Crimson Skies Preview

It's a fact that arcade flight simulations are in a crisis for some time now. The lack of new ideas in the once most inventive genre and lack of good action simulations is sounding the alarm bell. The first to react were, who else, but the producers of the Redmond Giant by announcing an exciting and wacky flight simulation for the end of the summer, which will fill the void in the market. The game will be developed for Microsoft by Zipper Interactive, a software company that became famous with Mech Warrior and the controversial game Recoil. The two Grand Players guarantee a quality product, but will the change of historic facts please the ever so picky gamers (yes, we all like to comment, but some of us get paid big dineros to do so!)?

Crimson Skies is taking place in an alternative reality, or better yet, the past with drastically altered turn of events. We will go back in time, before WWII or to be precise, the year 1937. There is a major economic crisis going on, civil war, prohibition and packs of hungry wild dogs in search of lost game reviewers (wait, that's the good thing...). Except the last one, all these things contributed to USA being isolated from the rest of the world (yeah right, some imagination). In the war-plagued country, many nationalist mini-states are formed, which side in four hostile blocs. The roads and railways are totally destroyed, so the only relatively safe way of transport is the sky.

Militias of the North, South, East and West are fighting for the domination over the airways of America. Since air traffic is the only way of transport, communication and trade, the side that has better aircraft dominate the wasteland. The allied forces are trying to keep up some level of economy by transporting goods in large zeppelins accompanied by combat aircraft. It's an environment suitable for guys free of thought and trying to survive in general chaos, making a few bucks in the process. It's a period shaped for air pirates that aren't afraid to attack and pillage. So, there you have it. Instead of standard Mad-Max-Road-Madness, you can expect heavy air combat and loads of action. The only thing that is unclear is who's the good guy, and if there is such a thing in this game. None of us would like for our dirty low life flying pirate (something like Han Solo in Star Wars) to turn into a good and cuddly friend of the most threatened side in the conflict (i.e. sorry-ass Han Solo in Return of The Jedi).

The hero of the campaign is a charming young pirate called Nathan Zachary and he takes jobs from any side, as long as they pay. His law is the law of survival, finishing the mission and taking the cash. So far so good. Adventure, hot mamasitas and airplanes are the only thing on our young aces' mind. With his pirate squadron, that grows over time, he cruises the skies of the former USA. If you think that air combat is the only thing that Crimson Skies has to offer, think again. Apparently, Zipper Interactive, together with the bosses, are fed-up with various giant robot and other behemoth clashes, so they decided to draw ideas from the FASA Corporation which is, as we all know, as of couple of years ago Microsoft property.

Since the game is based on a FASA Corporation board game with the same name, you will come into contact with dozens of different characters: sky pirates, dangerous women (and you'd like that, wouldn't you), movie stars and numerous other characters. Just like in an RPG! The game will contain 24 complex missions which will be divided into several different sub-missions. There are 5 chapters, or regions: Hollywood, Colorado, Pacific, Manhattan and Hawaii. Of course the regions wont come in this order, and every region is an experience for itself. The graphic landmarks are depicted in each region: The swoosh of the airplane above the palm trees in Hawaii, the reflection of the huge blimps over the enormous water massive of the Pacific, the fast and dangerous flight through the Colorado Canyon, flying through the letters of Hollywood sign, and the manoeuvring through the buildings of New York. The goal of the missions isn't: take-off, shoot, shoot, shoot, go back, take another mission. There will be many storey-line branching and decisions that will change the outcome of the mission, possibly the game. That means that the mission will have primary and secondary objectives, main and bonus goals that bring our swishbuckling privateer a load of greens. Some of the in-game sequences are scripted and followed by cool animations. That way the basic storyline is kept alive and draws the player even more into the game, and in the role of the pirate. All animations can be viewed through an option in the main menu. So, all that's left is to grab the money and those dangerous girls.

Players fly fictitious airplanes of unusual design who's performances surpass even today's jet fighters. The game offers 11 aircraft for extreme flight. Its fun that the designers used blueprints of prototypes that were never built. It's also possible to make your own combination of motor, rockets, armour, cannons, etc. The player can select an aircraft depending on his whish, flight style or offered mission. That means, for bombing enemy objects you can take a little cash, fast, but how will you fare in the mission, that is a different question, just like the question-what's that heap of burning metal, and were the hell is my plane...? The designers have made an effort to balance the aircraft on few parameters: speed, armour, agility and attack. There are additional parameters of dimension, weight and computer controlled turrets. That means that an airplane with a good armour and heavy armament has less speed and manoeuvrability, while ultra fast airplanes have less protection and firepower. With the purchase of new aircraft, the programmers didn't want the players to discard the old planes. That's specially important in the Multiplayer mode. The dimensions and weight of the airplane decide the amount of rockets, ammo, additional cannon and the change of engine that can be done to the plane. The balance is very important in Crimson Skies, and that's admirable. Also, some pirate formations, for example, Black Swan or Medusa, have their own favourite crafts with characteristic insignia, so the player can tell from a distance who he's dealing with. Here are some types of planes that can be selected:

Curtiss Wright J2 Fury - The last plane that fathers of modern aviation, the Wright brothers, worked on. It's a fighter-interceptor and a favourite of the Black Swan pirates. Its balance of armour, armament and speed make it useful in a large number of missions.

Curtiss Wright P2 Warhawk - One of the first American light bombers. The unusual design with three piston engines enables it to cross great distances fast, and drop his deadly load.

Focke Wulf 193 Hellhound - German by design, Focke Wolf marked the thirties with its dynamic design and exceptionally strong engine. The field of deployment is escort for German zeppelin caravan. If they knew the role these planes would have in the next Great War, they would have used them more.

McDonnel S2B Kestrel - This plane with and unusual design of two fuselages and two engines. It is a very fast airplane and useful for surprise assaults. Its stabile in the air and has impressive firepower that comes in handy in air combat.

Bristol Type 140 Balmoral - Somewhat older British airplane is mainly used as a light bomber, and proves good in such missions. Kruana used it on different location in the world.

Fairchild F6II Brigand - A very good fighter-interceptor. In operative use since 1935, and seems to be very lethal for zeppelins and larger aircraft.

Hughes P21-J MK III - Hollywood has a new aircraft factory and their products are the real thing for air pirates. The Hughes Aviation Factory made this pirate favourite, a fast and frightening aircraft for many a purpose. Its primary use is fighter-light bomber. Ideal for a dog fight.

Hughes-Lockheed Firebrand - Still relatively rare airplanes, since their manufacture started in 1937. One of the first aircraft to have the Flying Wing design. Its very famous for its saw-like engine sound, which makes the enemies quake in their boots.

William & Colt Peacemaker - Older airplane that's on the free market, and large numbers can be bought for a little cash. This means a lot of pirate squadrons have this aircraft as their primary aircraft. Built as a cheap fighter in the factories of Texas, its basic deployment was for solving arguments with Mexican authorities and control of the border.