Karl's 'Tom Clancy's HAWX' Review
I feel ‘kind of’ sorry for the developers of Hawx. They got talent, the proof of that is Hawx itself. It’s a well tuned and genuinely fun arcade fighter sim. It has a lot in common with Ace Combat. I can tell that they took their time and got the game-play right. So why do I feel sorry? Well, it’s because despite all that it’s a ‘rent’ don’t buy kind of game.
Let me tell you why.
I think that the same thing that will move Hawx off store shelves cheapens its appeal. To put it bluntly it’s the Tom Clancy license. It is, in my opinion, one of the worst licenses in videogames. Basing a narrative on it is like putting blinders on a horse and forcing it down a well traveled path. Ever twist and turn in the story is seen from miles away and each one is executed with forgettable dialogue. Despite that however it’s campaign is still fun, even if I found myself laughing at it rather than with it.
The level up and unlock system in it is a nice change of pace as well. You earn exp in both modes of play (campaign and online versus) by kill things. As you level up it unlocks extra aircraft and weapon load outs for them. All game modes have combat challenges to accomplish which when unlocked reward you with hefty chunks of EXP. A challenge is as simple as destroy 100 ground targets. Missions also unlock aircraft, with some of the later missions unlocking the Eruofighter Typhoon and the F-22 Raptor.
The campaign has online co-op with seamless drop in and out. The friend system is well implemented, being in game, it is simple and effective a blessing for game using PSN. The multi-player is a bit bland with only death match, but dog fighting is what Hawx is all about so despite that it’s fun.
A nice added feature for the PS3 release is the ability to easily record and then upload videos to your youtube account. I tried recording a multiplayer match, check it out below. Not the best quality, but it’s still a cool feature. Be forewarned its 9 minutes long.
All of those things put hawx in a good place for downloadable content. Most notably would be new game play modes for the completive online sections. But there is a catch, it has to be free. I know, consumer saying he wants free stuff, lost your respect for me didn’t you? Well keep reading.
Take a look at Burnout Paradise, look at the numbers it’s sold! Criterion games made a bucket load off it because they invested time into giving it ‘long legs’. So how did they do it? They kept adding to it, from bikes, to a day and night cycle and eventually an entire island. Most of the ‘DLC’ they added was free, a happy surprise which made the purchase an incredible deal. This endeared themselves to the developer. Nothing is more powerful than a happy fan base as it both markets for you and continues to purchase your goods.
I think it would be a wise move if Ubisoft tried a similar approach with Hawx. Continued updates would make it a ‘must have’ PS3 game. Hell, cut it down to 40 dollars, add a few more game play modes for verses and I would pick it up. DLC is coming for Hawx, by the way, as they have a tab in game for it. Let’s just hope it’s not already on the disc.
So guys rent but don’t buy. It’s more than worth the price of the rental.
