Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X
Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X | |
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Symbian^3 | |
Release | March 3, 2009
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Combat flight simulator | |
Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X is an
The story of the game takes place during the time of Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2. H.A.W.X is set in the near future where private military companies have essentially replaced government-run military in many countries.
Gameplay
The basic gameplay mechanics of H.A.W.X are similar to those of other console-based flight arcade, such as Top Gun, Ace Combat and After Burner. Players take on enemies with over fifty aircraft available to them. Each mission is set amidst real-world locations in environments created with commercial satellite data. A cockpit, first-person, and third-person view are selectable, with third-person view giving the player an external view of both their plane and the target.[11]
All aircraft in the game are equipped with
The game features an "Enhanced Reality System" (ERS). The ERS includes radars, incoming missile detection, an anti-crash system, damage control system, tactical map, information relay, aircraft interception trajectories and weapons trajectory control. The ERS also allows players to issue orders to their squadron and other units.[13] When fully activated, the ERS provides a great deal of assistance to the player, but the system features can be turned off selectively to make the game more difficult and give the player more maneuverability.
The Ace Edge flight stick and throttle control, designed for the limited edition Ace Combat 6 package, is fully compatible with the game on both Microsoft Windows and Xbox 360.[14]
Multiplayer
Players are able to complete campaign missions in co-op mode. There is also a deathmatch mode where players can challenge each other. Winning players are rewarded with experience points to unlock more weapons. The planes that are available in multiplayer mode are determined by the current level of the player.
Synopsis
Background
The game is set above the skies of a near-future world, which is increasingly dependent on private military companies with elite mercenaries, who have a relaxed view of the law. As these non-governmental organizations gain power, global conflict erupts with one powerful PMC attacking the United States.[15]
The game is set in the same universe as
Plot
The player assumes the role of Major David Crenshaw, a
Over the next six years, Crenshaw and his squadron fly missions for Artemis and its clients, such as defending valuable facilities and attacking insurgent bases. In 2021, Artemis signs a lucrative defense contract with Brazil that makes it one of the most powerful PMCs in the world. As expected, Las Trinidad, an anti-U.S. alliance PMC, launches an invasion on Rio de Janeiro. But with the help of Crenshaw and his squadron, Artemis and the Brazilian forces are able to repel the invasion. In the wake of the conflict, the United States sends its forces to intervene, thereby subverting Artemis' role and causing its stock to drop. In response, Artemis takes up a profitable contract with Las Trinidad and launches a surprise attack on the United States Navy carrier strike group in the Strait of Magellan. Unwilling to turn against their own country, Crenshaw and his squadron destroy the Artemis fleet and their fighter escort.
After the battle, the U.S. sends Crenshaw and an Air Force bomber squadron on a retaliatory mission to bomb the Artemis Operations Center in the Caribbean Sea. However, Artemis knocks out the U.S. communications and intelligence satellites and launches a massive preemptive invasion of the United States, capturing numerous major U.S. cities and military bases. H.A.W.X and the U.S. forces defend Washington, D.C., and the President of the United States. Crenshaw and his squadron then assist the American counterattack against Artemis in Chicago and Naval Station Norfolk. As the U.S. gains the upper hand with the help of Japan and NATO, Artemis, which had acquired several tactical nuclear weapons, issues an ultimatum to the President: surrender in 24 hours or watch the U.S. be destroyed. H.A.W.X. squadron, a Ghost Recon team and NASA manage to restore the Space, Land, Air Missile Shield (see: Tom Clancy's EndWar) and helps the Army Ranger battalion to capture a decommissioned U.S. Army base in the Nevada Desert and recover the warheads. However, in a last-ditch effort, Artemis smuggles one warhead into Los Angeles and prepares to detonate it. With only one minute left before detonation, Crenshaw destroys the nuke and concludes the war.
The three days of conflict between the U.S. and Artemis has caused over 40,000 casualties. In response, the United Nations forces all PMCs to disarm and either take on small scale support and logistical roles or be terminated. Several weeks later, Artemis is completely wiped out. Crenshaw kills the Artemis' CEO by destroying his hideout in a black operation.
Development
H.A.W.X was announced on July 15, 2008, at the annual E3 2008 developers conference.[19] Prior to this, Ubisoft issued a press release about the game under its working title Tom Clancy's Air Combat.[20] A demo of the game for the Xbox 360 was released on February 11, 2009; for the PlayStation 3 on February 27, 2009; and for Microsoft Windows on March 2, 2009.[21]
Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X uses a new high-resolution image program and GeoEye's commercial Earth-imaging Ikonos satellite system. The H.A.W.X development team worked closely with GeoEye so that satellite images could be used in the game's nineteen-level environment; "High-resolution satellite imaging is moving from the black world of intelligence to the white world of commerce, and Tom Clancy's HAWX will bring that reality to gamers", said GeoEye VP, Mark Brender.[22]
Reception
Aggregator | Score | |||
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H.A.W.X has received mixed to positive reviews. The satellite mapping has been largely praised due to its increased authenticity, although it has also been criticized as pixelation becomes very obvious during low-level flying.
Sequel
On May 5, 2010, Ubisoft announced that a sequel, Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X 2, was being developed for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii and PC. The game was released on September 3, 2010, for Xbox 360, on September 10 for PlayStation 3,[44] and on November 12 for Wii and PC.[45]
References
- ^ a b "Tom Clancy's HAWX (Xbox 360)". GameSpy. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
- ^ a b "Tom Clancy's HAWX (PlayStation 3)". GameSpy. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
- ^ a b "Tom Clancy's HAWX (PC)". GameSpy. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
- ^ a b "Tom Clancy's HAWX (iPhone)". IGN. Archived from the original on December 16, 2010. Retrieved November 11, 2010.
- ^ a b "Tom Clancy's HAWX (BlackBerry)". BlackBerry World. Archived from the original on October 19, 2013. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
- ^ a b "Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X. (Palm Pre)". Mobilism. April 2, 2010. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
- ^ a b Wells, Antonio (September 13, 2010). "Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X. (Android) Review". AndroidTAPP. Archived from the original on October 12, 2015. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
- ^ a b Spence, Ewan (January 16, 2011). "Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X. (Symbian) Review". All About Symbian. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
- ^ "Tom Clancy's HAWX (Wii)". IGN. Archived from the original on September 24, 2008. Retrieved November 11, 2010.
- ^ "Xbox One Backward Compatibility List | Xbox". Xbox.com. Retrieved November 11, 2018.
- ^ Good, Owen (June 22, 2008). "More Screens and a Different Look at H.A.W.X." Kotaku. Retrieved July 4, 2013.
- ^ Unrelated to the real-world Joint Strike Missile
- ^ Spencer, Kristen (January 29, 2009). "H.A.W.X enhanced reality system". That Video Blog. Archived from the original on September 13, 2014. Retrieved June 10, 2009.
- ^ "Ace Edge Compatible?". GameFAQs. Retrieved June 10, 2009.
- ^ "Ubisoft Launches An Air Assault With Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X". GameSpy. April 3, 2008. Retrieved July 4, 2013.
- ^ a b "Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X (X360)". GameSpy. Retrieved July 4, 2013.
- G4. July 7, 2008. Archived from the originalon March 17, 2009. Retrieved July 4, 2013.
- ^ "Tom Clancy's HAWX E3 2008 Stage Show Demo". GameSpot. July 15, 2008. Retrieved July 4, 2013.
- ^ Goldstein, Hilary (May 2, 2008). "Tom Clancy's HAWX Flies into the Danger Zone". IGN. Retrieved April 2, 2008.
- ^ "Press Release". Ubisoft. Archived from the original on June 6, 2009. Retrieved September 25, 2007.
- ^ Matos, Xav (February 9, 2009). "HAWX demo barrel rolls onto Xbox Live Feb. 11". Joystiq. Retrieved May 11, 2009.
- ^ Alexander, Leigh (August 26, 2008). "Ubisoft's HAWX Using Commercial Satellite Imagery". Gamasutra. Retrieved May 12, 2009.
- ^ Leadbetter, Richard (March 5, 2009). "Tom Clancy's HAWX Review". Eurogamer. Retrieved May 10, 2009.
- ^ a b Miller, Matt (March 10, 2009). "HAWX Review". Game Informer. Archived from the original on June 15, 2009. Retrieved July 16, 2013.
- Game Revolution. Retrieved August 26, 2013.
- ^ Anderson, Luke (March 10, 2009). "Tom Clancy's HAWX PS3 Review". GameSpot. Archived from the original on July 5, 2013. Retrieved May 21, 2009.
- ^ Anderson, Luke (March 10, 2009). "Tom Clancy's HAWX Xbox 360 Review". GameSpot. Archived from the original on March 24, 2012. Retrieved May 12, 2009.
- ^ Buchanan, Levi (December 11, 2009). "Tom Clancy's HAWX Review (iOS)". IGN. Retrieved July 4, 2013.
- ^ Ahearn, Nate (March 18, 2008). "Tom Clancy's HAWX Review (PC)". IGN. Retrieved August 26, 2013.
- ^ a b Ahearn, Nate (March 4, 2009). "Tom Clancy's HAWX Review (PS3)". IGN. Retrieved May 10, 2009.
- ^ a b Ahearn, Nate (March 4, 2009). "Tom Clancy's HAWX Review (360)". IGN. Retrieved May 10, 2009.
- ^ a b "Tom Clancy's HAWX (PlayStation 3) Reviews". GameRankings. Retrieved September 3, 2013.
- ^ "Tom Clancy's HAWX (Xbox 360) Reviews". GameRankings. Retrieved September 3, 2013.
- ^ "Tom Clancy's HAWX (PC) Reviews". GameRankings. Retrieved September 3, 2013.
- ^ Eddy, Andy (March 4, 2009). "Tom Clancy's HAWX Review (Xbox 360)". Team Xbox. Retrieved May 10, 2009.
- ^ G4TV. Archived from the originalon October 15, 2017. Retrieved May 10, 2009.
- ^ "Tom Clancy's HAWX (PC)". GameRankings. Retrieved August 26, 2013.
- ^ "Tom Clancy's HAWX (PS3)". GameRankings. Retrieved May 23, 2012.
- ^ "Tom Clancy's HAWX (Xbox)". GameRankings. Retrieved May 23, 2012.
- ^ "Tom Clancy's HAWX for PC". Metacritic. Retrieved May 23, 2012.
- ^ "Tom Clancy's HAWX for PlayStation 3". Metacritic. Retrieved May 23, 2012.
- ^ "Tom Clancy's HAWX for Xbox". Metacritic. Retrieved May 23, 2012.
- ^ Croshaw, Ben (April 23, 2009). Zero Punctuation: Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X. (Video game review). The Escapist. Archived from the original on July 25, 2010. Retrieved July 16, 2010.
- ^ Faylor, Chris (May 5, 2010). "Tom Clancy Gets Air Fancy Again with H.A.W.X. 2". Shack News. Retrieved July 4, 2013.
- ^ "H.A.W.X 2 Official Site". Ubisoft. Retrieved July 4, 2013.