Agreed. That lack of adrenaline flow is why I started looking beyond AH. I tried MSFS2020 and was bored. IL-2 gave me some of the adrenaline, but the multiplayer aspect was not there for me. For me flying with friends is a big part of the hobby, but if the fights become hit or miss (due to time of day, side imbalance, etc.) from one flying session to another, then the flying sessions become more of a chat room than anything else. Squadmates from AH convinced me to try DCS and I fly regularly with them three to six times a week. The adrenaline is back, because the fights are always there and the "state of the art" game engine adds to the sense of accomplishment.
I find it interesting that when AH came out with the more complex flight/damage/ballistics there were many players that did not want to make the switch from Warbirds. In fact even today many AH players cite the increased fidelity as a reason they do not go to WarThunder or Warbirds. I think they are right, but technology has moved on and now AH is looked at the same way by players of IL-2 and DCS.
If HiTech updated the game engine, addressed player imbalance issues, and had a viable plan for continued updating, then I would definitely check it out again. However, I would not give up DCS, if for no other reason than the historical match-ups and the fixed/rotary wing aircraft beyond WWII.
Ironically, in every review I’ve read about DCS is game play is rated from poor to bad. Great game-play is never mentioned favorably.
I played AH the other day around 3p and then at 10:30p, numbers were different, but had no problem finding fights. The biggest complaint about DCS. Being how DCS isn’t all that great for fights I might question more adrenaline than AH, or IL-2 for that matter. The only people who say this are doing so on another sim’s forums. Kinda dipping into sales here, because a lot of fights in DCS is just not true in everything I’ve read.
I find fixed-wing prop planes as a more intimate fight. You get to see your target closeup. Jets, you’re hitting targets 3 miles away with missiles/rockets. Actual god fights with jets has become much less of a dogfight using ACM. Difference between s knife fight and s sniper. Heles are pretty much ground attack vehicles.
I average 7 fights per hour in AH.
All that drivel said, I prefer American made, I’m just not going to give my
money to IL-2, and their FM is questionable. I’m not going to support wallet dumping payment plans in IL-2, DCS nor WT. They are bait and switch, its free until you have to buy everything to have variety and fun. In AH you get everything fir the price of a Burger King meal, per month.
We have a guy who over-sells DCS here, but on thier forums complains about investment.
To each their own.
