| IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows Gaijin Entertainment[1] Nintendo DS DiP Interactive[1] PlayStation Portable SME Dynamic Systems Ltd.[1] |
| Publisher(s) | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 Microsoft Windows |
| Composer(s) | Jeremy Soule |
| Series | IL-2 Sturmovik |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation 3 Xbox 360 Microsoft Windows Nintendo DS PlayStation Portable |
| Release | Nintendo DS, PlayStation Portable PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 Microsoft Windows |
| Genre(s) | Combat flight simulator |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey, or Wings of Prey on Windows, is a combat flight simulation video game. As with previous installments of the series IL-2 Sturmovik, it depicts combat aircraft from World War II, although with less focus on realistic simulation than other entries in the series.[2] The game has a campaign mode in which players are able to fly the Allies against the Axis, and also a multiplayer mode in which they are able to select either faction.[3] A demo of the game launched on the PSN and Xbox 360's Xbox Live on 29 July 2009.[4]
Birds of Prey is based around the large-scale aerial combat and ground military operations of World War II. Players can participate in some of the war's most famous battles, piloting fighters, attack aircraft and heavy bombers across a range of missions. There are six theatres of war to engage in: Battle of Britain, Stalingrad, Berlin, Sicily, Korsun and the Battle of the Bulge, representing the main airborne battles of World War II in Europe.
Birds of Prey has a new damage effects engine. Players can see real-time damage to the aircraft such as holes in the wings and trail lines during dog fights. IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey features hundreds of aircraft taking part in air battles. The environmental engine also produces high-detail, realistic landscapes that allow players to easily see ground support actions.[5]
The game was developed by Gaijin Entertainment, who subsequently developed Birds of Steel, also exclusively for consoles. Birds of Steel shares many traits with Birds of Prey (including HUD, aircraft models, controls, and menu design) but differentiates itself by concentrating primarily on US–Japanese aerial battles of the Pacific theater.
