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Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004: A Century of Flight

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8.1 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 22 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 26 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: Microsoft

Developer: Microsoft

Genre(s): Flight Simulation

Players: 16

ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)

Release Date: July 28, 2003

Summary

Experience history at the controls of historic aircraft, such as Charles Lindbergh's Ryan NYP Spirit of St. Louis, the Douglas DC-3 and the world's first successful powered aircraft, the Wright Flyer. New engaging features such as interactive multimedia provide a wealth of historical information on the planes that shaped aviation history and the pilots who flew them. Informed and insightful articles explain all there is to know about Microsoft's Flight Simulator and the 24 aircraft included in the software. A Century of Flight also introduces an updated, dynamic weather system, enhanced automatically generated scenery (AutoGen) and detailed visual effects, improved Air Traffic Control functions, and 3D interactive cockpits, as well as 15 modern aircraft, including the Beechcraft Baron and the Robinson R22 helicopter. [Microsoft]

Also On Metacritic

GAMES: Microsoft Flight Simulator 2002 Wings of Power: WWII Heavy Bombers and Jets

Also On The Web: GameSpot Preview(s) GameSpy Preview Official Website

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

Game Chronicles

I can’t think of a more perfect product to celebrate 100 years of aviation or 20 years of simulating flight on the PC. There is so much to learn and so much to do, and you’ll have weeks, months, and even year’s worth of fun doing it.

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Armchair Empire

Without peer in Flight Simulators. If you only have one flight sim, this is the one!

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PC Gameworld

After investing hard-earned cash in add-ons for FS 2000 and FS 2002, is this new title really worth buying? The answer is “yes.”

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Gamezilla!

The real highlight however is the improvement to the graphics engine. The scenery is improved along with general detail enhancements but the weather system is quite remarkable.

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Computer Gaming World

With enough features to fill a 747 flight manual, MSFS2004 provides a level of flying simulation on the PC that was unimaginable even a few years ago. [Oct 2003, p.116]

IGN

The weather, graphics, and little details really do make this a giant leap over FS 2002. But I'm disappointed that Microsoft didn't include more modern aircraft.

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Computer Games Magazine

The challenge and entertainment comes from learning about flying, recreating historic flights, and plain old barnstorming. [Nov 2003, p.90]

PC Gamer

Weather effects have been vastly upgraded, with much more varied and convicing cloud layers, snow, and lightning, and even improved rain effects. [Oct 2003, p.120]

Yahoo! Games

Easily the best and most important flight simulator available. FS2004 fulfils the expectations of even the most curmudgeonly sim fanatic. For 20 years, we've been waiting for hardware that can deliver a flight simulator this good. Now Microsoft has given us the software.

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Cheat Code Central

It will take the better part of a day to get comfortable with the controls so plan on using up some of your patience. In a short while you'll be soaring with the eagles - and also dropping like flies.

PC Arena

Does a very good job of reliving the origins and early years of powered flight, and is also a good primer for budding fixed-wing aviators and hobbyists everywhere.

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Cincinnati Enquirer

Graphically, Flight Simulator 2004 is the most attractive yet, especially in the clouds department, though the ground scenery looks much better higher up, but objects such as skyscrapers, greenery and airport towers aren't as detailed up close.

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GameBiz

The best of its genre, but there's always room for improvement with the graphics.

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AceGamez

The improvements made with Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004 - A Century Of Flight make it a worthwhile upgrade, but don't expect photo-realism; hold out for the soon released "MS Flight Simulator X" due in early 2007.

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GameSpot

More planes, better graphics, and more options than ever before right out of the box, but the game will likely reach its full potential only if it receives great support from its player community.

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PC Format

It’s doubtful whether fair-weather flight sim fans will get much more out of this than they would from FS2002, but for the enthusiast, A Century of Flight is worthy of the pride and bluster that the title implies.

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Game Over Online

If you have any interest in flight simulation, Flight Simulator 2004 is the de facto product out there. If you're learning how to fly or you'd just like to virtually learn a bit about flight, there's no better place to start than here.

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My Gamer

MSF2004 does an amazing job at incorporating history into the simulation, and it sets itself aside from the other flight sims in the series, and from any flight sim for that matter.

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GameSpy

[Microsoft] has blithely improved an already great sim by giving it a new angle, bringing in some really sweet technological improvements, and making it even more accessible.

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WHAM! Gaming

Where the visuals come as a mixed bad, the sound is completely top notch all the way.

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GameZone

Aviation enthusiasts and beginners alike will find hours of enjoyment with this title and tons of re-playability.

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Eurogamer

So - here's a rating for the casual gamer. Add one point for every air show you've ever attended.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 8.1 (out of 10) based on 26 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Sam F. gave it a7:
This Sim from MS Does honor 100 years of flight well but there are some areas I was hoping for from the 2002 version. Crashes could have added explosion/fires to be more realistic . The Buildings stil use low res and interior of plane. What MS Did do wel is the vast information on every aircraft in the game with tutorials and lessons. A good effort from MS But wanted better graphics on buildings in this version. The terrain was vastly imroved overall and enjoyed flying those older planes.

Jason B. gave it an8:
Th graphics are great but i think there should be some war palnes like f-16s and the crash realism is horible.

Jace N. gave it a3:
Yikes...what a terrible graphics engine. I reckon I could take this game back in time to 1997 and have every viewer go "eww". Dont beleive the minimum specs...you need at least 2Gz, 2048MB RAM and 4GB HD space. And even then theres a standard 7 day working week between input and action. And every helicopter feels like its got no tail rotor!

Casimir S. gave it a5:
Nice program but what happened to trim function. I am a pilot with 5000+ hours and what value is the best simulator if trim can't be maintained. This could ba a great tool for teaching but the trim function spoils the complete simulator. Is it me am I doing something wrong, would love to hear from you on this subject.

Kyle M. gave it a9:
Fantastic but the realism for crashes is bad.

Derek gave it a 7:
Great game, but it gets boring after a while and it needs more planes, like war planes. or even f-16's. anything like that.

Joe B. gave it a 10:
I think Michael C & Larry W fall from the same tree, 60$ for this game is too little but if you're cheap & lack I.Q this might be steep, & as for putting the cd in the cd rom each time is a strenuous job, you should get out & exercise, instead of being a "dumb American pig" this game is much better than FS2002. The graphics are fantastic & the realism is incredible. I am ready to go out & fly a plane on my own! Well not really. Peace!

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Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004: A Century of Flight

Game Info

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