by  Project Genesis
| May 18, 2008 |
REGARDING GRAPHICS: Blazing Angels has breathtaking graphics. You can see every detail of the planes, even when you're flying them! Also the CGI cutscenes, though simple, are magnificent. The game is also abundant with CGI-rendered, vintage-style photos of fictional pilots. These are/were all done very well. I give graphics a 5/5.
REGARDING MUSIC: Blazing Angels features a very epic, symphony-based sound score that changes according to the situation and gives players a good sense of what's going on BEYOND the pretty light patterns that make the game. For example, when you fail a mission, the music changes to a sort of tune that depicts failure, sadness and defeat. There's also a very emotional scene with powerful music in it. I won't reveal though... discover it yourself. I give music a 5/5.
REGARDING CONTROLS: Blazing Angels has very simple controls, and on the loading screens, many helpful hints on how to use them to the greatest effect are displayed. This is very good for people new to the genre. For more stubborn or picky people, there are various control maps to choose from: two motion-sensing, two non motion-sensing. But there is one problem: in a level with both necessary and generic targets, using the innovative targeting camera (used to bring the plane around while still keeping an eye on thoe Axis blips) can be frustrating when you try to follow a bomber (for example) but you follow a supporting fighter instead, and loose your intended target. This happens because when you target them in this way, you 'follow' the 'assigned target', so if you had a different target in mind, you'll have to cycle through to it (this takes a long time in levels with lots of targets). This may take some time to adjust to, but it should be fine. I give controls 4.5/5.
REGARDING GAMEPLAY: Blazing Angels is a very fun game. IMO, it's more of a pick-up-and-play game than other aerial combat games. Not only is the game itself fun, but the hilarious comments (especially those of Frank) make it even more enjoyable. I like how this game gives a really epic, true sense of flight. It just does it for me well when I pull of some crazy maneuver or obliterate a fleet - the true feeling of success! The game also has an evolving storyline: the story is narrated by the anonymous pilot you control, and he makes recollections of previous battles and tells stories, etc. at the end of eveery mission. It was probably easier to write because the game takes place in memories; like the whole thing is a reflection. I also liked the innovative Squad Command System, but I'll go into that later. The game has various modes: a Campaign, which is the main story, Mini-Campaign (bonus challenges for weapon inhancements), Arcade (retro-style fighting of waves of enemies for plane performance upgrades), and Ace Duel (a wone-on-one duel with a MEAN son-of-a-bitch fr secret skins), all providing HUGE ammounts of addictive and innovative gameplay. PLUS, there's even more multiplaer versus and cooperative modes fr even more combat experience.
I give this a 5/5.
REGARDING ART/CREATIVITY: One would think that because a game like this is based upon actual events, that it'd be pretty damn hard to make it creative. That theory obviously does not apply to this game. For instance, the game features a 'squad command' feature that (in default) uses the Directional buttons to change Squad Formation, and enables Tom, Frank and Joe to use their special skills. Like for example, Joe's special is [repair]. It innovatively uses a button-sequence to restore chunks of damage done to your plane. The game also has a unique bombing and torpedo interface, to make accurate destruction much easier. The game has a bigger library of planes to choose from than any game I know of; and each plane has different strenghts and weaknesses, which adds even more immersion with the vehicle stats being as close to that of the real WWII warplanes. I also liked how they added the medals of WWII into the game. These based-on-real-life medals can be earned or beating missions with unbelievable skill. [I have all of them, XD]. I give this aspect a 5/5.
REGARDING TARGET AUDIENCE/REPLAY VALUE: Blazing Angels is directed at anyone mature enough to be intrigued by the stories of WWII. For me, at least, this is the kind of game where you'll keep going to the very end, even replaying to do everything like a TRUE Ace, until nothing is left in this game but coding. I'm also mindless enough to replay to see Japanese explode as they try to wreck Pearl Harbor. I think this was handelled very well, so... 5/5.
Blazing Angels is a very good game, and I think it gets WAAAAAY less attention than it deserves. For the love of God, if you are interested in WWII (even if you're not), and read this, PLEASE buy or at least rent this game. Plus I'm looking for online rivals, XD. This WAS my first PS3 game, so that may have influenced it a bit... but still! |
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