A realistic flight sim on a console is a rare thing to come across, and so when one does come up it's an exciting occasion for serious flying fans. However, these fans are going to be disappointed with this Ubisoft title - it isn't a realistic flight sim and I doubt it was ever intended to be.

Blazing Angels: Squadrons of WWII is an arcadey take on the flying genre. The gameplay is not meant to be realistic, but focuses more on the fun of the flying without the worries of altitude, wind direction or any other air-flight gibberish. The graphics are smooth and pretty, and the sound effects create a good atmosphere.

The game plays out the story of the Blazing Angels, a group of American fighter-pilots during the Second World War. Clashes range from the Battle of Britain to Pearl Harbor and the fall of Berlin, and all have some military tactical accuracy. The campaign mode allows the player to relive twenty of the Angels most famous missions, including Operation Dynamo (Dunkirk) and the Battle of Midway.

Squadrons is the first next-gen installment of the Blazing Angels series, and the game makes good use of the technology available. The frame rate is smooth and the game runs at a reasonable 720p on a high-def TV.

The storyline is well written and the inclusion of actual historic battles rather than made-up ones is a good feature. It's also very accurate in terms of history, but understandable enough to not have to have an A level in Second World War history to follow.

Where Squadrons really excels, though, is in the multiplayer. With five co-op and another 5 'versus' game modes, there are loads to choose from. It gets even better when you take the battle online: players vary in skill and strength, and this makes for a good, even battle.

In all, Squadrons of WWII is a flight sim made with fun in mind rather than authenticity. The gameplay is good, graphics are slick and the storyline is fine, but there isn't anything that really stands out. If you're looking for a quick half-hour of arcade dog-fights, then this is your game. If you want a realistic, highly detailed, altitude-calculating flying experience, however - stick with your PC.

7/10

Linford

Labels: Blazing Angels, Review

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