Crimson Skies (Xbox)

Since the great depression and the collapse of central government the USA no longer exists. It is split into Regional Nation-States, This means the lack of federal law means that Air Pirates have taken to the sky in search of their fortunes.

Game Play
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Controlling the planes in crimson skies is easy you just point to where you want to go with the left thumb stick and you go there, you can also roll your plane with the right thumb stick. Pressing "Y" will give you a power boost, "B" brakes, "A" is used if you want to repair your plane, man an AA gun or change plane. Just press this when you are over a green icon. "X" starts a mission or race, press this when you are over a blue icon and "black" is enemy plane lock where the camera focuses on the nearest enemy plane.

Dog fights are very fast paced and intense, there's nothing quite like out maneuvering your opponent in a gorge or round a volcano, And the use of "Special Maneuvers" only amplifies the excitement.

These are pulled off with a click of the right thumb stick and then for example, to pull off an immelman, pulling back on the left and right thumb stick.

Using these special moves drains your special meter and when it reaches empty you go into a wild spin and loose control of your plane until it recharges, so it pays to keep an eye on it and let it recharge without going into a spin.

There are 11 planes in crimson skies that all have their unique characteristics. They range from Dogfighters, like the Devastator. Interceptors like the Desert Fox and Zep Killers like the monstrously powerful Brigand. There is also a Mini Gyro that can hover in mid air and take out targets with it's special weapon the sniper!

Which bring me nicely to the weapons of the plane. Primary weapons have unlimited ammo but need reloading after a while and special weapons have limited ammo, ammo can be replenished by flying into an ammo crate or into a repair station. Special weapons can range from Tesla cannons, shotguns, magnetic rockets, fire-balls to gattling guns all with lethal effect.

The story in crimson skies is told through cut scenes and radio transmissions and flows quite nicely. The transition from cut scene to combat is flawless and at the end of a set of mission there is a FMV and a chance to upgrade your planes with booty you have earned.

It looses a mark because of a tiny little glitch which is when you are about to leave the mission area you loose control of your plane and it steers you back in the right direction, or not as the case may be sometimes. Occasionally you hit a wall while it is doing this and you blow up, annoying when it happens but easily avoided and rare.
9/10

Sound
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The sound in crimson skies is just what you would expect, the use of dolby digital 5.1 is well utilized and really gives you that sense of immersion with planes buzzing all around you. Also the sounds when you down a mammoth of a zeppelin gives you a great feeling of satisfaction.

Voice talent isn't too shabby all be it a bit cheesy but it serves its purpose well.
9/10

Graphics
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Best.Water.Ever
WoW this game looks great and the water is the best I have ever seen in any game I have played. The reflections of the sun set in Chicago are nothing short of breathtaking. The game has a great draw distance a necessity in a game such as this and I have notice no pop up what so ever. There are also some nice little touches in the game like water spraying up onto the screen when you get too close to the water, and heat waves when you use your turbo boost. Damage done to zeppelins also looks very convincing. The planes are shiney but not too shiney and the fog and smoke is nice and obscuring and can provide useful cover in multi-player.

Some of the texture are a little low res but overall the look is very pleasing.
9/10

Replay-ability
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The story mode is great and I know I will want to keep coming back for more, this is because it is hard to shoot down enemy planes and you can try and beat your times in races.

With 4 difficulty settings, 4 player split screen, system link, xbox live and downloadable content who can fault it?
10/10

Over all
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I wouldn't recommend it for die hard flight sim people as it's pretty arcadey with the 3rd person view. But it works well and makes the game more fun, all against all dogfighting with more than 4 people can get a bit hectic but keep it below 4 and it's great. My personal favorites are catch the chicken in Chicago, 4 player dogfighting in Arixo and keep away in Arixo

Over all Crimson Skies is the best game I have played on the xbox next to halo and there is nothing quite like it, a solid 9.3/10 ( Pick It Up Now!)

(score not an average)