Warhawk

"Online Mayhem!"

Easily some of the funnest online experiences I've ever had, and it just came out! I'm going to be as logical as I can about much of the game, but I would also like to make clear that the following is nothing more than my own personal opinion of the game. Having made that clear, let's get down to business.

Graphics 8/10
The graphics are very well done for what it's worth. They're no Heavenly Sword, but still very good. They make very good use of colors(maybe now we won't have to hear about how next gen games use too much brown and grey.) and the draw distance is incredible. Explosions look nice, and nothing is cooler than witnessing your enemy's warhawk blow apart in mid-air, sending its pilot flailing through the sky. Textures are awesome, but may not be enough to necessarily blow anyone anyway. Nice lighting effects. I wasn't disappointed in this area.

Controls 9/10(Analog.)
Some people may flame me for giving the game a 9 on controls, but I do have a good reason. The controls, I found, were very easy to get into and responsive. There really is no steep learning curve here, it should only take about a minute for them to feel natural. The reticule is very fast, but that's actually a plus for me. I can easily get used to that, and with the pace of this game, speed is more than neccessary. The real drawback is that Warhawks can take a little getting used to, but it's hardly an issue. Great controls, I found. Responsive and easy to get into. I found that I did not even have to teach my friends how to play.

Sound 8/10
Sound effects are well put together. Rarely does anything sound off. The game even has a sound effect for when you push to speak into the mic. When there are enough people on a single map, it really does sound like there is an all out war taking place. Truly magnificent. Not much in the music department, except I did like that heartpounding, inspiring menu theme.

Gameplay 9/10
This game is frantic, fast paced, and addictive. The animations are incredibly smooth(I was hoping for a tad smoother, but I was just being too picky.), both in character and machine. Character animation while running is a little silly and exaggerated, but at least it doesn't slow down or lag! Not once did I see a drop in framerate. The game supplies you with many vehicles, weapons, and aircrafts. It's great fun to drive a jeep while your buddy handles the gattling gun. The dog fights are incredibly fun. Never have I seen so much emphasis on air combat in a multiplayer game that involved so many other forms of combat. Animations are exaggerated, but it seems to work with the game style. Great fun.

Online 9/10
Online is almost flawless. No lag whatsoever, and no framerate drop. The sound for through mics is great. Menus are easy to deal with, and games are easy to get into. Somre more options would have been nice, but not having them does not hinder the game any. Besides, being an online only game, you can expect plenty of future updates for download. I'm not sure if its online is necessarily better than Resistance: Fall of Man, but I will say it's about on par, with the exception that this game does allow up to 4-player split screen while online, which is just badass. Speaking of split-screen, if you don't feel like gaming online, there is an offline option where you can game with your friends. No campaign mode for those who somehow still don't know.

Replay Value 10/10
Even as far down the road as when Killzone 2 or Call of Duty 4 are released, I will still be playing this game. The online is beyond addicting, and the fact that it provides dedicated servers, you will always find people to game with. I almost could not put this game down, and now I'm anxious to get off of work so that I can go home and play this game. A must own for online loving PS3 owners!

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 08/29/07