Aircraft used: LVFR 320, PMDG 738
Live weather: on
DETAIL
The images available to view online really don’t do the place justice. Many of the textures have such an authentic look to them, to the point of not actually feeling like you’re at a typical Drzewiecki airport. To me it’s oddly more reminiscent of a FlyTampa or Flightbeam project — which is no bad thing!
The marketing blurb claims the Xbox version has been toned down — i.e. no terminal interior, no passengers and no landside vehicles. Well, there IS a terminal interior (modelled but basic, however it does include animated lifts!) and there ARE static vehicles, though evidently not as many as in the PC version. It also states that texture sizes have been reduced but, while this may be true, I can’t see any real discernible difference. Some rooftops do look a little low-res, however.
Thankfully, the beautiful animated MAGLEV trains that connect the terminals have also made it onto console (they look great at night).
There’s plenty of detail, both landside and airside. Of particular note are the fully modelled Port of New Jersey (complete with cargo vessels), the handful of custom bridges surrounding the airport, and a local Ikea store (what is it with airports and Ikea?!). Don’t quote me on this but I’m fairly sure some of the freeways around the airport have also been improved. There’s also a large stadium (MetLife), quite a way out on the approach to the 22 runways, that seems too detailed and randomly placed to be default?
In the centre of the sprawling terminal complex lies the tower, below which is the Marriott hotel. The areas between the terminals look very sparse, and this look is accentuated by the typical low-res, default landside textures that Drzewiecki insist on leaving in. In the PC version, parked vehicles go some way towards sprucing up these areas but of course on console they’re completely bare. These textures are probably the worst I’ve seen in a Drzewiecki scenery but at least, from a pilot’s perspective, you’re rarely going to see them. Unless modelled roadways hit performance, I see no reason not to develop them, except to save labour.
The terminals themselves look fabulous and we get a good selection of different styles of jetway. Airside ground textures are nice and the whole place is really spiced up by LVFR’s static aircraft pack, which is way more effective at some airports (KWER included) than it is at others. Lots of United, old and new livery, as you’d expect at the real-world airport. The only issue is a couple of CRJs stuck in terminal buildings but it’s not really noticeable unless you’re taxiing right on top of them.
PERFORMANCE
For a long time I’d been very hesitant to purchase KEWR, chiefly because many on Xbox were reporting issues. It had been discounted so many times but I was just never brave enough to take the fall… until a couple of weeks ago. And I’m glad I did, because performance is top-notch, especially given the area covered by this huge airport. New York City is one of the most difficult areas for the sim to successfully process, so you can imagine my surprise when my first approach, with much of Manhattan in full view, was as smooth as silk. The odd micro-stutter while on finals but nothing consistent — plain sailing more-or-less from the moment Manhattan came into view, till the moment I arrived on stand. It’s outstanding when you consider where in the world you are!
A fair few flights in and out now, and not a single black screen or CTD. Totally unexpected!
VERDICT
A solid rendition of KEWR should really be in every flight simmer’s collection. Drzewiecki’s KEWR features many building textures that somehow look and feel more realistic than anything they’ve done before… or since. Ask me to put a finger on exactly what makes it feel more authentic and I wouldn’t be able to tell you; but it’s tangible.
For me this airport helps complete my US northeast collection — it’s right in the middle of KBOS, KPHL and KDCA, so it’s great for increasing the viability and variety of short regional hops in the DC/Pennsylvania/New York/Massachusetts area.
That it’s stable and performs with little impact on framerates is the icing on the cake. There’s now quite a collection of very large, well-detailed US airports that run well on Xbox. KEWR joins the decreasingly exclusive club alongside the likes of Ini’s KDTW and KLAX, MK’s KPHL and FlyTampa’s KBOS. Keep 'em coming, I say!
The only downside is the ground texturing between the terminals, which being honest is the worst I’ve seen. But if that’s the price for Xbox stability… so be it.
IMAGES
Final approach to 22R, showing a couple of the reworked bridges and the proximity to Manhattan.
Another of the reworked bridges, plus the Port of New Jersey.
Some of the ground textures not too far from the terminals are atrocious! The worst I’ve ever seen in the sim!
Finally, the mystery MetLife stadium, some miles from the airport on the approach path to runway 22R. Anyone able to tell me if it’s something Drzewiecki have included, or if it’s default?
