Had a proper bash at this...
Controls are bizarrely unconventional.
Left stick is for up and down and.... going left and right.... but not rolling completely, for a traditional roll, i.e. spinning on the obvious axis, you have to use the right stick, which is also used for speed control.
So... its kinda like the n64 and gamecube rogue squadron games, except in that you had to toggle roll with a button... considering that a plane, an aircraft actually has a "stick" playing with the basics seems a little odd.
As for speed control, well you can't stall the plane in any context so, although it could be argued that flying a plane could be fairly simple anyways, they've removed that particular obsticle.
Once you've got to grips with this very simple setup, shooting at thing happen. These come in two forms, air and land targets. Land targets are simply denoted by a arrow, and line them up with your infinite ammo and bombs and thats it. Air targets are slightly more interesting.
The game seems to entirely revolve around you having a grasp of your location within a 3 dimensional space at abract camera angles, as the only way to find the target is to use the target camera, which flicks your camera at the enemy from your normal 3rd person perspective. So it ends up with a mass camera panning exercise and you waiting for the cursor to roll into view from the relative position of the front of your plane.
It means that you get alot of pretty visual (except for the tearing) and as all the maps appear to be located above towns and stuff, and it has a very stylistic pallette and lighting... its just a bit off.
For me, the lack of an engaging flight model, if feels a bit dry. But for those who've never tried them before I'd probably recommend it as its a good intro into the genre, just a bit safe to play, if you know what I mean.
I'm about 2/3 of the way through this game. It's pure puff, but quite fun.
As for speed control, well you can't stall the plane in any context so, although it could be argued that flying a plane could be fairly simple anyways, they've removed that particular obsticle.
Actually you can stall or at least a stall warning message appears on the screen. Only ever happened to me once though and I didn't notice any discernable stall characteristics in the flight model when it did happen.
The game seems to entirely revolve around you having a grasp of your location within a 3 dimensional space at abract camera angles, as the only way to find the target is to use the target camera, which flicks your camera at the enemy from your normal 3rd person perspective. So it ends up with a mass camera panning exercise and you waiting for the cursor to roll into view from the relative position of the front of your plane.
True. However once you're used to it, it works well and as you say makes for some great visuals: dive-bombing battleships is especially cool with the target lock engaged. There's a knack to engaging and releasing the target lock at the right moment as well as target switching. I really like the small 'repair your plane' minigame which you have to play whilst flying to fix yourself up.
For me, the lack of an engaging flight model, if feels a bit dry. But for those who've never tried them before I'd probably recommend it as its a good intro into the genre, just a bit safe to play, if you know what I mean.
It's unashamedly an arcade title though isn't it. In my book realistic dogfighting bites balls because it largely prevents the player from carrying out those heart in mouth manouvers that you dream off before you've even put the disk in the console.
The controls are quite esoteric, but also quite intentional.
Biggest issue I have is with the 3d person camera is that its difficult to judge your altitude, and considering there are buildings and terrain to deal with, thats a little tricky to get around.
Obviously they decided they wouldn't have any HUD which adds to the cinema.
There is a bit of hand holding on the flying though surely? Especially with the loop da loops.
Regarding realistic flying models and so forth... I've played some serious, serious flight sims, that emulate the roll you get just from the rotation of the blades, and the red outs and black outs, the works... you earn real dog fights in that, but in that game, was it IL-2 Sturmovik, yeah that series of games, you have a realistic damage model.
Who doesn't want to fly a real plane though eh?
Still its very lite all around... not un-fun, for me, just not engaging.
Although there appears to be a star rating system that looks time and trickyness related.
You get ranked out of 5 on your performance for each mission. So far I've not really bothered to go back and try to 5-star everything. I've just ploughed my way through the missions. Most of them are way too easy to complete especially with the welcome inclusion of checkpoints. The design choices to keep the interface light are brave considering the number of times I've craved for an in cockpit view or a tactical map. With extended play though I find myself adjusting to the lean ethos of the game and enjoying it all the more for it.
Use of secondary weapons is extremely well implemented too. They've made torpedo runs, rocket straffing and bombing second nature with some simple visual overlays. Good stuff.
One area where it falls apart (as usual) is in the voice acting department it's all a bit Yankee doodle on the alies side with some very strage stereotyped Japanese and German radio chatter.
In a nutshell it's a fun, but limited game.
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"Anyone who's played Namco's Cyber Sled and wished, however remotely, for a home version will be the first to figure it out:... - Tim Rogers
I splashed out on the Asian version a while ago. Last week I finally managed to complete the first mission!!!
Xbox Gamertag - RogsR34UK
I splashed out on the Asian version a while ago. Last week I finally managed to complete the first mission!!!
Xbox Gamertag - RogsR34UK
I assume you played it for about 15 minutes then :? Although I have to admit that bombing the church spire in "Training Day" took me several attempts.
I'll add you to my friends list when I get back home at the end of the week
I splashed out on the Asian version a while ago.
You really should buy proper porn, you know.
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I put in a few hours on the game which included a few attempts to complete that first main mission. It was the enemy column near the bridge that kept defeating me. Typically I have not played it since then!
I tried the game on Live as well and tired a little of being continually shot down. Another person in the session must have felt the same way because they actually left the game.
Xbox Gamertag - RogsR34UK
Dude you are clearly doing something very wrong. Are you trying to bomb the tank divisions? If so BIG mistake. Simply take them out with your main gun. You can get 90 - 100% of the targets on a single pass that way.
You really should give this another go. It's not the best, but the next few levels have a sort of epic movie feel to them.
Also make sure you are making frequent and good use of the L-trigger targetting. It's absolutely essential to get you going in the right direction. Don't over use it though otherwise you'll become disorientated.
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I was using the guns. I finally got past that one. I am now on the London mission to protect Parliament.
Xbox Gamertag - RogsR34UK
Excellent, I think you'll find it plane sailing from here on in
I'll send you a friend request when I finally get my 360 connected back up. Had one hell of a hectic weekend.
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