Aero Fighters Assault

"Dogfighting on the N64 !!"

This game I feel is one of the more disrespected games on the N64. It really is a quality game that althought i doesn't have the level of prestige of certain other games, it does have one good quality. It is the ONLY dogfighting game on the N64. Star Fox and Rogue Squadron are similar, but by dogfighting I mean in real life airplanes. I am a big airplane buff so I had to get this game and I wasn't disappointed.

Story- 7/10: I have seen better plots in a video game, but this one has that classic ''Aliens vs. Earth'' type theme and I like that. The characters are all pretty creative especially the dolphin. The only thing that bugs me is the F-14 pilot, Hawk, his corny lines kind of get on my nerves.

Graphics- 9/10: This game came out before the expansion pack, so the graphics are nothing ground breaking. Well, me being the airplane freak that I am, lets just say I was looking for deficiencies in the game's airplanes. Everyone of them looked just like the real thing with the exception of some of the paint jobs. The only plane that doesn't look exactly like the real thing is the FS-X (yes, it is a real plane). The FS-X is now called the F-2, and its defect is the small canards (small wings on sides of nose). The real plane has no such devices. The reason they are on the aircraft is that earlier in its development, it was thought that canards might be added. The terrain and other vehicles look nice as well. Good job!

Sound- 7/10: The sounds in this game are composed of your typical cannon fire, missile shots, jet engines, explosions, etc. The music is okay. The sounds are nothing spectacular, but they work for me.

Control- 10/10: I think the N64 controller is a the perfect device other than a joystick to plane an aviation game. The joystick is perfect for controlling the aircraft and all planes respond well to its movements. The button layout is good, but if you don't like it, can you customize it anyway you like and save that configuration.

Gameplay- 8/10: This game is a lot of fun to play although certain levels such as the Fortress and Air Battle, can be quite difficult and frustrating. This game has so many options it is unbelievable. You can just about customize any aspect of the game you like. The one-player mode is challenging, fun, and full of surprises, but the two-player mode is a blast. There is nothing like getting your best friend's tail and blowing him out of the sky with a well aimed burst of cannon fire.

Aircraft- 10/10: As I am a big plane buff, I will briefly describe each of the main aircraft you can fly in this game.

F-14B: This aircraft is perfect for the novice pilot. It handles well and is well armed, but nothing about it really stands out. It has pretty good armor though not the best.

FS-X: This aircraft is just the opposite of the F-14B. It is small and very quick on the controls. It is not a speed demon, but you can outturn just about everyone in it, and it has good weapons. The armor is weak though.

SU-35: This aircraft is my personal favorite. It is slightly slower than the F-14 but much more manuverable. It is well armed although its internal gun has a very slow recoil. The gun does do a lot of damage if you can manage to get a hit with it. The aircraft's armor is stronger than the FS-X's, but still not the strongest in the game.

A-10A: The A-10 is probably your best bet for a ground attack aircraft in the game. It can also be difficult to deal with if flown by a good opponent. It is well armed, has excellent armor (probably the best), and is fairly manuverable. It is somewhat slower than the other planes though.

F-15J: This hidden aircraft is activated by a secret code. It is similar to but faster than the F-14B. It is well armed with similar weapons to the F-14B, it just has a more powerful special weapon.

X-29A: This is probably THE most manuverable fighter in the game. Like the FS-X, it has weak armor, and is slower than most of the other planes, but it makes up for those faults with excellent weaponry and excellent manuverability. It can be tricky to fly, but the gun in its nose is very powerful and can do a lot of damage.

Enemy Planes: SU-25, MiG-31, Kfir C2, F-22, EFA, Rafale

After you complete certain levels, aircraft in this list will begin to be available to you in death match mode (2-player mode). Some are fairly good while others are just average.

Overall- 8/10: This game is underrated, and if you like airplanes or just action games, this game is for you. The only real fault of the game is the terrible number of typos in the manual. Overall, this game is fun, has good graphics, and is somewhat realistic in terms of the flying, as it was done by the same people who made Pilotwings 64.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 02/24/01, Updated 02/24/01