H.A.W.X has its set its sights on Ace Combat, and with the Tom Clancy name attached it should be authentic
This intro has been designed to get pulses pumping
The 4-player co-op career mode could make this title a must have, and not just for military nerds
It seems that anything with the 'Tom Clancy' name
pinned to it is video gaming gold for French publisher Ubisoft; who has
struck the jackpot with franchises such Rainbow Six.
News just to hand reveals that Ubisoft
will be releasing a new game with the Tom Clancy name emblazoned across
its shiny forehead: H.A.W.X.
Taking Clancy's brand of high-quality political
intrigue and realistic violence to the skies, H.A.W.X
will rival the Ace Combat franchise with an accessible and very
attractive gameplay and graphics.
One of most intriguing features of the new game is
the 4-player co-op mode. Up to four gamers will be able to play through
the campaign together, which sounds very cool.
H.A.W.X stands for High Altitude Warfare (we're
assuming the X means it'll involve nudity and possibly joysticks), and
Ubisoft reckons it's "an awe-inspiring game that is primed to
revolutionize the way players think about combat in the sky."
It is currently scheduled for mass consumption in
Spring 2008 (Fall/Autumn for Northern hemisphere folk).
Like the Rainbow Six games, you can expect to see
the 'game over' sign after being peppered with only a few bullets or a
single heat-seeking missile. It will have some elements of realism such
but will also contain some arcade influences to so not to alienate
casual gamers and drug users.
Currently slated for release on the PS3, Xbox 360
and PC systems, it is being developed by Ubisoft's Bucharest studio in
Europe.
According to the press release, the story
begins in the year 2012. Dick Cheney rules the earth with iron fist
and... Oh wait, that's a different game.
As it happens, more countries are dependent on
private military companies, or PMCs, because everyone has
cottoned on to the fact national armies get paid nothing for dying,
while mercenaries get paid heaps.
Anyways, the press release reads "While the
benefits of such PMCs are apparent, growing concerns surrounding giving
them too much power begin to mount."
So looks like Mercenary PMCs are going to the
enemy - or perhaps you can choose teams? Whichever, whatever.
"Tom Clancy's HAWX marks the next evolution of
high altitude warfare in the Tom Clancy video game universe," said John
Parkes, chief sales-dude at Ubisoft.
"We are thrilled to take to the skies and provide
a new environment along with an extension of a familiar storyline from
our other successful Tom Clancy franchises such as Ghost Recon Advanced
Warfighter," added Parkes.
From what we've seen so far H.A.W.X looks like it
could be a very tasty game. The graphics looks great, and if the
gameplay doesn't stink, it could give Ace Combat a run for its money.
Here's some of the key features
Ubisoft is promoting:
Enhanced Reality System
(E.R.S.) - E.R.S. is in-game technology that helps turn novice aviators
into elite pilots of the future. The Enhanced Reality System is the
backbone of the HAWX flight experience: radars and incoming missile
detection, anti-crash system, damage control system, tactical map and
information relay, and weapons trajectory control. E.R.S. also allows
players to issue orders to their squadron, making this system as iconic
to HAWX as the Cross-Com system is to Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced
Warfighter!
Assistance
Mode - Players can ease into their flight missions and
gain a level of comfort with the use of the assistance mode. Once
employed, players can take full advantage of their technological
support through the E.R.S and gain maximum piloting security. If the
situation calls for the player to unleash the full potential of the
aircraft, the assistance mode can be switched off and all safety
features will be deactivated.
This comes with increased risks, but allows the player advanced
dogfighting maneuvers and stunning third-person views.
Multiplayer
Revolution - For the first time ever in the air-combat
genre, players will be able to experience the entire solo campaign in
four-player JUMP IN co-op mode. In PVP mode, players can challenge up
to 15 friends in intense dogfighting sessions and find out who's the
top gun. Winning players are rewarded with experience points and money
to unlock more weapons.
50+
Aircraft - Players have the opportunity to take the
throttle of over 50 of the world's famous aircrafts, as well as being
able to dogfight over realistic modern landscapes that have endured
years of post-war trauma.
