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Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X.

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7.7 User Score:

Mixed or average reviews

Based on 23 critic reviews
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Based on 66 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: Ubisoft

Developer: Ubisoft Romania

Genre(s): Flight Action

Players: 16

ESRB Rating: T (Teen)

Release Date: March 10, 2009

Summary

Tom Clancy's HAWX (high-altitude warfare) promises to revolutionize the way players think about combat in the sky. The story begins in the year 2012. As the era of the nation-state draws quickly to a close, the rules of warfare evolve even more rapidly. More and more nations become increasingly dependent on private military companies (PMCs), elite mercenaries with a lax view of the law. The Reykjavik Accords further legitimize their existence by authorizing their right to serve in every aspect of military operations. While the benefits of such PMCs are apparent, growing concerns surrounding giving them too much power begin to mount. The Enhanced Reality System is the backbone of the HAWX flight experience: radars and incoming missile detection, anti-crash system, damage control system, tactical map and information relay, and weapons trajectory control. E.R.S. also allows players to issue orders to their squadron, making this system as iconic to HAWX as the Cross-Com system is to Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter. Players can ease into their flight missions and gain a level of comfort with the use of the assistance mode. Once employed, players can take full advantage of their technological support through the E.R.S and gain maximum piloting security. If the situation calls for the player to unleash the full potential of the aircraft, the assistance mode can be switched off and all safety features will be deactivated. For the first time ever in the air-combat genre, players can experience the entire solo campaign in four-player JUMP IN co-op mode. In PVP mode, players can challenge up to 15 friends in intense dogfighting sessions and find out who's the top gun. Winning players are rewarded with experience points and money to unlock more weapons. Players have the opportunity to take the throttle of over 50 of the world's most famous aircrafts, as well as being able to dogfight over realistic modern landscapes that have endured years of post-war trauma. [Ubisoft]

Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central

Also On The Web: Official Website

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

PC Games (Germany)

I’m a big fan of air-combat-classics like Strike Commander, Falcon and IL2-Sturmovik, so I really looked forward to HAWX. Sure, I’ve had my doubts. Can this genre revive itself, though hitting the stores for consoles with quite simple controls at the same time? Ubisoft delivers the answer: no problem! Sure, HAWX is everything else but a simulation, but this game never wanted to be one. HAWX comes with accessible, perfectly staged non-stop-action and a broad selection of air combat situations like bombing runs, dogfights, escorts and more. If the multiplayer-mode can keep up with the solo-experience: fasten seatbelts and stop smoking!

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GameFocus

For those who want a true Flight Simulation experience look elsewhere because this is a pure action game with sometimes hundreds of missiles and bombs, forgiving flight controls and certainly more bang than simulation. This is a must buy for action fans and those who love to keep unlocking new toys to play with but do not expect a deep simulation experience just a fun one.

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Vandal Online

A rich and colourful game which will get the players to immerse in their cockpits.

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Gamers.at

As a fan of flight sims, I’m getting nasty headaches when thinking of “drifting jets” as they can be found in this newest chapter of the Tom Clancy brand. Nevertheless, even I have to admit, that H.A.W.X really did entertain me on a very high level and sometimes managed to simply stun me with its intense action and nice graphics. It probably won't grow into a "long-term relation”, but could very well become a regular for relaxing gaming sessions after a busy day at work.

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GameZone

Tom Clancy’s H.A.W.X. excels at nearly everything it tries to do, and provides great replayability for long-term flyers. An improved campaign will make the sequel a true beauty.

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G4 TV

It’s disappointing that the multiplayer doesn’t take advantage of the opportunities established by the rest of the game’s design, but the four-player co-op is a very welcomed addition.

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1UP

The online play -- particularly co-op -- gives HAWX significant replayability. Everything from the picture-perfect planes to the stunning real world environments looks great, even after multiple passes.

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Absolute Games

H.A.W.X. sorely lacks in the epic battles department. There is no one else really fighting in the sky, besides you and two wingmen who react to commands like “Engage!” and “Cover me”. While the sky is almost empty, the ground is unnaturally clean: there are no signs of destruction, no shell holes, no burning armor... Even for an arcade game, H.A.W.X. is full of conventions.

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GamingExcellence

Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X. is not the greatest flight combat game on the market. That said, however, it's a well polished title that can bring some fun.

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NZGamer

The presentation of the game is nicely polished for the most part. From a distance, everything looks really good in-game. Up close, however, H.A.W.X kind of suffers from what most flight games do – bad terrain!

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GameStar

What's the worst that can happen to a fighter jet game? Playing it feels like sitting in a slow train. There's no difference between Mach 2 and the speed of a mallard, no difference between the F-117 Nighthawk and the Mirage III, and to crash your plane, you need to deliberately go for it. Only when there are far too many enemies, H.A.W.X. poses a challenge and never exploits its full potential.

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Play (Poland)

If the name of Clancy has led you to expect a solidly researched factual background, wake up, it's the XXI century and the entertainment value is the key to the treasury. Despite throwing around real aircraft and weapon systems names this is just an arcade shooter with nice looks and lots of action. [Apr 2009]

Boomtown

There are mutliplayer modes which should keep you coming back to this title for a while.

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Total PC Gaming

A fun experience marred slightly by the fact that it feels too easy, but those looking for fast arcade laughs will enjoy it.

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PC Zone UK

A vaguely comical arcade shooter in the clouds, and one that never pretends to be anything else. [June 2009, p.64]

Pelit (Finland)

Tom Clancy’s Hawx has the looks but is also as shallow as flight combat games come. For some people the lack of realism is a complete turn-off, but for those who can simply take it for what it is – a shoot ’em up – it’s actually good fun. [Apr 2009]

IGN

As it is the mission design is lacking, the combat is unimaginative, and the multiplayer is shallow. Still, there are plenty who will be able to enjoy soaring 40,000 feet above the earth destroying dozens of enemy planes.

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PC Gamer UK

Ace Combat never felt this empty. [May 2009, p.76]

Worth Playing

While there's fun to be had here, most people will want to look elsewhere to get their dogfight on.

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FiringSquad

Tom Clancy’s H.A.W.X. could be better in almost every way, with the exception of graphics, where it features some pretty impressive vistas. It’s just a shame the view’s horrible.

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LEVEL (Czech Republic)

Fast, dynamic and totally easy to play HAWX will satisfy those who do not know anything at all about flying. What is good on consoles may not be enough fun for PCs. Less then 20 missions? Come on... [Apr 2009]

PC Format

The gaming equivalent of Flight 1549: starts well then mercilessly plops into the Hudson River of bad flight sims.

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GameShark

I think what bugs me the most about this game is that I had my original expectations set pretty darned low before it came out in the hopes of being easily-impressed, and sadly, it ended up meeting many of these low expectations.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 7.7 (out of 10) based on 66 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Banana Phone gave it a9:
You guys are weird. The controls on this game is really good, just use the keypad instead of the mouse! The graphics are very good if your computer is up-to-date. I've been playing it on the PC and I've had no problems with it at all. I was looking for a simulator, but I found something even better! The gameplay, however, does get a little repeptitive.

Paul gave it a4:
A pretty uninspired arcade shooter. Dogfighting feels mechanical and detached, due to the insane number of missles, general disregard for tactic, and lack of gunfighting, and the overall theatre of combat just feels contrived and lacks life. A glossy, shallow, poor effort.

A Fermentol gave it a3:
I didn't expect combat sim, just arcade, but even at that it largely fails. It's fun for about 10 minutes, everything after that is just the same, lock on target, fire. Every single arcade shooter i've played up to this point was more entertaining than this.

A Kay gave it a5:
Technical problems and awkward controls make for a frustrating experience. The OFF mode would have been so much better if it didn't rewrite the controls and force you into an obnoxious camera angle. If you've never played the Ace Combat series, you'll probably think higher of this game. If you have, you'll realize that it can be done better.

nick s gave it a10:
HAWX is a great arcade flight game. If you are looking for a combat simulator, this is not the game for you. Like most Clancy titles, this game takes a very difficult scenerio, and makes it accessible to rest of us. The graphics are outstanding and the controls are easy to pick up. I have been playing it with an XBOX 360 controller, and have enjoyed every second. I recommend this to anyone who isn't looking for a simulator, but wants to have a blast destroying bad guys in an arcade flyer!

Tyler H gave it a6:
This is a fun game... at first. It gets repetitive, quick... but I understand that its a flight game, its kinda hard not to be at some point. co-op is a nice feature, mostly play just that. deathmatch seems to turn into too much spinnng in circles over and over and over again unti somebody stops and the others gets them, annoying. In a way, Battlefield 2 had the right idea, where you have air, ground, and sea battles. I think with this system that HAWX has, if developed right, could make a great all out war game. But in itself, it gets old quick. Decent graphics and nice overall selection/unlockable jets. Good game, just not great.

Bajaraja S gave it a2:
This game was disappointing, but I should probably expect this by now from a Tom Clancy game. The controls are horrible, graphics are almost as crappy as EndWar (eww) and it's just another boring arcade shooter, except now you're constantly moving at over 100 mph. I swear, no tactics or thought was put in this game. Battlefield 2 had BETTER controls and flight physics than this POS!!! We need another Lock On: Modern Combat. That's it! I'm going back to Flight Sim X. All in all, Ubisoft has completely destroyed the once proud Tom Clancy title. Hell, even he doesn't want to be recognized for this crap anymore.

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Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X.

Game Info

Summary

What The Critics Said

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