Red Baron is a video game for DOS, created by Damon Slye at Dynamix and published by Sierra On-Line. It was released in 1990. The game is a flying simulation set on the Western Front of World War I. The player can engage in single missions or career mode, flying for either the German Air Service or the Royal Flying Corps. In the course of the game the player might find themselves either flying in the Red Baron's squadron Jasta 11, or encountering him as an enemy above the front. An expansion pac. Sure, it's a bit dated, but it runs just fine on my brand-spanking-new MacBook Pro. And if you can set aside the 2000-esque graphics, the gameplay is very, very good. More than any other combat flight sim I've played (Red Baron, Aces of the Pacific, and the Il-2 series), it.
This page is a collection of miscellaneous patches, utilities and missions for the original version of the Dynamix flight simulation game Red Baron (not the newer releases Red Baron II or Red Baron 3D.) Red Baron simulates air combat in the First World War. Although the simulation was released over five years ago, it is still highly regarded for it's groundbreaking features including detailed flight characteristics and a mission builder utility which allowed armchair aces to recreate nearly any historical mission or create their own fictional scenarios.
My involvement with Red Baron began when I became a member of the Compuserve Flight Sim Forum. I was inspired by the other creative flight-sim hackers there (especially those who were modifying Lucasfilm's Secret Weapons of the Luftwaffe) and I decided to dissect the Red Baron aircraft data files. As a result, I have created several patches that modify the program to correct errors and increase historical accuracy.
All of my patches are available here as well as the best of the others created by my fellow Red Baron hackers. To download the following files, just click on the file name.
If you don't know where to start, try Bob Church'sXBARON and my RBHEX4 package. Read the article in which Computer Gaming World reviewed both and said they gave the old Baron the feeling of a factory fresh sim!
All letters and comments are appreciated, but please DON'T send e-mail asking me to send you a copy of the original Red Baron! The game is still being sold by Sierra On-Line. You can get the 16 color version from their site for FREE but unfortunately it will not work with most of the patches and upgrades here! Buy their full version with the Mission Builder upgrade, it's the best flight sim deal on the market!
I am happy to answer most questions about these patches.
However, I do not have time to answer every question about Red Baron documentation or installation NOT related to the patches and such questions will be ignored. Please contact Sierra with those questions.
These patches and modifications are not the product of Dynamix nor are they supported or endorsed by them. These patches have gone through rigorous testing but the authors assume no responsibility for any damage caused by their use. Please read all instructions and back up necessary files before running any of these patches!
Arguably the best WW1 flight sim ever made, Red Baron is the legendary game from Damon Slye of Dynamix.
Offering you the chance to be a pilot in World War One, Red Baron featrures 28 different aircraft from both the Allied and the German sides, a superb career mode, and a diverse array of missions including dogfights, balloon-busting, zeppelin hunting, escort, and more.
If my saying 'best' multiple times won't convince you, here is a good review at MobyGames that should: 'I'm a fight sim junkie, I try them all. Technically this one isn't the best; the physics are only so-so, there isn't a lot in the world other than the planes, and the missions are all canned. And being on a PC in '91 you get lousy graphics and sound too (compared to the Mac of the same era). Normally this would result in me trashing the game, but I can't, it's probably the best one I've ever flown. That's because of the way the game draws you in.
The campaign system is flawlessly executed and follows you through the war, offering promotions, movement to 'expert' squadrons, even personal challenges from pilots on the other side. I had two of these, in one a French pilot challenged me and I won after having to hide out in some clouds for a while. In another I showed up and he brought his entire squad with him - but I was flying a Triplane so they didn't last long. An example of the depth is the way your plane is handled. Once you've done well enough you are allowed to start requesting the newest models from the factories, and even get to paint them the way you like in an editor. I haven't seen that anywhere else.
As to the rest it's all 'good enough'. There's enough planes in the air at once, enough types of them, enough types of missions, enough AI, enough of a flight model etc. They did just enough to make the engine work, and when combined with the campaign system the whole thing just lit up. I think the only real flaw was the rather poor 'world' outside the planes. Basically there wasn't one. Dipping below 10000ft put you in this netherworld where nothing happened.
Perhaps more annoying is that the missions are completely hard-wired with absolutely no randomness at all. This gets distracting when you re-play them, which you will. Hellcats had this one beat. Also the AI was good for its day, but didn't show enough variance for different famous pilots. For instance in one mission the Red Baron (I was now a member of the flying circus) got killed by flying directly onto the nose gun of a British bomber. I was stunned so I tried it again,and the same thing happened. That's somewhat annoying considering that the Baron was famous for 'hanging out' way above the fight and then coming down when planes attempted to leave combat. I suppose this isn't a trivial issue considering the machines of the day, but I did find it distracting.'
If you like flight sims only a little, Red Baron is a must-have. It is an incredibly atmospheric game that is very accessible - I am no pilot, and yet Red Baron is one of a handful of flight sims I was compelled to finish.
Sierra released this game as freeware in 1997 to promote the sequel, but did not also release the rarer Mission Builder add-on disk that allows you to make your own missions - see the screenshot above. You can find both the game and the Mission Builder disk in our download here :)
Too bad the sequel Red Baron II that Sierra released in 1997 is nowhere near as much fun as this classic (not least because Damon Slye was no longer involved). A must-have!
Review By HOTUD
Red Baron has an addon available: Red Baron: Mission Builder, don't miss it!
Screenshots from MobyGames.com
endlessbender2020-05-081 point DOS version
Played this for hours and hours as a kid. I thought the graphics were amazing!
Grolf2020-01-221 point
Best game ever! May go look for an old windows computer as I had to hang up the flight suit when I switched to a Mac, Dammit all! S!
Robert Peate2018-05-21-1 point
I like RB II much better.
Joe Mama2017-03-171 point DOS version
One of my all time favorite flight sim games! I have wasted countless hours playing Red Baron.
Carillogeddon2016-10-15-2 points DOS version
Requester: The game is no longer abandonware, since it can be purchased from GOG.com at least.
Requester2016-09-194 points DOS version
Dear all,
Do you know how to download the DOS version of this great game?
I have only seen the amiga and Mac version here
Thanks
The Requester
fdisk2015-11-09-4 points
manual & keys :
EDIT: Thx fdisk !
Fritz Hauser2013-07-010 point DOS version
Get this game NAOW!
randomfarfar2013-06-210 point DOS version
ohh mannnn ...memories...MEMORIES 8)
Billisgay2013-06-140 point DOS version
I played this as a kid. :)
zylog2013-05-050 point DOS version
A great game. Brought it new, and still have it.
gustav2013-03-221 point DOS version
played it 20 years ago
complete knowitall2011-05-090 point DOS version
This is a competent flight sim, with interesting opponents, and satisfying progress.
My favorite part is the video recorder feature which allows you to replay your skillful performances. You can enter the combat at any point in the recording, and turn a failed flight into a victory, if you know what you did wrong. lots of view points. cool game
Share your gamer memories, give useful links or comment anything you'd like. This game is no longer abandonware, we won't put it back online.
Red Baron is available for a small price on the following websites, and is no longer abandonware. GoG.com provides the best release and does not include DRM, please buy from them! You can read our online store guide .
Some of these file may not be included in the game stores. For Red Baron, we have the following files:
Red Baron was also released on the following systems:
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