Official Website

Platform: PlayStation 3

Genre: Action

Number of Players: 2 - 4 (up to 32 online)

Support: HD 720p, 1080i, PS Network Compatible

Peripherals: Ethernet Broadband

Includes: Jabra Bluetooth Headset (retail version only)

There are probably a great many who don’t remember, and perhaps even an equal number who do, but just two months after Sony first launched the original PlayStation, they would release a game that became a classic in the eyes of many. That game was Warhawk, a futuristic action game that gave players control over a high-tech VTOL aircraft. This title would pave the way for other PlayStation classics from developer SingleTrac such as Twisted Metal, and the company would eventually evolve into Incognito. Now, after almost twelve years of fans wanting to see the game once again, Warhawk has made a triumphant return.

Warhawk is one of those PlayStation 3 titles that I think everyone has known about for quite a while and has made it onto many “most wanted” lists along with other high end titles like Metal Gear Solid 4, Final Fantasy, and SOCOM. While the original Warhawk did involve a rather intense storyline, this new version of the classic name is a bit more stripped down when it comes to the premise. The Eucadian nation has been invaded, and with the battle lines drawn, the soldiers of the invading Chernovan forces find that Eucadian isn’t a nation to be taken lightly. The war continues on the ground and in the skies as both sides fight for supremacy.

It isn’t just battle lines that have been drawn with Warhawk, but it has been the reception even prior to the games release since, unlike the first game, Warhawk is a multiplayer title which features no single player stages at all. How this effects you really depends on your desired gaming experience. Sony’s games like SOCOM have been proof positive that online gaming has a loyal following beyond the MMORPG crowd, and then there are games on the opposite side of the gaming community, Halo for instance, where some of the players have never even bothered to play the single player version of the game.

Even without the single player levels though, Warhawk works, quite well in fact, and Sony has offered two variations of the game as well. If you didn’t feel like preordering, you could simply download the game via the PlayStation Online Store, but for others, there is the retail version, and the reason as to why you might opt for that version is one that again, we all should be well aware of, but I will get to a little later in the review.

Some might think that Warhawk is a bit limited as it has a total at this point of only five maps to chose from, but keep in mind that Sony will undoubtedly been releasing new maps via the PlayStation Network, so patience is what will pay off while you’re playing the game. The maps in the game however are quite large, and you will find that there are a number of ways to navigate through the terrain. Some, such as Eucadia, is a mountainous territory filled with villages and hills while Archipelago is filled with floating islands to navigate through. No matter what map you choose, Warhawk has interesting and unique territories to learn the subtleties of.

You will find some familiar multiplayer games here, some variations on others, and even new types. Presently Warhawk offers four different types of games where up to 32 players can participate. You can’t have a multiplayer game without a Deathmatch option, and Warhawk does offer one. This mode functions like most with either side trying to gain the most combat points by the end of the match. The Team Deathmatch however brings in a new element with the addition of neutral bases. These can be captured and used as new spawning points whereas the normal Deathmatch doesn’t give this option and instead, players can simply respawn anywhere. Capture the Flag meanwhile does have some similarities to the game we all know, but uses the Team Deathmatch option of base capture and additionally, you must touch the enemy flag to your flag in order to score points.
Zone Mode is a new multiplayer variation. Once again we see a similarity to the Team Deathmatch option, but the rules change just a little. Not only can you capture neutral bases for your team, you can obtain those of enemy forces as well. To win this style of match, either reach the predetermined score or gain the most points when the time for the match is over.

Those wishing to host a match can chose the map, the type of game, the skill level, and adjust other elements. You can either turn the friendly fire on or keep it off. You can adjust the number of players that are allowed in the stage. You are allowed to set the score, the time frame, the number of rounds, and even rotate the maps. Warhawk also enables players to start their own clans, customize the look of their characters, and the game keeps track of your in-game stats allowing you to see your kills, time played, and a number of other options. As you toughen yourself up with more and more combat experience, you eventually will begin to rise in rank and the awards that players can earn will be able to be displayed in the Home setting once it becomes avaialbe. 

Warhawk however isn’t a first-person shooter, but instead a third person game with plenty of options. Players will start simply as foot soldiers, and the options menu will also allow you to change the look of your character. As a soldier, you begin the match with a pistol and a knife, but there are weapons scattered through the stage. Assault rifle, frag grenades, flame throwers, rocket launchers and even sniper rifles are all at your disposal should you find them. If you take damage, and you most certainly will, you will find there are health icons that will help get you back into shape.

While on the ground, there are other weapons that can be found, and these aren’t the type that you can simply pack around. Warhawk has some heavy weaponry that can be mounted such as anti-aircraft guns, homing missiles and a light machine gun; almost the perfect arsenal for repelling the enemy. There are also jeeps that will allow up to three players to ride; two passengers and a gunner. There is also a tank that can be used to smash through enemy lines and if necessary, a second player can ride along and provide some additional firepower.

Above everything that Warhawk gives you though, there is one thing that is the key to the game, one thing that every player is looking for, and that would be aircraft. You will find the Warhawk and the Nemesis as your two options and they have a number of weapon options starting with simple on-craft machines guns and continuing to such glorious icons as homing and swarm missiles, proximity mines, cluster bonus, energy weapons and even the ability to cloak yourself. Like with the other vehicles, you can bring another player aboard, and this is perfect at times when trying to succeed in capture the flag and the SIXAXIS controller can be used to control not only aircraft, but any of the ground vehicles by simply moving in the desired direction.

Players can download Warhawk via the PlayStation Store or they can opt to actually purchase the title through their local retailer. From $20 you will get Warhawk complete with a Jabra Bluetooth headset and a USB cable to charge it. Once the headset is charged, setting it up is quite simple. It beats the heck out of trying to use the wired SOCOM headset. We tested this handy device both in and out of the game. Within Warhawk itself, it seemed that many players were using other headsets where their voices seemed a bit garbled and even unintelligible at times, though any using the headset included with Warhawk sounded fine. An out of game chat also was crystal clear on both ends and worked perfectly.

There are a few negative sides to the game however. The first would be the limited selection of maps, weaponry, and multiplayer games, but this will certainly change in the coming months and Sony will almost certainly provide downloadable content that will keep Warhawk fresh. Those who didn’t receive the opportunity to play the beta version will definitely run across players who are a bit more seasoned at the game, and the first few rounds there is a learning curve as you try and get accustomed to the controls for the game. I did hear a few comments from teammates wanting to know how to get out of vehicles or perform other moves, but once you’ve started to master the way Warhawk plays, the game becomes quite easy and second nature.

It is a bit unfair to compare the games graphics to that of its predecessor as the original was released back with the original PlayStation and the PS3 offers so much more. The stages themselves are extremely well done and have plenty of things that give the feeling of war. Burned out building, piles of rock and debris, and battlements are found within the levels and there is a great level of detail for everything. Watching a Warhawk or Nemesis explode in a blaze of glory is astounding to watch, even if you’re the one who has bee shot down. What you’ll find present on the ground is spectacular, but the real high point is the aerial views with some fantastic and well detailed cloud cover and breathtaking skylines, making staying above the ground almost as fun as fighting on it.

I do miss the single player mode of Warhawk, but the multiplayer offers quite a bit more variation and brings in a tough decision; do I play this or Resistance? Sony now has two powerful multiplayer shooters to keep gamers busy and the future for the PlayStation 3 just keeps getting brighter. Plus, Warhawk doesn’t relegate you to simply playing online and includes a four-player mode that can be player outside of the online arena. It’s been a long wait for Warhawk, and it’s been well worth it and in the skies or on land, multiplayer combat has never been as enjoyable as it is here showing that when it comes to the power of the PlayStation 3, the sky may be the limit for some, but Sony’s next generation platform goes far beyond.

-mike-