Tremendously enjoyable, but it has a few flaws which keep it just shy of a 9.0.
You like explosions
A cool-beans story floats your boat
If one or any of the 3 above apply to you, then H.A.W.X. is a good bet. The graphics are quite good, the story is semi-original (anything that's not a horrible cliche is OK in my book)
You start out as a pilot working for the air force in an elite squadron, you get laid off, then hired by a pseudo-benevolent company to be a mercenary. Charming, right?
All the game play elements are there, and the game is arcade-y enough for novice pilots, realistic enough for more experienced players.
All in all, a fantastic game.
Now for the sad part:
The FLAWS :(
-Graphics are a bit out of scale
-The ground are unimpressive at low altitudes
-You don't get to destroy anything you want (Only specific
objects have damage models or show any effects from blasting them)
-Poor damage model (Black marks on buildings, basically nothing on your plane)
But overall, a must-buy, especially since the game is like 3 years old and is now $15 on Steam