DCS World might be my next co-op obsession
F-4 Phantom – The Greatest Cold War Jet?
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Digital Combat Simulator World, also known as DCS World, is the reigning champion of combat flight simulation software. From the P-51 Mustang to the beloved A-10 Warthog, the platform is full to bursting with top-level renditions of famous airframes – many that simply can't be flown anywhere else digitally. And while developer Eagle Dynamics' attention to detail has gotten them into hot water in the past, its first- and third-party developers routinely deliver the goods. Its latest, DCS: F-4E Phantom II by partner Heatblur Simulations, looks absolutely stunning – especially given that it plays best as a two-player co-op experience.
I'll admit that I'm a bit of an F-4 fanboy. I even have a vintage Remove Before Flight tag from a United States Air Force Phantom hanging here in my office. But I've never actually flown the airplane before on PC. When I looked over the first launch video, which officially came out on May 22nd, I was totally freaked out. Not for the reason you're probably thinking of – I'm pretty sure I could get it off the ground and make it perform. But it is a two-seater aircraft. This means I would be flying with the game's AI sitting in the back seat and forced to communicate with them through the game's interface. The added complexity—on top of learning to start and fly a Cold War jet—was a bridge too far for me.
