Heatseeker sets a high standard for other Jet-Sim games to aspire to.
**GAMEPLAY,,8/10**
Gameplay is relatively well done. Apart from the 'over and over' scenario of the sky, planes and missiles it is a refreshing and enthralling experience. Heatseeker has a few nice features, for example the 'impact cam'. Now, I have heard a few criticisms of this but I have never found it to be a problem. In short, the 'impact cam' allows you to see explosions of enemy jets up close and in slow motion, great effects and (for the wii) graphics are used. This can make you momentarily forget where you are in the air but you quickly regain control. Variety is important, despite first impressions Heatseeker isn't as repetative as one may think. Plenty of missilies, bombs and planes for you to master and fly. At the beginning, unlocking planes is quite easy but as you progress it gets harder and harder. Heatseeker doesn't just rely on you flying your plane well, but choosing planes is important, for example, there isn't much point in choosing a heavily armed assault plane for a stealth mission now is there? Overall, a good refreshing experience in this department. Admittedly, It gets frustrating, but, what game doesn't?
**GRAPHICS,,7/10**
This is a tricky on. Graphics are hard to get right in a Plane game, but heatseeker has done a decent job, nothing more. The planes, upon accelerating, can look like a simple grey 'plane shaped' object. The sky, however is well done. Performing a nose dive through the clouds with a nice, red and orange sunset in the distance never gets old, not does flying watching the near by islands blur past while going well over the speed of sound. The 'Impact cam' is the most impressive feat, the explosions look realistic and are certainly not over the top. Usually in games you could shoot a car tyre and the car is engulfed in flames, Heatseeker provides a realistic and close-up view of your carnage. Nice!
**SOUND,,9/10**
Well, the music is aptly choosen. Getting into combat ques a more energetic and lively guitar based song, while cruising through the skies is, a nice relaxing experience. The voice overs are quite well done, I noticed that Gamespot picked up on this and claimed it was badly done! This may sound awful of me, but the voice overs are stereotypically what I would expect American pilots to sound like. Names are choosen well, nicknames or codenames vary from pilot to technician. You, as it happens, take control of a young up-and-coming pilot called 'Downtown'. Your wingmates whistle, shout and cheer when you complete an objective and make you feel very good. Plummeting to the ground (Nosedive) causes a realistic 'plummeting-to-the-ground' type of sound, hard to explain you see!
**CONTROLS,,9/10**
The Wii-remote is utilised extremely well. There are two control schemes, one for the beginner and one for the more experienced player. To be honest, as soon as i booted the game up i chose the more experienced option and have never looked back. The beginner version, however, lets your treat either the Nunchuck/Wii-remote like a joystick, depending which you hold forward. The more experienced option is simple yet realistic, The Wii-remote is the control for this and a lift upward will send your plane upward, downward - sends your plane downward and rotation to either side will send your plane to the relative side. This allows easy and quick manouverability.
**GENERAL**
The storyline is basic but, the game doesn't require you to know much about it. Graphics are decent, relative to other Wii games. Sound is good and it utilises the Wii remote well! A good game, unfortunately it isn't very well recognised. Well worth a buy!