RealFlight 9.5S
- September 3, 2019
- Horizon Hobby, LLC
RealFlight 9.5S is the latest edition of the premier RC flight simulator, offering unmatched realism with its RealPhysics engine. This version includes new aircraft from brands like E-flite, HobbyZone, Hangar 9, and Blade, now featuring the E-flite DRACO 2.0m. Practice your skills in a true-to-life digital environment for safer and more confident flights.
Reviews
- RealFlight 9.5S is an excellent simulator for learning and practicing RC flying, helping users develop muscle memory and skills without the risk of damaging real aircraft.
- The simulator offers a wide variety of aircraft and realistic flight physics, making it a valuable tool for both beginners and experienced pilots.
- Many users appreciate the fun and engaging nature of the simulator, as well as its ability to replicate the experience of flying real RC planes.
- The software suffers from outdated graphics and performance issues, particularly on modern hardware, leading to crashes and poor user experience.
- Many users feel that the simulator has not significantly improved from previous versions, making it feel overpriced for what it offers.
- There are complaints about the limited selection of aircraft and the lack of support for certain controllers, which can hinder the overall experience.
- graphics78 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The graphics of the simulator are widely criticized for being outdated, with many reviewers noting that they resemble technology from two decades ago and are poorly optimized for modern hardware. While some users appreciate the realism and smoothness of the graphics, they often mention issues with compatibility, particularly with newer AMD graphics cards, and the overall visual quality is considered subpar compared to contemporary flight simulators. Despite a few positive remarks about specific elements, the consensus is that a significant graphical overhaul is needed to meet current standards.
“I like the graphics, the realism and the choice of planes.”
“Super realistic and great graphics.”
“The graphics are amazing and the selection of aircraft and flying sites are phenomenal.”
“The graphics are poor by any modern standard; the photo airfields are grainy and flat looking.”
“It should be noted that even with max settings, graphics are about two decades old - this game is horribly optimized for my hardware, which has no issues running Half-Life Alyx and other more graphically intense (but optimized) titles.”
“The 'lessons' are un-interactive videos, the airfields are just panoramic photos of often low quality, the graphics engine is the bleeding edge of what 2008 has to offer, it doesn't support Windows display scaling at all - so playing in HiDPI means your choice of unreadably small text or playing the game zoomed in to just one part of the screen.”
- optimization18 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with users reporting that it struggles to run smoothly even on high-end hardware, despite its outdated graphics. Many noted that the use of the DirectX 9 API severely limits performance, particularly in VR, leading to stuttering and low frame rates. Overall, players feel the game is poorly optimized and would benefit from significant improvements in future releases.
“If the developer is reading this: please market your next release with words like 'DirectX 12' and 'optimizations' so users like me will know it's safe to give it another try.”
“Extremely unoptimized.”
“If you are chasing great physics, low-end gaming machine performance, or only running on a flat screen at full graphics with a high spec machine, it's 10/10.”
“This game is horribly optimized for my hardware, which has no issues running Half-Life: Alyx and other more graphically intense (but optimized) titles, even with max settings. The graphics are about two decades old.”
“The VR performance is awful; considering how lightweight this should be for modern gaming GPUs and CPUs, it struggles to maintain a suitable framerate for VR.”
“Now for graphics, it's pretty ordinary, especially in VR, as it still uses the DX9 API. It won't run VR at full graphics without stuttering, even on my overclocked i7 9700K at 5.3 GHz.”
- stability14 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game suffers from significant stability issues, with users reporting frequent freezes and crashes, particularly during startup and on the main menu. Many players have expressed frustration over being unable to play the game despite having paid for it, and the support provided has been deemed inadequate, often resembling outdated troubleshooting advice. Overall, the simulator is described as buggy, severely impacting the user experience.
“Freezes and crashes on startup every time!”
“Game always freezes during startup - I paid good money for this, and I can't even play it!”
“For me, the simulator appears to be a bit buggy and the latest update has completely killed it; now it just freezes on the main menu.”
- gameplay6 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The gameplay of RealFlight 9 is praised for its authentic flight physics that closely resemble real RC aircraft, though some users find landing too easy. However, the experience is marred by significant technical issues, including frequent crashes and bugs, leading to frustration and a lack of engagement with the game. Overall, while the core mechanics show potential, the execution suffers from stagnation and stability problems.
“Authentic, the physics and mechanics of flight match the real RC aircraft that I fly.”
“It does a pretty good job of simulating flight mechanics, with the main thing being that landing is too easy.”
“Having played RealFlight a decade ago, I was a bit surprised by a perceived stagnation of the series, but I would consider that not much of an issue if there is a good core game mechanic.”
- story4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The reviews do not provide specific insights into the story aspect of the game, focusing instead on the gameplay experience and the use of VR technology. As such, there is no substantial commentary on the narrative or plot elements.
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a sense of validation and emotional satisfaction when their experiences are acknowledged, particularly in relation to the game's mechanics, such as the RF simulator. This connection enhances their overall enjoyment and engagement with the game.
- music2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Users have expressed frustration over the inability to start or play fly-to-music files directly within the simulation, highlighting a significant limitation in the music integration feature.
“There is no way to start or play fly-to-music files from within the simulation.”
“The game lacks the ability to start or play fly-to-music files directly from the sim.”
“It's frustrating that you can't initiate or play fly-to-music files while in the simulation.”