Kombo's Review Policy: Our reviews are written for you. Our goal is to write honest, to-the-point reviews that don't waste your time. This is why we've split our reviews into four sections: What the Game's About, What's Hot, What's Not and Final Word, so that you can easily find the information you want from our reviews.

What the Game's About
HAWX takes flight with an attempt at chasing down Ace Combat as the biggest name on the fighter jet genre block. With stunning visuals, innovative gameplay and high octane action, HAWX takes flight under the Tom Clancy banner. Crossing paths with the popular Ghosts of Ghost Recon fame, you get a new perspective of the battlefield a few miles in the sky.

What's Hot
The flight game genre is a dying one. That doesn't mean it is out of ideas or a plethora of good times. From the moment you first start HAWX, the afterburners are firing at full speed. Getting past learning the basic ropes, you are let off the leash to get used to the game and all that it has to offer. The fighter jets all look painstakingly crafted to be stunning representations of the real life counterparts. The ground also looks great with tall buildings, enemy installations and sprawling landscapes to contrast with the wild blue yonder.



There are a few neat tricks the game has available like the ERS system that can map out a path to get the optimal angle on bogeys so your rockets will have no trouble locking on and landing devastating blows. A few missions in the game, you'll be granted the neat trick to turn that system off and fly in "Off" mode. By turning the assistance off, you'll be granted extraordinary agility with your jet pushing it to the extreme limits. The Blue Angles can eat their heart out with the 180 degree turns you can perform at the drop of a hat. You get a real sense of soaring through the sky in this "Off" mode when the camera zooms out wide and you get a sense of the larger scope.

Cooperative gameplay is very fun and interesting. Up to four people can take flight and have wingmen help them take down your enemies. Missions will fly by faster with more humans behind the fighter jets but there is more fun when you are actually feeling like you are a team of Top Guns.

What's Not
HAWX is so much fun to play and you'll have fun getting in the cockpit of a host of recognizable planes, but the ride will feel like it's over all too soon. The combination of easy levels and short game length makes the game breeze by and leave you without much else until some DLC drops. Sliding the difficulty up isn't that noticeable and boils down to the AI not being the brightest.

The story tying the game together is all too predictable. You work for the military then get hired by a Private Military Corporation. Something goes horribly wrong and your loyalty is tested. It's basically the same story that has been hashed out numerous times already; the only difference is you are flying jets.


Final Word
Some extraneous features like voice commands are nice features but don't add much to either help or hurt the game. The meat of the action will make your gamer heart soar but ends far too soon. A couple more missions would have provided a nicer landing than the abrupt climb and fall of the story and action.