Falcon 4.0

 PC
Metascore
85

Generally favorable reviews - based on 10 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 10
  3. Negative: 0 out of 10
  1. Adrenaline Vault
    100
    The game has great depth in realism and dynamics. Its campaign and scenarios are without equal. It's the best and most complete documented game ever released, and includes fully featured training missions for the novice pilot.
  2. PC Gamer
    95
    Can you believe it? It's finally out - and the four-year wait was well worth it. [March 1999, p.100]
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  3. Game Over Online
    93
    The plane physics and world realism are incredible.
  5. Game Revolution
    91
    Bugs aside, this is the most ambitious simulation ever attempted, and one of the best simulations ever made. It combines extreme realism and unprecedented depth to create an experience that any self respecting sim junkie should not be without.
  6. Gamezilla!
    91
    A powerful PC simulation with boundless potential, but no matter how good it looks on paper, one hesitates to let his guard down and plunge into a sim that isn’t quite ready.
  7. IGN
    84
    If you're a serious air combat fan looking for a sim that's big, beautiful, challenging, and truly convincing, Falcon 4.0 is tough to beat.
  8. Yahoo!
    80
    As it is I hereby award this game a Silver award for taking risks, partly delivering them and for being a game with plenty of scope and depth that takes a lot of getting to grips with.
  9. All Game Guide
    80
    It's got tons of depth and detail. Just make sure you download the latest patch for the game before playing or your results will definitely be less than they could be.
  10. GameSpot
    79
    Despite the bugs and broken features, I've been game-locked on this simulation since the day I booted it, forsaking even the WWII sims I'd waited so long for. No other sim has come so close to re-creating the feel of my one flight in a jet fighter.
  11. Computer Games Magazine
    70
    Hardcore combat sim fans with equally serious hardware and a cast-iron stomach for aspirin will find themselves engrossed in a simulation of incredible depth and subtlety.

Awards & Rankings

10
#10 Best PC Game of 1998
12
#12 Most Discussed PC Game of 1998

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 31 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 27 out of 31
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 31
  3. Negative: 3 out of 31
  1. arostislavna
    Dec 3, 2021
    8
    I was extremely young when I got this in a bundle with 3 other aviation simulators and I SUCKED at it.
    This one is the only game I remember    I was extremely young when I got this in a bundle with 3 other aviation simulators and I SUCKED at it.
    This one is the only game I remember from the bundle, and was the one I played the most.

    It was fun when I finally took off and got to fly around before getting wrecked by ace pilots, but I am hardly qualified to review this game at all. So don't take my review as gospel.    … Full Review »
  2. Alpiinoo
    Jul 5, 2021
    10
    Best relaisim ever. If you want to be a airmen. You will love it. Just incredible.

    Regards.
    -Alpiinoo
  3. JonnysBeard
    Apr 24, 2015
    9
    Back in the day it couldn't get any more real than this and even today it holds up exceptionally well thanks to further unofficialBack in the day it couldn't get any more real than this and even today it holds up exceptionally well thanks to further unofficial development. Due to the age of F4 I highly recommend BMS 4.32 as it improves graphics, gameplay, support for modern systems and has a very active community up to this day.

    Compared to more recent simulations like DCS the one thing making Falcon 4 stand out is it's dynamic campaign which allows strategic moves all the way through. The AI will 'frag' missions for you (depending on situation and tweak-able priorities) but you can always set up your own flight with great detail.
    The best thing about this: other pilots can join any time and everybody can save a copy of the current progress making cooperative campaign play very easy over a long period of time.

    As with every modern sim it's not necessarily easy to get into but the documentation is expansive and the community very friendly and supportive. If you played DCS and want a multi role fighter in a dynamic and often unpredictable environment with lots of things going you should love it.    … Full Review »
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