A flight sim designed for play on the high-def generation consoles, the most compelling features of the Birds of Prey edition of IL-2 are in the details. The game's scenery was created using a combination of satellite images and hundreds of historical photographs, for the most accurate representation of landscapes and ground targets in the Sturmovik series to date. A revamped damage engine adds effects to planes in real-time during combat, such as trail lines and holes in the wings. The game features a scalable difficulty system, allowing users to adjust from a fast and forgiving "arcade" style of play to realistically demanding "simulation"-style settings.