Yet another one of the Gameloft games we previewed in Paris was released this afternoon, Tom Clancy’s H.A.W.X [App Store] is an air combat game that takes place in the somewhat expansive Ghost Recon game universe. Featuring complete voice-overs, 13 missions, 26 planes, and local multiplayer, H.A.W.X. can easily fly with the existing competition on the platform.
Much like Driver, so far the version of H.A.W.X. available on the App Store seems identical to what Gameloft showed us a few weeks ago.
From our preview:
The environments you fly over look amazingly realistic, as Gameloft utilized high resolution satellite imagery to build and texture the environments.
Levels range from Washington DC, to Rio de Janeiro, and even Chicago– And as a native of the Chicago area, it was amazingly cool to fly over Soldier Field, then follow the various highways while dropping bombs. The satellite imagery is detailed enough that if you’re familiar with the locales you’re flying over, you can easily pick out landmarks, streets, and other locations.
Each of the planes comes with their own unique cockpit view along with different strengths and weaknesses. At the start of each level, the game suggests the best plane to use, but you can use any plane on any level– Which can substantially increase the difficulty if you’re dog fighting with a bomber, for instance.
I suppose comparisons between H.A.W.X. and Namco’s recently released Ace Combat Xi (which we already reviewed) are somewhat inevitable, especially with how close to each other the games were released. Here is my take on the games so far:
Both are highly competent aerial combat arcade-style games, and each of them come from popular game series– Although Ace Combat likely has more fans than the Tom Clancy game universe. Actually flying your jet in each game feels great, but H.A.W.X. does fall behind in the HUD department. In Ace Combat, your screen is loaded with various widgets and instruments that at least in opinion really add to the atmosphere of the whole experience. Your screen in H.A.W.X. is fairly barren, and there isn’t even an artificial horizon.
Where H.A.W.X. flips on the afterburners and pulls ahead of Ace Combat is in the included content department. The initial load-out in H.A.W.X. includes twice as many missions and planes, which are all unlocked by playing the game instead of via 99¢ microtransactions (as in Ace Combat). Also, H.A.W.X. has four player local deathmatch and team deathmatch multiplayer.
H.A.W.X. seems to be winning the immediate battle, but there’s something in both games for fans of the genre to enjoy. With so few competent dog fighting games on the App Store, both H.A.W.X. and Ace Combat Xi are worth considering.
App Store Link: Tom Clancy’s H.A.W.X., $6.99
I could never understand why Ninjas and Pirates are so popular, but Nazis are off limits (save for Zombie Nazis).
They're all pretty much the scum of the earth in my eyes.
Uh, because ninjas and pirates (the peg-legged, swashbuckling, eyepatch wearing kind, not the modern version) are both cartoonish version of villains from hundreds of years ago. Nazis, on the other hand, perpetrated one of the biggest atrocities in human history, and there are still people alive today who were directly affected by it.
I assume you're talking about a game where you could play AS a Nazi (since Nazis are the bad guys in plenty of games), which would just be wrong. Maybe in a hundred more years or so, when they're basically mythic figures as well.
I have to assume that he was trolling there. Cause... Really? Nazi's on par with ninja's and pirates for general evilness?
On the contrary, I was not trolling, just kind of it kind of funny that ninjas and pirates, who are in reality by no means cartoonish and amusing villains, get the funny-treatment.
Not really meant to troll or be offensive or anything, it's just an observation I've had, and like Toast said, I suppose when a couple hundreds of years have passed, Nazis may well get the cartoonish treatment as well, whether that's a good or bad thing, can't be said I guess.
Comedy = Tragedy + Time (lots of time in the case of Nazis)
nothin funny about nazis. ever.
except you can tell them to follow their leader... thats always good for a laugh
Hands down, one of my favorite games!
"as a number of 'secret' cheat modes that are unlocked on accumulating 5, 10 and 15 master ranks"
can you elaborate on this?
Sure thing :) From what I can gather in our forums (I'm man enough to admit I'm no where near good enough yet to have accumulated that many master ranks!), there's an Unstoppable mode, a Crazy Speed Mode, and some form of God Mode.
The first makes your combos unblockable, the second boosts your speed, and the latter is purportedly near-invincibility. Activating any of these modes will no longer count towards further master ranks, so be sure to de-activate them if you're clocking up ranks still.
I've called them secret because the developer is being tight lipped about their details, so I think it's something worth discovering for ourselves!
do you know if the cheat codes work like say I get all "master" rank in easy mode, does that unlock one of the cheats? This is the first time hearing that there is a cheat mode lol so I'm kinda intrigued by that
Nope, from the developer's posts on the forums, it seems that Master ranks only count if they're earned in Normal and Hard difficulty levels. Easy doesn't count.
interesting... will try that out thanks for the info!
How do you get 15 master ranks if there are only 10 levels?
AWESOME GAME!!! Been playing for an hour so far. I Like the level up system.
I'm really glad to see some devs put a lot of polish into their apps and emulate their previous successes while using the same basic formula :)
Ok just bought the game and it's AWESOME!! I wish all devs put the same work into making a 1-2 dollar app instead of making an boring and uninspired game with no substance other than focusing on "beating the high score"
Great im with u kita
Seems very interesting & this company has already released an amazing game, Zombieville! I'll be sure to check this game out soon after this post. Great write up, thanks!
- MexiChriS
Toucharcade:
I do love the longer 'Read the rest of the review here' longer entries, but PLEASE:
1) Put AppStore link in first section.
2) Put video (if any) in first section.
I normally watch the video a bit whilst reading the text and then click the AppStore link to buy it. I'll read the rest of the review if needed if I'm unsure.
Your feedback is welcome darwinian, and I'll take it on board. Just to let you know, the app store link is always in the first paragraph of each review.
Togather with alive4ever this game is the best non-rip-off (not that i think that gameloft games are bad, but admit it they arnt innovative in any way) title so far on iphone.
Btw, loled at the end of OMG! pirates :)
i didn't say anything about - in mu opinion - annoying jump/block button - often you want to jump and your character blocks - i find it very irritating. they could just add 3rd button to jump.
Great site and great write up.
I think you guys should put a link to the forum post of the game in all the reviews though.
Keep up the great work.
Absolutely love this game. Thoroughly played through normal and hard and enjoyed every minute! (and every blood splatter)
Yarr, call me a pirate partisan, but I would really prefer a companion game called OMG NINJAS!
Amazinz game but rpg elements and a monotary system would have made this the best iPhone game for some time to come. I know it's nearly imposible to add it now but it would have AMAZING. I would pay 10 easly if those thing are or were added
@MIKA-MOBILE: If you are even reading this, I have only one suggestion: I bought your game and I love the leveling up system. However, one of the best things about Zombieville was the choice of weapons and upgrades the player gets to make; the choice is what gives it an RPG-like feel to me. I don't like how OMG Pirates has a more linear leveling up system that automatically assigns the player upgrades in a set order. It would be cool to have a skill tree that gives the player a little bit more choice as he/she levels up. It could contain all the same level upgrades you have already programmed into the game, but having a little bit of choice would make each play through slightly different. Just my opinion of course.
I am being very picky though. All in all it's an awesome game, and the gameplay is great! It's easy to pick up and put down too when the day gets busy. So thank you!
I love it, but wish you could gain more than 30 levels, or have some choice in the way you improve with each level. And Zombieville has an excellent money mechanic this game does not, so they are both exceptional games in different ways. The best thing about both are the fun, easy game play and the art style above everything.
I hope they make a third game with a totally different theme (they have done zombies, pirates, and a ninja, so now they need knights, cavemen, skeletons, robots, nazis, or something like that) with the same great art and a few more things (animals you can mount, allies, secondary weapons (grenades would have been awesome in Zombieville), and even more RPG elements).
Keep up the amazing work, Mika Mobile!
Wow, this has SO much potential. At the end of the game there are 5 beams of light, so they could make 5 more games.
OMG zombies, OMB (insert here :D), OMG Aliens, etc.
Same engine, but different weapons and enemies could really be awesome!
OMG Nazis!! Now that's funny
Really well done game and surprisingly decent controls. Very reminiscent of one of my favorite pick and play game on XBox 360 Arcade called Castle Crashers. Wishing for more levels, weapons, powers etc but for $1.99 I am very pleased and maybe we'll see some updates in the futre.
Hmmm... I can't figure out how to do the custom soundtracks. Am I ignorant?