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::PUBLISHER::
Ubisoft
::DEVELOPER::
Ubisoft Romania
::GENRE::
Simulation
::RELEASE DATE::
03/06/09
::PLAYERS::
1-16
::LIVE::
Xbox Live play, Leaderboards, Downloadable Content, Co-Op
::COST::
$59.99
::FEATURES::
Xbox Live play, Leaderboards, Downloadable Content
Good: Environments, Co-op mode, realistic variety of planes, Tom Clancy
Bad: No Split-screen, only one competitive mode.
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Tom Clancy’s HAWX Review
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HAWX is in no way taking the crown from the Ace Combat series, it isn’t trying to and has its own special perks that make this game fun and worthwhile.
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Since the release of Ace Combat 6 on the Xbox 360 in 2007, this generation has been lacking another true flight simulator until now thanks to the powerful branding of the Tom Clancy name. The setting for HAWX (High Altitude Warfare eXperimental squadron) is 2012, above the skies of a world increasingly dependent on private military companies (PMCs) and elite mercenaries who have a relaxed view on the law. As these non-governmental organizations gain power, global conflict erupts with one powerful PMC attacking the United States. It’s set during the events of GRAW so during the campaign, you have a few scenarios that those who played GRAW may remember asking for an air strike as Captain Mitchell, the main character in both GRAW games and you are the squadron carrying out the air strike.
You begin the game as a former U.S. Air Force pilot David Crenshaw who provides fire-support missions for the Ghost team as part of an elite unit called H.A.W.X. During the first mission, you find out that the Air Force decided to shut down the squadron and its pilots, including Crenshaw, are recruited into the PMC Artemis Global Security. Over the next six years, Crenshaw and his squadron perform various missions for Artemis and its clients, including defending valuable facilities and attacking insurgent bases. In 2021, Artemis signs a lucrative defense contract with Brazil, making it one of the most powerful PMCs in the world. However, shortly after the contract is signed, Las Trinidad, an alliance of anti-US South American states, launches an invasion on Rio de Janeiro. With Crenshaw's help, Artemis and the Brazilian military are able to push back the assault. The United States then sends in forces to help pacify the area and stages joint operations with Artemis. However, during one mission, Artemis breaks their contract with Brazil and betrays the United States, citing that Las Trinidad had offered them a better deal. Unwilling to turn on their own country, Crenshaw and his squadron sides with the United States and helps them destroy the Artemis forces in the area.
That’s the general story of the campaign. To ante up the sweetness of the experience, the entire campaign can be played cooperatively with 3 other buddies over Xbox Live. Unfortunately, there is no split-screen play It is nice that developers are getting the point and including online co-op but to often they strip the basic splitscreen play and it is incredibly disappointing. The option to play cooperatively online definitely is a plus as the hardest of the difficulties, Elite, will surely be a pain and you will need all the skill of you and three others to get through it. There are three difficulties to choose from besides Elite though with Normal and Hard. The connectivity over Xbox Live was seemless too and there were no lag issues that neither my buddies nor I ever experienced while playing the campaign. There a ‘drop-in drop-out’ system similar to the one found in Gears of War 2 where you can set it up to be a private party or open so anyone can literally jump in and jump out at their will.
There is also a free flight mode where you can fly around solo with no interference from enemies to view the environments and get your flying skills up. On that same note, the environments are gorgeous. There are some levels that are near photorealistic counterparts of the cities like the Capital building in Washington D.C. thanks to the assistance of real-life satellite imagery With a total of nineteen environments to fly around. Outside of campaign mode you have your pilot records which give you information about your performance in the game, showing your current rank and experience. It will also show your single and multiplayer challenges with their status and required conditions.
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