In what way is Il-2 better than DCS and vice-versa?
Aircraft:
IL-2 has more flyable aircraft, please check
chucks guide for Cliffs over Dover and Blitz addition adds
these aircraft
followed by
IL-2 battle of .... view the
wiki entry, but you have to purchase all modules and aircraft to fly all the aircraft
DCS has currently these three WW2 aircraft but also many
Jets and Helicopters but you have to pay for each of them, sadly summer sale is just over
Before you buy some Jets read
this
Spitfire LF Mk. IX,
Fw 190 D-9 Dora,
P-51D Mustang
Accuracy:
In my opinion
DCS has the most accurate modeled aircraft systems and
IL-2 Sturmovik: Cliffs of Dover Blitz Edition is more accurate then
Il-2 Battle of ...., all three compared at highest difficult / simulation level. In
DCS and
Blitz you have to push every button with the mouse in the cockpit to start your plane, in
Il-2 Battle of... you only press start and an automatic system starts the engine for you. Please again check Chucks Guides or watch startup videos on Youtube
Graphics:
DCS 2.5, followed by
IL-2 battle of ...... and last
IL-2 Sturmovik: Cliffs of Dover Blitz Edition compare them yourself by watching the videos
Maps:
IL-2 Sturmovik: Cliffs of Dover Blitz only the
Channel map
IL-2 Battle of Stalingrad: Stalingrad and
Velikie Luki Basic game
IL-2 Battle of Moskow: Moskow
IL-2 Battle of Kuban: Kuban
DCS:
Caucasus free
Persian gulf
Normandy like
Cliffs over Dover
Nevada
Servers:
DCS and
IL-2 Battle of .... you will find most of the times some full servers
IL-2 Sturmovik: Cliffs of Dover BLITZ you will find some good filled servers on the weekend
Community:
There are all most no A-holes
, behave and you will be treated well.
Not like many other multiplayer games. These games are for team players.
How hard are the modules to download? Are they the the type that automatically download themselves?
Very easy in
IL-2 Sturmovik: Cliffs of Dover Blitz Edition all aircraft are installed with the game and added witch the patch.
In
IL-2 Battle of .... you have to activate the Key for an aircraft or module on the official website.
In
DCS you can activate the key in the start up menu by selecting the Icon. After adding the key the modules are downloaded automatically or at the next game start, be aware the basic installation of DCS 2.5 uses 120GB + Add-ons, my installation has currently about 200GB .
If you have no experience with flight sims you may also try
War Thunder in Realistic and Simulator Mode, it isn't so accurate like the game above, but is nice for a quick spin.
What I don't like on
War Thunder you have to train abilities of your crew and you have to research the aircraft, but have a lot of aircraft. There are nearly no campaigns.
Most mission on the
DCS and
Il-2 multiplayer servers take 45 minutes - 2 hours, you have to start you plane, wait to calibrate you instruments, climb, get to your target, fight and get back, rearm.
In
War Thunder each match only takes 10-20 Minutes.
I use
War Thunder for a quick match in the week and
DCS or
IL-2 on the weekend.
There will be also a spin off of
IL-2 Cliffs over Dover Blitz by Team Fusion in the
north African theater
flyable Aircraft Team Fusion 5.0
As you see there is no best Simulation, you can chose and play what suites you best.
This
comparison may also help you, be aware this is for DCS 1.5 and Cliffs over Dover Basic game, the Blitz Edition includes all Team Fusion Mods and is an on click install