Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge is an excellent Air battle game which doesn't take itself too seriously.
User Rating: 9 | Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge XBOX
Finding an air battle title is not easy nowadays. Looking at the game sheves, one series of note easily stands out: Namco's "Ace Combat" series. But while this has been available to PS2 owners for some time, Xbox owners have been missing out. However, now with Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge, they can enjoy air combat as it should be. Following in "Ace Combat's" footsteps, you are the pilot of a number of aircraft, but that is mostly where the similarities end. With a setting that is equal parts industrialisation and Pirates of the Carribean, with an Indiana Jones esque protagonist thrown in for good measure, Crimson Skies definately sets itself apart. Starring as Nathan Zachary, you are first tasked with stealing back the plane you lost in a drunken poker game the previous night. Betty Charles, an offsider in your "Fortune Hunter's", gradually introduces you to the game and it's controls, while you wonder about the game's locations. It is in this first mission that you find just how comprehensive the control set-up really is. Mapping the main controls to the 2 analog sticks, and a number of easy to pull of special moves (like barrel rolls and immelman's) to the right analog stick, you will feel very comfortable with whatever it is that you are piloting. And you will be piloting a number of things. Throughout the course of your adventure you will get behind over a dozen Planes, Zepellins, Boats, Trains, Anti-Air Gunners and Hover Copters. Tying up all these forms of transport is a cohesive and well scripted storyline. Set in an alternate 1930's America, it seems that after the great war, America's infighting has finally purged itself of it's railway system. So transport of goods has turned to the sky, with Zeppelins being the order of the day. As the Fortune Hunters, you are tasked with ferrying these as guards due to air piracy, but the story goes deeper than that. However, it is a good premise, and beautiful CG cutscenes flesh out the games slightly short single player campaign. However, there is enough variety in the missions, as well as in the various tools of destruction at your fingertips that you wont ever feel bored. And while the game's campaign is of average length, it is the online mode where the action really is. Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge is fuly synched with Xbox Live, giving users another reason to join this excellent service. While the game's campaign doesn't suffer as a result of Xbox Live functionality, you can easily see that the game was designed around it's multiplayer aspect. Up to 16 players can battle it out in over 5 arenas, in 6 modes of staple online action. However, the game lends itself so well to these modes, such as Chicken, Capture the Flag and King of the Hill variants. Online play is smooth, and the games control or graphics aren't compromised. The gameplay is easy to get into, but holds you steadily as you enjoy a wide variety of well designed missions that each serve a purpose. Backing up the great gameplay is wonderful graphics that show off some great explosions, and some beautiful environments and Planes. Locations are densely packed, with a number of elements and the game feels like a living place for these attributes. While the explosions are cool (and they are a great highlight), the game's water effects are something I should mention. Many times I found myself skimming the surface to see the water spray hit the screen, a nice touch. Nice touches abound in this game, with the game's sound definately getting their fair share. Subtle effects that you subliminally notice, like waves lapping at a beach, to the air skimming by all make an impact, and sums up the games sound pretty well. It is superbly done, with many little touches that make you thankful for their inclusion. The draw distance is never a problem - you can see pretty far in the game, and with all the detail and nice locations - this is a game that is a definate looker in the graphics department. Support for split screen is also available - and the game holds up pretty well with this - though there are some slightl noticeable cutbacks. Support is also made for 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround Sound - and with it's infectious music and lady-killing main protagonist - the charm of the game really shines through. The games dialogue is spoken with a lot of zest, and the characters are fairly believable. Fully lip synching further suspend your disbelief, and with admirable dialogue on a good working script, the games countless voices have done a good job at making the game feel real. It has a very old Hollywood feel, and while the dialogue and characters reflect this - it is best seen in the games presentation - from it's main graphics engine and cutscenes, to it's main menu. Music is amazing, with a well designed soundtrack that further heightens your attention and the action, and actually draws you in to the conflict playing out on screen. Many games strive for the gamer's attention through obvious and not so obvious elements, but Crimson Skies has a tongue in cheek feel, and I was happily glued to the screen throughout. With a soundtrack that rivals many Hollywood pictures and hailing from newcomer Stan LePard, there is a great deal of strength and emotion behind the music that really heightens the action. In fact, the music in the game was strong enough to support a CD release, so that alone is a testament to the game's fantastic music. Overall, you couldn't ask for a greater alternative to the excellent "Ace Combat" series. Coming across as a mix between Star Wars: Rogue Squandron and Starfighter, but with a very unique feel and location, Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge is a highly recommended game that has become the definative for over the top air action. 
