Best known for its
realistic, action-packed and addictively enjoyable Tom Clancy games, it’s always
great to see Ubisoft break from their popular titles to bring us something
refreshingly new and different. Blazing Angels: Squadrons of WII made its
debut on the Xbox 360 as well as other current generation consoles and has
finally come around for the PlayStation 3. While the game was bland on
next-generation consoles, there was a chance that Nintendo’s new console would
make this the best version of the game. This game might be the first air combat
game on the Wii but even the Wii Remote and Nunchuk controls aren’t enough to
distract us from a flawed and uninteresting game.
Refreshingly innovative
new controls aside, Blazing Angel’s story-based Campaign mode remain
relatively the same. You still assume the role of squad leader for the first
American fighter pilots that decided to join the war effort way before the
attack on Pearl Harbor. Through the eyes of this brave American pilot and his
friends from Wisconsin and Texas, we witness some hairy combat over the Thames
during the battle for Britain as well as battles over Paris during the
liberation of France. You’ll take to the skies in a number of known World War II
battles that would eventually lead to Berlin to end Hitler’s war machine and
secure an Allied victory.
As interesting as this all
may sound, especially since we do get to see plenty of action (even training
quickly becomes a battle to protect Dunkirk) but the actual mission structure
remains a repetitive mess. Really, there aren’t many mission objectives that
stray from the same bomb-this-and-take-out-oncoming-enemies formula. You’ll be
wishing there were objectives like defending a bridge or performing recon runs
and more action-packed moments like the Pear Harbor level where you’ll be almost
overwhelmed with enemy fighters that swarm over the wreckage below. The game
lacked more moments where you’re chasing enemies and trying hard to shake
your enemy’s wingman off your own tail. To make matters worst, your enemy
quickly becomes too dumb to want to shake you off their tale! Your three squad
mates aren’t much help either. In fact, just about the only resourceful member
of your team is Joe and that’s mainly because he can repair your plane in
mid-air via a mini-game (press the selected buttons as they flash on the
screen).
What does the Wii version
do that other versions don’t already do, you might ask? Well, for one thing, the
game’s controls add a new dimension to the gameplay that other consoles don’t
really bring. The game uses the Wii Remote as well as the Nunchuk attachment and
it uses it well enough despite some jerky control moments. Personally, I opted
for the Classic Inverted arcade-style controller option since the default Wii
Remote Sensitive controls felt too awkward. Using the Classic control scheme
allows you to utilize the Nunchuk since it does resemble an actual fighter
plane’s control stick complete with trigger buttons. Yes you can use the Wii
Remote itself without the attachment but it just makes for a really frustrating
time. Still, no matter what control option you pick, the game sometimes displays
some flaws. There was more than a few times when I tried slowing down and my
plane didn’t and thus causing my plane to stall during a tricky maneuver.
The game also includes two
exclusive missions that make the Campaign a pretty lengthy experience. There are
also three modes: Arcade, Mini-Campaign and Ace Duel. Arcade mode basically
throws you into a fighting game-styled mode where you’ll attempt to take down
wave after wave of enemy squads. Mini-Campaign has you picking from either
Dogfight or Bombing missions complete with a single campaign objective. Ace Duel
places you up in the air against a single enemy fighter who just so happens to
be flying the same plane you’re fighting. You can also unlock extras in these
modes such as skins for the planes you unlock in the main mode. There’s also
multiplayer fit for two-players but it’s hardly worth mentioning.
Visually, the Nintendo Wii
version is slightly better than the original Xbox version of the game and that
is unacceptable. Sure, this version does add better smoke effects and when you
go full throttle you’ll feel like you’re really going fast but when it comes to
the environments that game is as bland as the level design. The Paris and London
landscape, for instance, looks extremely dull even though you will recognize
familiar landmarks like Big Ben or the Eiffel Tower. The planes look decent
enough and, as I mentioned, the smoke that comes out of damaged planes looks
good. There are explosions in this game but they lack true detail. Where are the
flaming pieces of wreckage when enemy planes blow up?
As far as the sound is
concerned, the audio just seems better on the Wii than the Xbox. The voice
acting in the game is not bad and the dialogue is true to the period. There are
some decent sound effects here too and each plane has its own distinct sound
that sets it apart from other planes. I mean, you can’t expect a British
Spitfire V to sound like a Japanese Zero right? You’ll even hear your enemy
shout out for help in German or the Japanese fighter pilots order his wingmen to
cover them. While explosions and gunfire sound good, the soundtrack is
appropriately military fanfare that works well.
In the end, Blazing
Angels: Squadrons of WWII for the Wii repeats many of the weak spots that
made the other next-generation versions such a dull experience. At times the
game’s controls can be a bit on the jerky side but there are moments when the
motion sensor technology really shines through. Unfortunately, repetitive
mission objectives and brain-dead enemy flyboys get in the way of what could
have been a spectacular aerial combat game Wii gamers could have really loved.
This is the perfect weekend rental for any fan of the genre but for those who
have played the other versions shouldn’t expect anything amazing from this
version.
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Gameplay: 6.0
Forget the default control scheme;
Classic Inverted works best in this game since the Nunchuk controller does
resemble a fighter plane’s stick. The problem is that the enemies range from
pretty smart to really dumb within seconds and many of the missions aren’t as
fun as they could have been in a wartime situation. Even the squad commands seem
a little bland.
Graphics: 5.0
Slightly better than the original
Xbox version of the game, this one could have looked a lot better on the Wii.
The backgrounds look rather flat in this version but the game does speed
beautifully and dogfights look really cool but not in that spectacular cinematic
way.
Sound: 6.0
The voice acting is pretty decent
but nothing to write home about and the sound effects do the action justice.
There’s a military-like score that fit’s the theme right but its barely
noticeable during combat.
Difficulty: Medium
Oftentimes the enemy will make some
truly impressive maneuvers and some of them will even attempt to shake you off
their tale. Unfortunately, this isn’t often enough since they can often fly the
same path as you riddle them with bullets.
Concept: number 5.9
Flying the unfriendly skies during
well-known air battles during World War II again is fine and the exclusive Wii
missions are a nice touch. Using the Wii Remote and Nunchuk attachment for a
flight-combat game sound like a match made in heaven but it isn’t in this case.
Mini-Campaign, Ace Duel and Arcade mode extend the life of the game after you’re
finished with the main campaign.
Multiplayer: 5.0
Sadly online multiplayer is out in
this game and the two-player deal just isn’t very good in this game despite the
fact that there are enough planes to pick from at the beginning. Really, this is
one multiplayer mode that could have been handled a lot better than this.
Overall: 6.0
It’s sad to see such great potential
go to waste in a game that isn’t entirely bad but not as innovative or as fun as
it could have been on Nintendo’s console. Blazing Angels on the Wii might have
an interesting control scheme but it doesn’t make up for the lackluster campaign
mode or the barely-there multiplayer mode. In the end, this game will disappoint
fans of arcade-styled air combat games.
