That, my fellow co-pilots, is the recently released Tom Clancy's HAWX at its best. This most recent addition to the endearing Tom Clancy franchise on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC succeeds admirably in immersing players in the cockpit of a military fighter jet. It may not be the most creative or ambitious flight simulator out there, but if you have played any of the Ace Combat titles, there's plenty of fun to be had here. Overlooking its shortcomings, HAWX will definitely satisfy the legions of petrol-heads who have always dreamed of strapping on a pair of aeroplane wings.
Tom Clancy's HAWX (short for High Altitude Warfare Experimental Squadron) tells the story of fighter ace that moves from the conventional air force into the lucrative private military industry. Rather than an emotion-inducing expositional storyline (Ace Combat 6, we're looking at you), HAWX follows the usual Tom Clancy ‘the world is about to end unless strap on your Rambo helmet’ hoo-ha. The flight game is told through a series of dull briefings, where the only source of entertainment is the absolutely terrible lip-syncing. These interludes are further cheapened with recycled footage from Ghost Recon and EndWar playing in the background. Clancy buffs will appreciate the nods to his other intellectual properties and there may be a twist or one to be found in there, but overall, HAWX's story is best left in a bunker.
It is the gameplay department where Tom Clancy's HAWX really shines. Planes generally handle really well, with each individual fighter having its own particular nuance. Armoured bombing planes seem heavier and slower, whereas top-of-the-line jets feel quick and agile. The default Xbox 360 control scheme mirrors the regular Ace Combat set-up, and is fairly easy to adapt to. Our only quip is that the developers didn't incorporate a novice-type control scheme, where you don't have to rely on the left and right bumpers to manage yaw.
HAWX can be played from the first or third person.
Once you jump into a plane, things really start to take off. Flying at high altitude in HAWX really makes you feel like Tom Cruise's famous Maverick character from Top Gun. Missions range from escorting high-value assets to bombing enemy bases. Whether it be defending a landmark from advancing tanks or fending off mercenary fighters, the game never feels repetitive or boring. Each level is different, with a mixture of enemy planes, gun emplacements and armoured vehicles standing between you and the mission objective. Granted, some missions may be more exciting than others, but the overall sense of immersion provided by the game is excellent. Most importantly, at the end of every level you'll be left with a real sense that you've achieved something.
Tom Clancy's HAWX incorporates some nifty features, which help instill the feeling of flying in a high-tech fighter squadron. The first, known as ERS – or Enhanced Reality System – helps players avoid missiles and engage targets. At certain points during a mission, you will be prompted to enter a predetermined flight path as indicated by series of gates suspended in the air. If you follow the correct path, as shown by the gates, you'll be able to line up a perfect shot or evade an enemy missile. ERS is also used in other missions to accomplish specific objectives, such as destroying ground bunkers and avoiding radar detection. ERS isn't there to make HAWX a stroll in the park. Rather, it's a handy mechanic that really only gives you a slight edge over the hordes of enemy units trying to shoot you down.
The second feature, known as ‘assistance-mode off’, is useful during dogfights. Double-tapping the right trigger anytime during battle activates this alternative flight mode, pulling the camera back to a distant third-person view. Flying in assistance-mode off gives players a larger view of battle, meaning enemy air units are easier to spot. In this mode, you can perform tighter turns so targets can be locked onto easily and missiles evaded effortlessly. The drawback to flying in assistance-mode off is that you're more likely to stall your plane, and it can also be dazing due to rapid camera movements. Assistance-mode off takes a little getting used to, and after using it for a while, you will grow to either like it or hate it.
Destroying enemy units gives you experience points.
Unlike Ace Combat, HAWX operates on an experience points based system. As you destroy enemy forces, beat missions and complete challenges (such as shooting down 100 planes, for example) you are given experience points. Like Call of Duty 4's multiplayer, the number of points required to level up builds exponentially. Gaining levels not only rewards you with a promotion, but better planes and weapons. The levelling system works well, and it is always satisfying watching the experience meter grow. The level-up feature also provides plenty of incentive to reach the highest attainable rank, General of the Air Force.
Like the Ace Combat series, there are plenty of fighters to unlock and eventually fly. As you would expect, some planes are more adept at combat with ground forces, others fare better in dogfights, and there are the usual all-rounders. Before a level begins, the game recommends which fighter plane should be used. However, be aware that it's not always best to go with the default option. Rather, players should judge for themselves which jet to use, taking into account mission objectives, intel and each location's respective statistics. With armaments such as multi anti-aircraft missiles, rockets and bombs at your disposal, choosing the right plane and weapons can often mean the difference between success and failure.
The wingmen in HAWX aren't the brightest peas in the pod, and are really only handy for fighting ground forces. Your squadron can be commanded via the D-pad to attack a target or defend your plane. Like the recently released EndWar, you can also order your units arounds using voice commands with the Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 headset. For the most part, our two wingmen did as they were told, but were still prone to misunderstanding the occasional voice command.
There are 19 missions to complete in the single-player campaign, and if playing on the easiest difficulty setting, the game can be completed in less than six hours. The strategic checkpoint system also keeps replay time to a minimum. Hamming up the difficulty to expert will make HAWX much longer, but also insanely tricky. Further differentiating itself from the Ace Combat series, players are not given the opportunity to resupply in HAWX. While this saves repeated flights in and out of the combat zone, you can occasionally find yourself low on health or missiles. This become a problem after the final checkpoint, as you will have no way of surviving or fending off enemy attacks.
Following an ERS path allows for a perfect shot.
Playing the campaign in co-op is much more entertaining than playing alone, with up to four players being able to drop in or out at any point. Thankfully, if your plane is destroyed in co-op mode, you can respawn within a few seconds, keeping frustration to a minimum. HAWX also includes a competitive multiplayer mode, with up to eight players being able to face off in Team Deathmatch. You can choose from one of 19 maps, and employ special attacks such as EMP blasts to take down the opposing team. The adversarial side of the game of extremely fun, with much more frantic and fast-paced gameplay than the HAWX campaign.
From the first mission to the last, players are taken to various locations, including Tokyo's harbour and downtown Los Angeles. At high altitude, the landscapes shape up rather well. Created using satellite data, the environment initially appears very detailed. However, up close, the ground looks much uglier. Trees look like grass on matchsticks, and buildings nothing more than a rough assortment of packing containers. Fighters, on the other hand, have been created fantastically. The attention to detail is clearly visible, from the underside of the wings to the glint of the sun on the cockpit. Lighting and textures are equally good. Finally, the frame-rate never seems to dip, which is crucial in a game such as HAWX.
HAWX is also a mixed bag when it comes to audio. Voice acting is downright awful, made even worse by the fact that you can't mute it. There are plenty of Army of Two-like testosterone-inducing fist-pumping monologues from your wingman, all of which make you want to push their eject buttons. On the other hand, the sounds effects cannot be faulted. From the roar of your aeroplane's jets to the thundering of the machine-gun, the constant noise coming from the battlefield is superb.
Tom Clancy's HAWX is certainly not the most technically impressive game on the market. There are up and downs with the visuals and audio, and the plot leaves much to be desired. Nonetheless, if you're looking for an fun modern-day flight combat game, you can't go past HAWX. The controls are robust and accessible and the gameplay is satisfying and immersive. With a solid co-op mode and innovative features such as ERS, Tom Clancy's HAWX offers fantastic entertainment value. Suit up pilots, the sky awaits!
I love it. You don't need to have it on all the time, I found the key is switching into assistance off and pulling off a tight turn to dodge a missile, then going right back to the cockpit and pasting the mofo what shot me.
Loading...
