Warhawk Review - PS3

Warhawk was originally a launch title for the very first PlayStation. At the time, it was a slick, technologically advanced 3D shooter where you piloted a unique gunship through large polygonal worlds. It was also a single-player game. The game never saw a sequel, and fell into obscurity. It’s somewhat surprising that Sony chose to resurrect the name for their first real volley in the online gaming war.

Internet Warrin’

Right as Microsoft released Halo 3 for limited online testing, Sony also released Warhawk for beta testing. Apparently, the beta worked most of the kinks out, because the final version of the game is smooth and stable. Warhawk is a very different type of online shooter. A kind of Everyman shooter, it seems intent on being all things to all players. On-foot combat mixes with tanks, jeeps, and, of course, aerial dog fighting, giving action fans a chance to play the game their way.

Normally, the “kitchen sink” approach results in a game that is mediocre at everything. Thankfully, that’s not the case here. Sony has needed a killer app for the PS3 since it launched. Surprisingly, this online-only title might be just the answer. Warhawk is a great multiplayer action game that doesn’t try to overcomplicate the joys of shooting virtual strangers over the Internet.

The setup is dirt simple: two opposing factions are in an endless war with each other. Period. There is a more in-depth background story somewhere, but who cares? You pick a side, and go out and shoot stuff in team deathmatches, capture the flag, and base capture modes.

Have it Your Way

Warhawk supports up to 32 players in a single match, though most games are smaller, and there is rarely any trouble finding games to play. Even better, you can battle in split screen both on and off-line. If a friend pops over, you can both play in a larger Internet match. Five distinct locations that change in size and configuration depending upon the size of the game you’re playing. Admittedly, this setup doesn’t make for a lot of maps, but the levels all manage to work very well, no matter how you play the game.

There are bunkers and other buildings for foot soldiers, plenty of roads and countryside for the jeep and tank drivers, and valleys, rivers, and rocky structures that provide ample opportunities for thrilling and dangerous aerial combat. Power-ups of all types are strewn about, and the array of weapons, missiles, and special weapons is impressive. On top of the vehicle possibilities, there are also static gun and missile batteries that you can jump into and use for base defense or just plain shooting fun.

Distribution Inspiration

Sony’s distribution method for Warhawk is original, too. For $40, you can simply download the entire game to your hard drive. Another $20 buys a manual, nice Bluetooth headset, and the game on disc. Regardless of how you buy it, you’ll get exactly the same game.

If there is a caveat with Warhawk, it is that the downloadable version currently has a distinct lack of documentation (web-based or otherwise), which can make some of the commands difficult to figure out. Other than that, the controls are exceptionally easy to learn. Unlike Lair’s blunder of forcing the sixaxis controls for aerial movements, with this game it is merely an option when flying the hoverjets.

Warhawk looks quite good but not exceptional. The game has a distinctly non-realistic appearance and doesn’t support 1080p resolution, which is disappointing. While the scope of the levels and draw distance is impressive, the character models and textures don’t seem quite as polished as they could be. In contrast, the audio is excellent, and nitpicking about the graphics aside, the game is a solid package.

War is Good

Warhawk is an excellent example of a multiplayer-centric game that almost anyone can get into. There is nothing complicated or revolutionary in the design, but the mix of combat styles, large maps, great controls, and a ready supply of players more than make up for the lack of originality.

Review by: Jason D'Aprile
Video Produced by: Jonathan Solin