IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey

 PlayStation 3
User Score
7.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 26 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 19 out of 26
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 26
  3. Negative: 3 out of 26
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  1. VV
    Sep 11, 2009
    9
    I have been a fan of the IL-2 series on PC for some time, and playing IL-2 Sturmovik Birds of Prey for about a week now I must say I am really enjoying it. You can have some real good light fun in "arcade" difficulty but the real deal is in "realistic" and "simulation" modes, the physics are great and the graphics photorealistic, with real time damage model, the combat is intense and fun. I have been a fan of the IL-2 series on PC for some time, and playing IL-2 Sturmovik Birds of Prey for about a week now I must say I am really enjoying it. You can have some real good light fun in "arcade" difficulty but the real deal is in "realistic" and "simulation" modes, the physics are great and the graphics photorealistic, with real time damage model, the combat is intense and fun. It may not be as deep or as long as the PC IL-2 games but it is a unique game very well executed. Play it with a Thrustmaster or Saitek flight stick(I use the Thrustmaster TFlight HotasX for PS3) to really appreciate the physics and gameplay.… Expand
  2. WeirdN
    Sep 15, 2009
    8
    I had this on PC several years ago. I have to say I'm really enjoying it on PS3. I'm not a purist, just a casual gamer crying out fora break from the monotony of yet another First Person Shooter, and IL2 is the remedy I've been craving! Great fun on Arcade, it's almost a shooter, but crack it open on Realistic and you start to feel some respect for what those pilots I had this on PC several years ago. I have to say I'm really enjoying it on PS3. I'm not a purist, just a casual gamer crying out fora break from the monotony of yet another First Person Shooter, and IL2 is the remedy I've been craving! Great fun on Arcade, it's almost a shooter, but crack it open on Realistic and you start to feel some respect for what those pilots went through! It's also stunningly beautiful at times and has good presentation for a "sim". I'm thoroughly enjoying it and it makes a nice change to play a sim on a console.… Expand
  3. Sasha
    Jan 3, 2010
    10
    this is one of the best games ive ever played! i never was really in to flying games or sims, but after playing sturmovik, i cant get enough of either. its simple controls are easy to use and simulator mode makes the game very challenging and even more fun. BUY IT!
  4. LiberL
    Sep 14, 2009
    9
    Im not a fan of sims at all but this game looks prety nice 2 me. I really liked the multiplayer mode "capture airfield", its funy and hard on "realistic" mode.
  5. DGDrocks7
    Feb 25, 2013
    8
    Well, if you've played IL-2 Sturmovik on the PC, you'll realize that the console versions aren't exactly the same. It's like they're two completely different games. However, it's not a bad thing. But if you want a more realistic WWII flight experience, get IL-2 Sturmovik:1946 on the PC. Yet, as I said before, the PC and the PS3/360 games are like completely different, so buy the PS3/360Well, if you've played IL-2 Sturmovik on the PC, you'll realize that the console versions aren't exactly the same. It's like they're two completely different games. However, it's not a bad thing. But if you want a more realistic WWII flight experience, get IL-2 Sturmovik:1946 on the PC. Yet, as I said before, the PC and the PS3/360 games are like completely different, so buy the PS3/360 game if you have the chance. Now onto the review. It's quite fun! The difficultly can be changed according to your flight style. Yet, of course, the real deal is the Simulation difficulty. The Simulation difficulty, though not as realistic as the PC counterpart, offers a great challenge. In this mode, you'll feel accomplished just by downing an enemy plane. Also, the singleplayer in this game has a story. There are no twist-and-turns (it's WWII, what else do you expect), but after each mission, the pilots tell about what they have done, and how they feel about it. As they speak, you feel how war is a frightening thing. Online mode is fun, but they're not many online. Online on the PC is better. So that really it. I have both the PC and PS3 games. Believing that both are epic in their own right, I can only tell you that sooner or later, you should own both. They're cheap nowadays.… Expand
  6. dggt
    Aug 19, 2020
    6
    Gameplay is too monotonous, i'm bored from all this same shooting of other planes from one mission to another, after 1-2 hour playing. First hour was kind of enjoyable
  7. JrDouble
    May 21, 2023
    8
    A solid WW2 flight sim on the PS3 with a wide range of difficulty options. Good graphics, great control mapping options, and fun missions. Recommended if you are looking for a good flight combat game on PS3.

Awards & Rankings

47
#47 Best PS3 Game of 2009
91
#91 Most Discussed PS3 Game of 2009
31
#31 Most Shared PS3 Game of 2009

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
81

Generally favorable reviews - based on 28 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 24 out of 28
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 28
  3. Negative: 0 out of 28
  1. Playstation: The Official Magazine (US)
    60
    Straightforward, aerial combat. [Holiday 2009, p.85]
  2. Eurogamer
    70
    Taken as a rousing aerial shooter, it's easy to recommend - and sadly rather too easy to complete. There's a ton of content, at least, and it's all presented in a whiz-bang style that draws you in with heart-pounding action without belittling the history behind the explosions. It's just a shame that for such a venerable simulator series, it's the more serious game modes where Birds of Prey feels most compromised by its hardware.
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  3. XGN
    78
    Il-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey is the best World War II combat flight simulator at this moment. The game really brings you the atmosphere of WWII. Thanks to the good gameplay and content, this game is definitely worth buying.
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