Warhawk - The Review

Where Uncharted: Drake's Fortune had no multiplayer whatsoever, now I'm onto a game that is only multiplayer. Available as a PSN download or on Blu-Ray disc, I find myself in tears for not buying this game when if first came out. Like Uncharted, I waited far too long to get my hands on this highly enjoyable online multiplayer experience.

Warhawk is a basically a third person shooter where you fight in a fictional war between the Eucadians and the Chernovans. You're not really given any information as to why you're fighting each other but realistically, it's not necessary. Warhawk pits a mass of players in epic war with Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, Capture the Flag and Zones. All classic multiplayer game modes. Gameplay is clean and fluid, not once have I come up to any framerate drops. The game can be played using SIXAXIS sensitivity when flying a Warhawk or you can pull off rolls and dives with the trusty analog sticks. In total, the basic package gives you 2 vehicles (a jeep and a tank), 3 turrets (machine gun, missile and flak) and 1 Warhawk. Each faction has its own jeep/tank/warhawk so I guess you could in theory double those numbers. The ground foot combat is equally enjoyable with a range of weapons from knives to rocket launchers and pistols to flamethrowers.

Everything is quite balanced gameplay wise, but the real fun is getting into the air in a warhawk. If its picking off troops on the ground as you hover over them with a quick tap of Triangle or you're twisting through the caverns in a dogfight chase with another warhawk, the possibilities provide an infinite number of mini-narratives that can be played out. The map is littered with sandbag defences, bunkers, turrets and what not. There's plenty of ruined building's or bridges lying around which make Zone games extremely fun. Voice chat can add to experience using the Bluetooth headset that comes with the Blu-Ray version of the game.

Visually, Warhawk can't really be flawed for what it offers. Animations are nice, gameplay is fluid and draw-distance is good. Realistically, Warhawk is all about having fun. I can tell you now, I die a LOT! I probably suck at the game, though I've never managed to come last in any ranked game mind you, and I've only been promoted up one rank. Speaking of that, ranking is a little strange, it's based on medals and achievements you get, like killing a certain number of people with a machine gun or something. It's also rumoured to be HOME integrated when it's released. As you rank up, you get more customisable options for your character and your warhawk.

Expansion backs and updates are regulrarly released. Operation: Omega Dawn was released last year, added a new ship - a dropship which could carry troops and vehicles - a new map, and modified the original maps. Operation: Broken Mirror is to be released tomorrow, with a new ground vehicle, new map and more weapons. Updates released over PSN which are free sometimes add new weapons aswell.

In conclusion, Warhawk is a must own really. A single player campaign might have been nice, but realistically, the multiplayer component is more than sufficient. Getting killed so often in a game has never been so much fun...even if it you manage to get killed by one of your own grenades...

Graphics: 8

Gameplay: 9

Sound: 9

Longevity: 8

Unlockables: 9

Overall: 8.3

~The Damo