CNET Editors' review
The tenth release in Microsoft's esteemed flight-sim series makes a major break from tradition with the inclusion missions to complete all over the world. The prerelease demo for Flight Simulator X offers you three of those missions, one of which is a tutorial that introduces the basics of flying. Although the demo for the in-progress game includes minor graphical errors that can make aircraft and scenery look slightly askew, there's more than enough fun to have with the four provided planes. The 625MB download is a bear, and the installation process is considerable, but once it's on your machine you'll be up in the air in no time.
The provided planes in the demo are the Air Creation Trike Ultralight, Beechcraft Baron 58, Bombardier CRJ700, and the deHaviland Beaver DHC2. The areas available to explore are in the Caribbean, including the Netherlands Antilles and surrounding islands. Most notable, perhaps, is the inclusion of the famed Princess Juliana International Airport, with its tiny landing strip and low approach over the beach. Aside from an introductory tutorial, the demo includes two other missions that let you drop flour bombs and fly to (and land at) various airports. We experienced minor frame lag even on the lowest graphical settings on a machine with plenty of processing power, good memory, and a reasonable video card, and graphical glitches are evident at the highest settings. However, the excellent interface, user-friendly missions, and free-flight options make this demo a can't-miss for flight-sim fans.
Publisher's Description
From Microsoft Game Studios:
From award winning game developer ACES comes Flight Simulator X. The latest installment will include the usual genre leading realism that continues to awe real pilots and will serve as the graphical benchmark for games on Windows Vista. Additionally, Flight Simulator X will deliver for the first time structured game play with more than 55 missions to choose from which will test the skills of players of all levels.
More Products to Consider
- Get behind the wheel and own the streets from dusk til dawn.Download
Installed
Smart Install - Add new cars and new scenery to Vice City.Download
Installed
Smart Install - Play the latest continuation of Super Mario 3: Mario Forever.Download
Installed
Smart Install - Give Tommy Vercetti a new wardrobe with this skin pack.Download
Installed
Smart Install - Try both single-player and multiplayer modes in this illicit st...Download
Installed
Smart Install - Build anything you can imagine with blocks.Download
Installed
Smart Install - Challenge yourself with this Age of Empires sequel.Download
Installed
Smart Install - Fight for humanity against an alien onslaught.Download
Installed
Smart Install - Fight battles between plants and zombies.Download
Installed
Smart Install - Play 12 solitaire card games on your PC.Download
Installed
Smart Install - Update The Sims 3 to v1.6.6.002002.Download
Installed
Smart Install - Take a spin around three tracks with three car modes.Download
Installed
Smart Install - Play GTA:Vice City online or via LAN connection.Download
Installed
Smart Install - Play Spider Four Suits and four other spider solitaire card gam...Download
Installed
Smart Install - Put characters in awkward poses, create your own wheeled vehicl...Download
Installed
Smart Install - Update the look and feel of GTA 3 with this add-on.Download
Installed
Smart Install - Optimize your PC and boost your games by one click.Download
Installed
Smart Install - Defeat evil Bowser and his army of small soldiers.Download
Installed
Smart Install - Add new features to your Red Alert 2 game.Download
Installed
Smart Install - Add social media applications in your game with ease.Download
Installed
Smart Install - Modify your computer's settings to increase your gaming perform...Download
Installed
Smart Install - Improve your PC and Internet speed performance.Download
Installed
Smart Install - Play a 3D tank shooting game.Download
Installed
Smart Install - Advance an entire civilization in this strategy game.Download
Installed
Smart Install
-
All versions:
3.5 starsout of 112 votes
-
Current version:
3.5 starsout of 112 votes
-
My rating:
Write review
-
"Such a enthusiastic game must try it out"
Version: Flight Simulator X demo
Pros
Spectacular Game with aircraft that you can fly perfectly !
Cons
Well controls are minimum ,
Mouse is one which is alright 8/10
Yoke is perfect 10/10
Joystick the best to buy? 9/10
Keyboard not that well 3/10
plus you can set your traffic and graphics etc.....Summary
Microsoft Fsx well its type of a game where you can fly planes .i mean its a good experience to learn and fly, Turns out to be great !you can add new things to it best part is adding new planes maps whole country (if you want it to be ). PM sound is altitude call outs and much more
you should give it a go!!!!
my rating 10/10 :) -
"798.28MB! Impossible for me to download this stuff!"
Version: Flight Simulator X demo
Pros
Never try before
Cons
No comment
Summary
Ah!
-
"verygoodsim"
Version: Flight Simulator X demo
Pros
verygoodsim
Cons
verygoodsim
-
"Completely Hosed my Windows 7 x64 Machine!"
Version: Flight Simulator X demo
Pros
unknown, I didn't get that far.
Cons
Completely trashed my Windows 7 so badly that I couldn't even boot.
Summary
Might have been the DirectX 9 that it installed without asking. But whatever it was, it left me with a paperweight for a computer until I did a system restore. If the thing wasn't compatible with Windows 7, Microsoft's install ought to have known that.
-
"20 minutes of slow flying after 90 minute download pft"
Version: Flight Simulator X demo
Pros
updated from 1980's flight simulator
Cons
demo a waste of time to download. I will lokk for it in the discount crate at Fry's.
-
"Its a wery good game!"
Version: Flight Simulator X demo
Pros
I love this game ist så real!
Cons
I don't like the monney!
Summary
I like it beucase its soo real!
-
"I really like the game!!!! MY video card does not."
Version: Flight Simulator X demo
Pros
I like the graphics and everything about the game. I could say more if I could play it with my card. I just stop and go!
Cons
There is really nothing I dislike about the game!
Summary
Can' give a good review on this part, but I assure you all, that it would be well worth your time and money to purchase the game. I have I think nine aircraft games that I can play on my computer. I enjoy playing all of them. Too bad they are all older games.
Download and enjoy!!! -
"good you serves"
Version: Flight Simulator X demo
Pros
i don't hew more English
Cons
thank you for
Summary
thank you for you
Updated on Apr 29, 2010 -
"well I have download it at official FS website."
Version: Flight Simulator X demo
Pros
it like a real cockpit
Cons
windows error
Summary
I like because it teach me how to lands a plane
I think you must not really usual with FSX
Updated on Dec 25, 2009 -
"Disappointing product for 2009"
Version: Flight Simulator X demo
Pros
Lots of different maps and aircraft
Cons
Controls are poor, and the graphics are of a level as you would expect 5 years ago. I have seen freeware that is better
Summary
Putting a product of such low sophistication on the market for such a price, is a disgrace. You can get noticeably better programs for a fraction of the cost, and there is software that is equal to this totally free.
The features are very limited, and the quality of the graphics is very disappointing. I have run it on a computer and a screen that allow high detail, and it just looks like child's stuff compared to other programs.












