Flight Simulator X: Acceleration
February 27,2008 - Editor's Note: This review was written by Noman Ansari.

There is something to be said about a long running series of games – excuse me, simulators -- that are developed with large budgets and feature cutting edge visuals and sound effects, but do not involve any shots fired, bombs exploded, opponents backstabbed, or cars crashed, yet still manage to push gamers’ hearts to the beating edge. It is partially because of this bloodless excitement, that the Flight Simulator games continue to see worldwide success amongst the mainstream PC crowd, and that Microsoft continues to churn out new games in the franchise.

Released in the December of 2006, Flight Simulator X was a typically stellar installment in the series, and worth any fan’s currency. It even expanded horizons -- no pun intended -- with exciting new mission modes coupled with reward based objectives, which were cleverly designed to appeal to hardcore and casual fans alike. Unfortunately FS:X suffered from numerous technical issues, including performance that would choke on anything less than an 8800 card. Although Microsoft managed some frame rate boosts with the game’s first service pack, the gains weren’t enough for gamers with older video cards. Such gamers, hoping for performance boosts from Flight Simulator X: Acceleration are out of luck, as it didn’t measure significant frame rate improvements on either of our test systems.

While Acceleration lacks in frame rate boosts, it does include a “preview mode” for the long awaited DirectX 10 effects. The “preview mode” DX10 effects are a subtle update at best, and certainly fall short of the brilliance that was expected after the widely publicized artist renderings. Still, considering that the DX10 mode is labeled as a “preview”, gamers can realistically hope for better realized DX10 updates in the future.

Considering that Microsoft have a big enough headache optimizing Acceleration with their own software, it isn’t surprising, nor unexpected, that Acceleration doesn’t play well with the majority of the FS:X mods. While many fans are left upset, it is difficult to fault MS for not testing their expansion with software other than their own.

That’s about the extent of the negatives that come with Acceleration. In terms of positives, this expansion is tremendous value. Acceleration includes thirty five new singleplayer missions, twenty new multiplayer races, environmental and object enhancements, as well as three new aircrafts. It is quite an impressive package, especially if you consider the high cost of many individual aircraft add-ons available from third parties.

The three new aircrafts in Acceleration all offer very different experiences, and are best introduced to players through missions. The first aircraft is a heavily modified version of the North American P51 Mustang, which once upon a Second World War, flew bomber support missions. Nowadays the P51 finds itself heavily tricked out, and racing around the pylons at Reno.

The P51 is the most accessible of the three new aircrafts, and features multiple race missions with difficulty levels starting at an intermediate level. Racing with the P51 is a real blast, especially since the visuals and sound effects create an exciting illusion of speed.

The second and possibly coolest addition is Boeing’s F/A-18A Hornet, a carrier capable military aircraft that plays a supporting role, providing air cover and reconnaissance. In Acceleration, the developers wanted to design Hornet missions to showcase all the capabilities of the aircraft, without letting the lack of an arsenal feel like a very obvious design omission. This results in some odd Hornet missions. While the Hornet missions start in normal fashion with air cover objectives, later ones have gamers uploading a virus to a UFO spotted near AREA 51.Yes really. Fortunately, most other missions aren’t as whacky, and can involve exciting launches off of aircraft carrier catapults, or nerve-wracking night time carrier landings, without the aid of navigation equipment.

The third new aircraft is actually a chopper, in the form of AgustaWestland EH101. It is a medium-lift helicopter used in real life for a variety of military and civilian purposes, some of which are explored in FS: X. Of the three new aircrafts in Acceleration, the EH101 has the most dedicated missions. Most of these outings involve either some sort of rescue or transportation objective, and are all entertaining to some degree. While missions involving the other two aircrafts gradually evolve in difficulty, the EH101 missions are consistently challenging, in large part due to the chopper’s heavy handling. In fact, while a couple of the Accelerator missions are designed for beginners, the bulk of them are for the more seasoned Flight Simulator fans.

A number of the new missions don’t involve the three new aircrafts at all, but are interesting none the less. One of these has players fly the Secretary of Defense, while another involves flying the very famous vomit comet, while simulating zero gravity.

Almost all the missions are intense throughout, thanks in part to some excellent sound production. For those with sub woofers, the aircraft booms can especially be a real joy. Of the visual enhancements, the most welcome addition is that of “Light Bloom”, which makes soaring look all the more realistic, especially when the cockpit gauges envelop in sunlight.

On average, the thirty five new singleplayer missions have a play time of thirty minutes apiece, which when combined with the multiplayer missions, and the free flight mode, makes for an expansion pack of tremendous value.

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