Looking for a current, detailed non-paid review?

[VeryBumpy 272]

Don't want IGN, Gamespot, etc.

I'm looking for a comprehensive current (summer 2022) state of affairs review of FS2020 but can't find anything of 'sim background person' quality. You know, someone that has played FSX and P3D for years.

1. Ideally a brief bullet point list of unique issues or things pathetically lacking or needs definite improvement at this point in time.
2. Additionally, we all know it has sublime looks and atmosphere but a short bullet point list of dramatic or quality of gameplay key things FS2020 has (beside visuals) over the mature (FSX) or competitor sims (DCS, XP11).

Thanks for your courteous and professional opinions.

[ryanbatc 12,835]

Just now, VeryBumpy said:

Don't want IGN, Gamespot, etc.

I'm looking for a comprehensive current (summer 2022) state of affairs review of FS2020 but can't find anything of 'sim background person' quality. You know, someone that has played FSX and P3D for years.

1. Ideally a brief bullet point list of unique issues or things pathetically lacking or needs definite improvement at this point in time.
2. Additionally, we all know it has sublime looks and atmosphere but a short bullet point list of dramatic or quality of gameplay key things FS2020 has (beside visuals) over the mature (FSX) or competitor sims (DCS, XP11).

Thanks for your courteous and professional opinions.

Many people here have used FSX, P3D, XP10/11, DCS for years - myself included.  I have long since uninstalled P3D v4 (never used 5), and XP11.  I'm an active real world GA pilot and I'm loving MSFS.  Lately I've had very little time to dedicate to the sim as my kids come first.

There's always room for improvement in the sim, things that stand out for me:

*ATC - okay but needs improvement - wasn't great in any other sim either though.  I've heard heard this is to be worked on.  That's the main thing with MSFS - you're essentially buying into a beta.  It's generally a stable beta, but they update it so often it feels like a beta to me.

*AI Traffic - okay - Just Flight is debuting an option soon - there are freeware options like AIG for airliners - they're decent

*Flight model - getting better honestly - especially with recent third party releases (IE devs figuring out how to manage the new SDK etc etc).  Ground handling still needs work but some planes like the SWS Kodiak do a decent job.

*Weather - generally speaking pretty good - I've heard the upcoming SU10 is a solid improvement in cloud appearances, METAR-based weather still needs improvement but some users say it's working perfectly.  There still is no visibility value in custom weather... odd.

*Scenery - default is even very good, even outside of photogrammetry areas, buildings are typically placed in the right spot and look believable.  I can literally pre-fly a route in the sim for situational awareness later in the real world.  It's awesome.  

*Third party aircraft - getting much better.  MSFS is a great sim for anyone now, better avionics driven by Working Title (free/part of the sim), TDS GTN 750Xi (similar to RXP in the past) now works in VC, PMDG/Aerosoft/Fenix/Leonardo airliners available, SWS Kodiak, Just Flight Pipers, FSW C414, Milviz C310 / PC6 (A2A Comanche coming finally!) - honestly even the Carenado aircraft are better in this sim...  they've got a PC12 coming soon-ish.

*Third party freeware - ample addons found here: https://flightsim.to/

In conclusion (I know, cliche), I'm an active/current rw pilot/ATC using the sim for situational awareness and vatsim/pilot edge on occasion - this sim is my one and only at the moment (I do plan on at least purchasing XP12 because I love simming and aviation).  I truly believe the vast majority of complainers are either a) not pilots irl or b) never kept up with changes since the sim was initially launched.  It's massively upgraded from RTM (1 or 2 exceptions would be the night lighting - but I think it got patched in the SU10 beta, and LOD - distance to display objects - reduced to allow compatibility with Xbox)

 

[Tuskin38 6,468]

1 hour ago, ryanbatc said:

but they update it so often it feels like a beta to me.

That's just how modern software programs are these days.

If FSX was released today, the same would be happening. It's not a beta, it's just modern software is just supported more these days than the past.

Edited July 24, 2022 by Tuskin38

[Alpine Scenery 1,609]

Competitor Sims?

There is no competition anymore, not at the moment.

If you prefer to drive a Yugo, use one of the older sims,
but MSFS is so far ahead it's not even worth the time to do a comparison.

[Glenn Fitzpatrick 3,798]

2 hours ago, VeryBumpy said:

Don't want IGN, Gamespot, etc.

I'm looking for a comprehensive current (summer 2022) state of affairs review of FS2020 but can't find anything of 'sim background person' quality. You know, someone that has played FSX and P3D for years.

1. Ideally a brief bullet point list of unique issues or things pathetically lacking or needs definite improvement at this point in time.
2. Additionally, we all know it has sublime looks and atmosphere but a short bullet point list of dramatic or quality of gameplay key things FS2020 has (beside visuals) over the mature (FSX) or competitor sims (DCS, XP11).

Thanks for your courteous and professional opinions.

A comparison with FSX would be pointless, it would be like comparing Win11 with WinXP or earlier. 

Regardless of that,  MSFS changes every 4 to 6 weeks (DX12 and DLSS next patch) so your going to struggle to get a current review.

Maybe wait till XPlane 12 comes out, I am sure people will be comparing XP12 with MSFS in great  detail once XP12 is released.

Edited July 24, 2022 by Glenn Fitzpatrick

[HiFlyer 9,358]

5 hours ago, VeryBumpy said:

Don't want IGN, Gamespot, etc.

I'm looking for a comprehensive current (summer 2022) state of affairs review of FS2020 but can't find anything of 'sim background person' quality. You know, someone that has played FSX and P3D for years.

1. Ideally a brief bullet point list of unique issues or things pathetically lacking or needs definite improvement at this point in time.
2. Additionally, we all know it has sublime looks and atmosphere but a short bullet point list of dramatic or quality of gameplay key things FS2020 has (beside visuals) over the mature (FSX) or competitor sims (DCS, XP11).

Thanks for your courteous and professional opinions.

Not a direct response to your request, because recent in depth general reviews of the sim itself, rather than of recent updates or addons are now pretty rare.

Still, this gives a nice general review and look at the sim for the uninitiated, and could be good background and launch point for a more focused look at recent updates.

 

Edited July 24, 2022 by HiFlyer

[Bert Pieke 7,584]

4 hours ago, VeryBumpy said:

I'm looking for a comprehensive current (summer 2022) state of affairs review of FS2020 but can't find anything of 'sim background person' quality. You know, someone that has played FSX and P3D for years.

 

What exactly are you looking for?  Are you trying to make a purchasing decision?

Just like Ryan above, I have flown FS9, FSX, P3D for years and have now graduated to MSFS.

The folks I fly with on a weekly basis have all switched.. there really is no going back. 😉

[Sky_Pilot071 580]

@VeryBumpy - what are your goals for such a review?.  My standpoint is that MSFS IS the only flight sim worth flying.  No show stoppers IMO.

sp

[diajohn 164]

Ryan covered the waterfront.  MSFS is a Sim with some minor warts that complainers make a lot of noise about.  Nothing programmed for a computer will ever be perfect but it is excellent growing better every month.  As of this moment, there is no product for comparison. 

 

John 

[gunther 167]

22 minutes ago, Bert Pieke said:

there really is no going back. 😉

I recently had to re-install P3D4 ... I'm creating a few freeware sceneries, and MSFS is lacking nav data (RNAV approaches etc) for some of my airports, whereas FSX and P3D is not. So I'm copying the old xml nav data (which is still current for the most part). But that's not my point. I fired it up to confirm the install was good and did a quick flight with a default a/c. And, as Col. Kurtz would state ... "The horror, the horror..."

[VBHB 298]

Played every sim since day dot - this is the best.

[Sceadu 117]

8 hours ago, ryanbatc said:

 I truly believe the vast majority of complainers are either a) not pilots irl or b) never kept up with changes since the sim was initially launched.

 

Quick point the majority of flight sim users are not irl Pilots-period so what are you saying? non-irl pilots are more likely to be complainers?, I wonder how you would come to that conclusion.

 

edit: PPS im a PPL holder and complain often (Sample of 1 petty much irrelevant just saying)😁

Edited July 24, 2022 by Sceadu

[Ricardo41 5,949]

Take out a trial subscription to game pass and find everything out for yourself. No need to rely on others', usually half-baked, opinions. 

[CFIJose 5,485]

12 hours ago, VeryBumpy said:

Don't want IGN, Gamespot, etc.

I'm looking for a comprehensive current (summer 2022) state of affairs review of FS2020 but can't find anything of 'sim background person' quality. You know, someone that has played FSX and P3D for years.

1. Ideally a brief bullet point list of unique issues or things pathetically lacking or needs definite improvement at this point in time.
2. Additionally, we all know it has sublime looks and atmosphere but a short bullet point list of dramatic or quality of gameplay key things FS2020 has (beside visuals) over the mature (FSX) or competitor sims (DCS, XP11).

Thanks for your courteous and professional opinions.

I'm going to copy and paste what I wrote in a different thread:

I deleted P3D & XP11 and I don't miss them at all. For me, despite all the areas of the core sim that can be improved, it's still my favorite flightsim of all time. Flying in the Caribbean or tropical destinations was only but a dream before MSFS 2020.  I'll go as far as to say that this sim, to ME, blows all my other sims (FSX/P3D/XP11) away and I've experienced fully loaded sims.

MSFS right now, is fully loaded! I have many amazing payware aircraft, many excellent payware airports, FSRealistic, AIG traffic, and a working ATC. I even have my GoFlight software & modules working. So I'm very happy with what has been achieved by ASOBO and the team after 2 years.

To fully appreciate MSFS 2020, YOU must download, install, and test the flight planner, live weather feature, airplanes, airports, beautiful scenery, AI traffic, ATC, and the external controllers you will utilize for more realism. There are a ton of add-on freeware and payware that will enhance the core sim. The only way to confirm is to try it for yourself.

The only downsides of the sim are: updates are mandatory and you need an active & fast internet connection.

[MrFuzzy 2,118]

On 7/24/2022 at 2:39 AM, VeryBumpy said:

Don't want IGN, Gamespot, etc.

I'm looking for a comprehensive current (summer 2022) state of affairs review of FS2020 but can't find anything of 'sim background person' quality. You know, someone that has played FSX and P3D for years.

1. Ideally a brief bullet point list of unique issues or things pathetically lacking or needs definite improvement at this point in time.
2. Additionally, we all know it has sublime looks and atmosphere but a short bullet point list of dramatic or quality of gameplay key things FS2020 has (beside visuals) over the mature (FSX) or competitor sims (DCS, XP11).

Thanks for your courteous and professional opinions.

FS are a niche in the gaming world, don't expect to find any updated review to a game which came out 2 years ago, let alone a review written by a FS "specialist".

When MSFS came out 9-10/10 scores were given by reviewers... awe and enthusiasm were caused by its advanced graphics compared to FSX and to other FS on the market. Finally the gap between the graphics of FS and conventional games was filled!

This stands true today, even more so considering how much MSFS has improved since release in terms of graphics, smoothness and availability of advanced aircraft. Today it's possible to fly VFR relying 100% on visuals and IFR almost 100% accurately.

I am not sure what you mean by "pathetically lacking": there is always room for improvements of course, but MSFS at the moment, in my opinion does not have game-breaking flaws and today it is superior to its competitors in every aspect (not only graphics).