What's the best PC aerial combat game?

[JackDawkins]

I'm looking for basically an arcade type game of aerial combat for PC. Something I can be in some type of aircraft to fly around and just shoot and blow stuff up. Anything out in the past year or so that has good graphics, fun and easy if all you want to do is fly and shoot.

This is for my nephew's birthday; he loves playing Halo and flying around in the Banshee. I remember there used to be some decent aerial combat games but have no idea about anything recently. Any suggestions would be great.

 

[TwiceOver]

Older game but a goodie. Crimson Skies. Not the greatest graphics, but an excellent story, somewhat challenging and just all around fun to play.

 

[JackDawkins]

Thanks. I'm looking at Crimson Skies.

Bump for any more suggestions. Is Star Wars X-Wing or Tie Fighter any good. Are they basic fly and shoot games?

 

[WhiteWonder]

I played X-wing back in the day, and it was fun. The one I played is probably a little old now though, but they might have made a new one......... not sure.

 

[LordMorpheus]

Don't get him an arcade game, please?

Buy him IL-2:FB Gold pack.

I mean, it'll take him a week to take off (assuming he has no sime experience) but the game will never-ever-get-old!

I swear to god. I play 1-2 hours on a normal day, for over a year now. And I still love it.

Nothing has ever held my attention that long.

 

[DanTMWTMP]

that latest falcon game...i think falcon 4.0 ?...

damn that game was hard....lol...

it came out couple years ago, but the graphics still look nice IMO...The details of the game are amazing.

oh yeah the game is friggin hard as hell...it took me forever just to know how to take off w/o jaming the landing gear....and forever just to shoot a missile....

the manual for that game was a friggin 100 page textbook lol


rebel alliance, an old star wars game..but still w/ 3d graphics..was really fun and has a great story.

 

[styrafoam]

IL-2 is a great game, maybe a little steep for a younger kid. Secret Weapons over Normandy is a fly & shoot arcade type game that plays well with a gamepad. It's pretty fun and has good production values to boot.

 

[boyRacer]

LOMAC

 

[faenix]

Crimson Skies

 

[Goosemaster]

BF1942 is pretty good.

 

[bernse]

Second IL2: FB, and by the ACE expansion or just the gold pack from the get-go. Great, great sim.

LOMAC is fantastic too... still a couple bugs getting worked out and requires a beast of a system, but still great.