Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 offers an expansive world to explore, much like its predecessor. While the 2020 version was groundbreaking enough to earn a perfect score from me, the new edition presents exciting features alongside persistent challenges. Unfortunately, the experience has been somewhat marred by launch difficulties that have left me with more questions than answers. Although I’m still navigating my aviation career within this new simulator, I can already tell you that while I find it impressive, it hasn’t quite achieved the same awe factor as before.
New Horizons: Career Mode
One of the standout features of Flight Simulator 2024 is its brand-new career mode. Players start by selecting a home airport and joining a fictitious aviation company, progressing through a pilot’s journey akin to a traditional video game skill tree. As you complete beginner missions, you unlock new opportunities, such as obtaining a tailwheel endorsement or getting certified to fly helicopters. These new qualifications lead to a variety of job options, ranging from scenic flights to intricate operations like search and rescue missions.
With time and experience, players can eventually branch out and establish their own aviation company. While I haven’t reached that milestone yet, I’m eagerly working toward it, accumulating fixed-wing endorsements along the way. The prospect of owning a fleet of aircraft and reaping the rewards of my own business is exhilarating.
Familiar Training Missions
The initial phase of career mode consists of basic flight training designed to get players accustomed to the mechanics of flying. However, I found it a bit disappointing that these training missions are nearly identical to those in the 2020 version. Set in the same airfield in Sedona, Arizona, the tasks remain the same, albeit with improved AI instructions and clearer on-screen guidance. The new tooltips are particularly welcome, given the multitude of controls and functionalities available—no more Googling how to release the parking brake!
Unlocking New Missions
As you progress through career mode, more mission types become available. Interestingly, these missions aren’t all localized to your chosen home airport. For instance, after selecting a small airfield in eastern Maine, I found myself sent to Europe for aircraft delivery and skydiving missions. While this didn’t detract too much from the experience, it did momentarily break the immersive “career” narrative I was building.
Exciting Challenges and Competitions
Another exciting addition is the challenge league, which injects a competitive element into the gameplay. Weekly challenges, complete with leaderboards, provide opportunities to test your flying skills. My favorite challenge so far has been the F/A-18 rally race through the Grand Canyon, where navigating through slalom gates at high speeds is both exhilarating and challenging. The thrill of climbing the rankings and competing against others adds another layer of enjoyment to the experience.
Sightseeing and Photo Challenges
One feature that I particularly loved in the previous installment was the ability to explore new places. In Flight Simulator 2024, sightseeing has been enhanced through the introduction of photo challenges. These tasks require players to capture images of famous landmarks under specific conditions. For example, one challenge involves taking a photo of the Great Sphinx during the equinox—on foot!
The ability to exit your aircraft and walk around is a fantastic addition, although it’s not without its quirks. The realistic walking speed can feel painfully slow, especially for those accustomed to faster-paced video games. Additionally, the level of detail in the environment can vary based on your PC’s performance and internet speed.
Enhanced Realism and Details
Visually, Flight Simulator 2024 boasts significant improvements over its predecessor. Environments like the Grand Canyon now resemble their real-life counterparts more closely. However, the reliance on cloud streaming has led to some graphical inconsistencies, such as poorly rendered models for notable landmarks.
Despite the graphical enhancements, my high-performance PC struggled to maintain optimal settings, often pushing GPU usage to its limits. This raises concerns about the overall performance and stability of the game, especially during demanding scenarios.
Final Thoughts: A Work in Progress
Despite some initial hiccups, I find myself genuinely enjoying Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. Although it lacks the overwhelming impact of its predecessor, the new features, especially career mode, provide exciting opportunities for immersion and engagement. As I continue to explore this vast world and hone my piloting skills, I remain optimistic about the potential of this simulator. While my final verdict is still pending, I believe Flight Simulator 2024 holds great promise, even if it hasn’t quite recaptured the magic of its earlier version.
