 Review By: Andrew Joy |
Developer: | Ubisoft |
| Publisher: | Ubisoft | |
| Genre: | Flight Action | |
| ESRB: | Teen | |
| # Of Players: | 1-2 (2-16 online) | |
| Online Play: | Yes | |
| Accessories: | PlayStation Network (online play), HDTV 720p | |
| Buy Now: |   |
Of course, that is only one of the game’s lesser troubles, not the major one I mentioned way back in the introduction. It’s strange to think a game called Blazing Angels would freeze so much, but that’s exactly what this game did, every chance it got. My first experience with this came at the end of the Surprise Attack mission, when the ending cutscene froze, forcing me to reset my system and do the whole mission over again. Unsure of whether or not this was an isolated incident - in which case, I probably would not have even mentioned it at all - I did a quick check online (an increasingly handy resource when playing PlayStation 3 games it would seem) and found that this, and other glitches, happen more often than I find acceptable. And, for me, my troubles didn’t stop there, as the game just seemed to get worse and worse as I went along. This included moments when my plane became invincible (and not through the use of a cheat code) like my second attempt at the mission above, times when the game would freeze after trying to restart a mission at a checkpoint, and times when the audio would drop out or not match the subtitles on the screen. All in all, I have to say I am a little disappointed in Ubisoft, as a little play testing could have gone a long way; they are rapidly becoming the new EA in my book as far as that's concerned.
Now, onto what is probably one of the most important aspects of the next generation (on the PS3, at least): the graphics. When games like Fight Night: Round 3 made the jump from Xbox 360 to PS3, there was a noticeable boost in graphics, even if it was just in some of the things you might consider inconsequential like sweat. However, near as I can tell, the PS3 version of Blazing Angels is almost identical to the one on Xbox 360. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing, of course – at this stage in the game, the two systems are relatively on par in terms of eye candy. But, when it comes to Blazing Angels, it is really a bit of a mixed bag. On the one hand, some of the places you’ll visit are, for lack of better word, breathtaking and vibrant with color, but also a bit washed out or overexposed for that old-timey feel. On the other, some of the effects, like when your plane explodes, are decidedly unimpressive, as you disappear in a gentle puff of smoke and fire, like you were zapped out of existence by a cartoon wizard. And then, somewhere in between, you have things like plane models, which certainly won’t wow you, but aren’t half bad either. The sound has similar issues, as some of the effects are great, like when an enemy plane flies right beside you, growing so loud you realize just how close a call it was (and, in my opinion, making me miss built-in rumble all the more...but I won’t fault the game for the system’s shortcomings), but the whole battle is dubbed over with annoying, repetitive phrases from your wingmen. As for the music, while it isn’t bad, I ended up turning it off for a more authentic feel soon after I started.
Even though it looks about the same as it does on the Xbox 360, Blazing Angels has had a few changes in the meantime. The PS3 version has the advantage of having two extra missions (and 10 extra planes), but they do little to extend the length of the game, which is really too short. Although you can play any of the missions again, I don’t imagine you’ll have much reason to, unless you are the kind of person who’ll want to be awarded a medal on every one of them. With motion controls, I found the game to be a bit harder than it might normally be, and over the course of the game, and I only received a few awards, including one for the harrowing Battle on Pearl Harbor, but even I wasn’t entertained enough to go for ‘em all, something I do in most other games. There are also a few single player modes outside of the campaign, like Ace Duel (which pits you against an Ace pilot flying the same exact plane as you) and Arcade (which has you trying to shoot down as many enemy waves as possible before you run out of time), but, while fun, they run thin rather quickly and it wasn’t long before I became bored.
However, this game will likely stay in your collection a bit longer because of its multiplayer. Offline, the game supports just two player split-screen multiplayer, but online it supports up to 16. There are a variety of modes to choose from, including the usual deathmatch, and those that charge you and your online squadron with defeating the enemies’ base. It should be noted, though, that many people have had trouble finding a strong online community, but that is likely because the PS3 was hard to get at one time. With units going in stock all across the country now, hopefully that should change soon.
Bottom Line:
Based on what I played of the Xbox 360 version, Blazing Angels is not normally a game I would recommend. Sure, it has that next-gen look, a variety of modes to enjoy, and it is another game in a usually under-represented genre, but it also has its problems. For example, the WWII thing has been done to death in video games, and the sappy story they wrap around the main game doesn’t make it anymore enjoyable. The load times, for a game on next-gen game, are long and annoying, breaking up the action – the same problem I had with the game’s lack of explanation or training on some crucial elements. And, worst of all, the game is bugged to the core, with everything from game freezes to invincible planes. However, the game does work, and it works well with the motion controls, something that (right now) you can only get on the PS3, which also offers free online play, for what it’s worth. So, while I wouldn’t recommend you run right out and buy this game, it is certainly worth a rental.
| Pros: | Cons: | Final Score: |
|---|---|---|
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| 7.0 |
Posted: 2007-01-13 09:07:04 PST