Rise of Flight: The First Great Air War PC
User Score
7.0 out of 10

Mixed or average reviews- based on 22 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 22
  3. Negative: 6 out of 22

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  1. SimonF
    Aug 28, 2009
    4
    Compared to Over Flanders Fields...this sucks! Buying additional aircraft, being logged onto Russian Servers,..little in the way of atmospherics...I feel cheated!
  2. EdwardR
    Apr 24, 2011
    10
    Rise of Flight is a first rate flight sim and probably the best all around World War One sim currently available. The graphics are outstanding, and the developer has included a number of scaling options to fit a wide range of PCs. Any standard joystick will work fine for controls. The flight model is very good, with each airplane having its own unique personality - none feels generic. Overall, Rise of Flight recreates the sense of flight better than any sim I've ever played. Just flying the planes is great fun. With a new campaign mode scheduled for the next (free!) update, Rise of Flight is a worthy successor to Red Baron. NOTE: The DRM system has changed substantially since the early reviews. Apart from logging on to install the game, download updates, or change your in-game profile (the nationality of your pilot), the game can be played entirely offline. I go weeks without ever logging on to the server; there's absolutely no need to for day-to-day single-player play.… Expand
  3. Tobus
    Aug 11, 2009
    7
    Pro's: Great graphics, only trenches are drawn instead of 3d, but otherwise fabulous. Great sounds. Grreat physics per aircraft, exactly the reason why seperate a/c need to be bought. These are NO simple conversions of settings+model+skin. Each plane has to be learned to fly and has its own characteristics. Cons: Sloppy multiplayer implementation. Unable to join already running servers as a player, you get to be spectator until the round ends. Navigation is hard without navigation-icons on, so finding opponents can take time, lengtening the mission and the time you are spectating. All players have to report ready in the lobby to let the round start. Anyone not doing that (gone to the bathroom) will hold everyone up. The host can not kick the player, only a democratic ban can (majority vote). Documentation is poor: no details on which difficultysetting does what, no details on cockpits of different planes, no tutorial for missioneditor whatsoever. Side note: Heavy DRM. Game can only be played when connected to the internet to allow realtime validation with Neoqb. Game is IMO much less playable when NOT having a TrackIR system. I would give this a 9 if the multiplay would be much more opened up.… Expand
  4. BSH
    Dec 29, 2009
    3
    Beautiful game, excellent flight system and damage model (improved IL2 erngine), and solid controls. The problems: bad implementation of all gameplay modes especially multiplayer, extremely long load times (on a 3.2ghz quad core with WD Raptors and a 260 GTX), ridiculous DRM implementation/authentication and, get this, over 7 dollars per addon aircraft if you want to buy the DLC (all of which should have been included with release). To buy all the content for this game (and it's only been out a few months) will cost you over 100 dollars, and you'll only get a few "extra" planes. They didn't include much in this game to start with, it's not polished, it's crippled by technical problems, lack of content, documentation, long load times, and vicious DRM, and worst of all it is a huge middle finger from a greedy startup that values money over their own potential fanbase, which won't materialize. I am a die-hard simmer going back to the olden days of CGA and Microprose, and I've played IL2 nearly every day for 8 years now, so I am the target audience for this game. However, I will not buy it until these issues are fixed. I played the full trial for about 20 hours, but I see tons of potential, but I won't drop some cash until these glaring problems are sorted out. Pity. We've all been awaiting a top quality next-gen WWI flight sim. Guess we'll keep waiting.… Expand
  5. JetIntake
    Aug 14, 2009
    6
    As far as graphics and flight model are concerned, this game tops anything ever released. But the game ain't "done"... Sound are poor, multiplayer is crappy, documentation is not there, getting the full game is expensive ($7 for each extra plane), setting up the game with TrackIr and X52 is a pain in... It's really a pity because flight experience is increadible,but this is enough to make a good game.… Expand
  6. MouseOne
    Nov 28, 2010
    9
    If Rise of Flight were to be graded only on excellence of its flight model, it would deserve an 11 here. Seriously, speaking as a RL pilot with a couple of decades of professional flying behind me (military and civilian), RoF is pretty much the only PC flight sim I've played that feels like a plane. And yes, all you Il-2 fans, I've played that. The modeling of the aircraft is exquisite, and a WW1 aviation junkie like myself thrills to see the various start sequences animated correctly. Everything but manually priming the cylinders on the SE-5a! The damage model seems pretty spot on-- there's no arcade style instakills (unless you nail the pilot or tank, just like old MvR said to). Expect to miss a lot, grind your teeth at jamming guns, and wish the damn plane would stop bobbing around in turbulence so much.
    Most of the complaints some of the other posters made have been addressed-- MP is much better now, TrackIR is plug and play, and 777 seems to get pricing-- the ICE pack is really the way to go, with more than enough planes to make you happy. That said, ultimately this game is really only about dogfighting right now. There's a promised campaign mode coming, two seaters and all that, but if you're expecting Over Flanders Fields, you'll be disappointed. Then again, if you want a realistic flight model, you'll be disappointed in OFF. In a perfect world, there would be a game that had the best aspects of both-- and maybe RoF will have that in a year or so. But right now, it's just the best damn flight sim out there. And that's something.    … Expand
  7. FLGibsonJr
    Nov 21, 2010
    10
    You can tell right away this is a great Combat Flight Sim...the potential for the future seems limitless. I received mine after pre-ordering it (original Rise of Flight release) and have been enjoying it ever since. Like all new games there were a few bugs and areas that needed to be refined, but those have all been addressed. What is exceptionally nice is that you have developers who have been continuing to work and further develop this game.

    I just wanted to thank the developers for a great game, and I am still looking to the future with continued hope as this WWI Combat Flight Sim gets better and better.

    This is now the definitive WWI Combat Flight Sim, and perhaps the definitive Combat Flight Sim.

    Regards,    … Expand
  8. Goden
    Jul 17, 2011
    0
    I cannot even give this game a (1) because the majority of the games content does not even come included. You have to pay for it extra. Out of the box, you only get a handful of airplanes as standard, the rest you have to buy at 7 to 15 dollars each. AFTER this you can then by upgrade packages for which cost 5 dollars and add things like lights and dials to the aircraft. You also have to buy these upgrades for each airplane. Rubbish.… Expand
  9. crash101
    Apr 1, 2011
    3
    First, ROF-ICE is the same disk as the first game just repackaged- sales were not good. To play this game fully you need a good stick, rudder controls and Trackir- anything less and you cant even fly properly. The game is assigned to your keyboard and an old saitek stick thats out of production. It often CTD after numerous patches ( called updates) the game is still problematic. I did my best with it but found the time spent in the game did not equal any returns from playing the game. You also have to buy planes if you want to fly different types- no buy- no fly and thats online or off. Save your money .… Collapse
  10. ZaPPPa
    Jun 16, 2011
    10
    Some of the earlier reviews are out of date and should be re-evaluated. In May 2011 the developer released the 1.019 superpatch that added a dynamic campaign to the game and the game has been extremely stable on my machine. This at no extra cost to the customers who already paid.
    The game plays fine with just a simple Logitech Extreme joystick without TrackIR. It supports padlock, snap vie    w and all other normal features. Their business model of having to buy additional playable planes allows the developer to continuously add features to the game instead of creating a new version or new game. Best of all, as a user.. you don't HAVE to buy those planes. The AI will fly them whether you pay for them or not. A free demo is now available that has all features enabled, including the full campaign. The only limit is that only two types of planes are available to the player.
    Pros: The graphics are gorgeous. The planes are a joy to fly and the damage model is impressive. Land a bit rough and see you plane topple over, bend struts and tear cloth. The new campaign really added a lot of atmosphere to the game.
    Cons: AI can be clumsy and needs work.    … Expand
  11. willgibbs77
    Sep 8, 2011
    6
    Nice looks game, I wouldnt call it realistic but lots of eye candy, rather boring and not much action but when there is a nice furball its lots of fun. Trackir and top of the line computer a must. 777 studios is ripping off its customers big time charging extra for the same planes with different model number and mgs, very greedy should be all included in one big collectors edition with free patchs rather then being charged alot for stuff that should be free to keep our interest in thier game we were kind enough to purchase.… Expand
  12. Loucetios
    Feb 5, 2013
    0
    Flightstick required should have been painted all over the website.

    I read the journal of the PC Gamer pilot and thought this game sounded like fun. I was horribly wrong.

    The flight model is terrible, you have the owner of one of these planes in the review section telling you it is wrong because he owns the real thing and has compared the two. If real planes were this un-flyable no o    ne would have survived their first flight in all likelihood.

    The plane simply CANNOT be controlled by keyboard.

    On top of that, you have maybe 2 planes at your disposal.. despite this being labelled a 'free' game you have to pay for it in reality. The website flat out lies to you in some regards.

    I can appreciate what the dev team are trying to do, but they're doing it in the most inaccessible way possible. What could have been a userbase of 30,000+ is now likely a userbase of 3000.

    Greed essentially got in the way of this game being good. That and the flight model being crap.    … Expand
  13. vongrube
    Aug 26, 2012
    7
    I have ROF, and I am here to tell you WITHOUT A DOUBT that the Fokker Dr1 flight model is NOT accurate! And before you say "how would you know that?" , let me just say... Because I own one!
    I am the owner of a full size Fokker Dr1 Triplane that I have been flight testing for the past three months. Look up "vongrube" on YouTube and you can watch my flight videos.
    The ROF Dr1 flight model     is horrible! Watch my videos. You don't see the nose pitching up and down, or the plane skittering all over the sky. If my plane acted that way on the first test flight, I would probably not have survived the experience. Granted...my plane IS touchy, and unstable...just like the original. But no where close to what ROF depicts! In 35 years as a fixed wing and helicopter pilot I have NEVER flown any aircraft that flies the way ROF depicts their triplane!
    I wish these game designers would actually sit down with REAL pilots of these classic planes and interview them intensly. Then, allow them to fly the simulator and listen to their input. If you really want to know how a plane flies, talk to an actual pilot OF that plane. Stop taking second, third, and fourth hand stories from magazines and books, and then try to interpret the meanings. There are plenty of pilots who fly actual and replica warbirds out there (including myself) who would be more than willing to help out with an accurate flight model simulation.    … Expand

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
77 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 14 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 14
  3. Negative: 0 out of 14
  1. Games.cz
    Jul 19, 2011
    90
    The best World War I combat flight simulator ever. To hold your airplane in the skies is an easy task. But it will take some time and lot of training to become a real ace. Rise of Flight is heavily inspired by IL-2 Sturmovik's style and it is able to deliver and entertain almost every virtual pilot.
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  2. GameStar
    77
    Rise of Flight offers great and realistic battles during the First World War, but without a story and variety it's short-lived fun. But there's no comparable game out there where you can just go and fly into battle without much hassle. A joystick is recommended.
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  3. GamingExcellence
    55
    Rise of Flight is at its core a strong flight simulator. So while flying is fun, dogfighting and bombing ultimately left something to be desired.
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