and immersiveness.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  91. PatrickB.
    Dec 17, 2003
    2
    Cant play it yet - joystick problems....will be a 10 when fixed...
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  92. JensF.
    Dec 17, 2003
    8
    This game is good... it need some tweaks... but is great 2 have 5 planes to fligh...
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  93. SørenK.
    Dec 17, 2003
    9
    It's a beaty. Playable, highstrung, and will deliver great immersive experiences for years to come. The only thing that prevents me from giving this a 10 is the HUGE amount of bugs in the initial release. But hopefully a series of patches will adress these
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  94. Kev
    Dec 17, 2003
    7
    In time this will be awesome. Provided Ubi stick with it that is.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  95. CliffT.
    Dec 17, 2003
    9
    Amazing experience of flight, and it has all the bells, whistles and toys. An outstanding simulator. Yes, it has bugs which prevents it getting a 10, but it still can't be beat. And it runs on a wide variety of hardware as long as you dont extract the urine over how much detail you expect.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  96. AndrewL.
    Dec 17, 2003
    10
    Best modern flight sim ever made to date.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  97. ChrisJ.
    Dec 17, 2003
    9
    Great game for fans of military flight simulators. It models the complex systems of 8 aircraft but simplifies the controls enough that you aren't forced into a Falcon4 like click fest. Amazing graphics, don't listen to the FPS detractors. Play the game on medium settings, it still looks great and runs fine. This isn't Quake3 don't expect 300 FPS. My only complaint is the skimpy documentation. I miss the big manuals of the past but I understand cost constraints. However, the PDF manual is still pretty bad. Still a highly recommended game, you wont think of anything else for months. Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  98. KentB.
    Dec 17, 2003
    9
    One word....AWSOME!
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  99. SebastianG.
    Dec 17, 2003
    7
    There is big potential in this game !
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  100. FerryW.
    Dec 16, 2003
    8
    The game has a lot of potential, looks fantastic and has a very high replay value. This combined with the power of hyperlobby and soon come 3rd party software and the patch which should fix the main issues... It holds a great future.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
Metascore

Generally favorable reviews - based on 20 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 20
  2. Negative: 0 out of 20
  1. Our favourite is the A-10 Warthog – cruising at 50 feet, on the prowl for enemy tanks, it’s one of the most exhilarating missions available in any recent simulator.
  2. Detailed terrain, buildings, water, and effects lend an unprecedented feeling of speed to low-level flight. [March 2004, p.82]
  3. It has great graphics, fairly simple controls, great scenery, a decent choice of planes, and a great editor. Although the sounds easily get on your nerves, it will be the load times and need for a computer upgrade that will have you pulling your hair out.