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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 72 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 72 User Votes

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

Akseli E gave it an8:
I myself am a hardcore flight sim man to the bone. I decided to try this to have a good game to zero my brain activity between IL-2 and DCS: Black Shark. Does what it promised, very good "just blast everything to bits" type of fun in middle of long HC sim stretches. Works for my needs just perfectly.

Jake B gave it a10:
Easy to fly with a joystick and keyboard. Coop mode multiplayer support, achievements for completing campaign unlock weapon loadouts, and new jets. My favorite is the A-10 Warthog. Directx 10.1 supported

Colin gave it a3:
Normally, I give Ubisoft titles higher than the average score, but this one sorely disappointed me the moment I started playing it. I tried to get into it, but sadly, I think this game will just sit forever unfinished. The controls are sluggish, the game is uncaptivating and unimaginative.. But worst of all, the controls are just painful. Games looks beautiful and runs very smooth, but it feels like playing Tomb Raider 1 for the PS1 all over again.

Simon D gave it a0:
I'll keep it short. I hated this game. I don't know what was the worst about it but here I go. 1. Controls are bad I started by using my XBox360 controller. At least, they kept the implementation. I guess it can work but the control with the thumbstick are unprecise enough to make it almost impossible to gun down either ground unit or flying unit. 2. Joystick support is bad. I mean, it's a flying game. So I thought I'd plug my Saitek X45 and play the game. Well, it don't work well at all. First, someone had the weird idea that speed should be just a Slow and Fast button. If you don't press any of these, you go normal speed. Wow.. nice. Even the rudder is a left and right button. You can't have an axis on it. Even when I thought everything was allright, the game just start automaticly ruddering to the right until I completely restarted the game and unplugged the joystick. I said ok I'll return to my gamepad. 3. You don't feel like flying. I always liked flying game. I played flight simulator a lot and I really enjoyed IL2 for the really short time I played. I also like the Original Crimsom Sky when it was released on PC. All that was all right. However, in HAWX, you don't feel like flying. It looks exactly like when you're in free camera after death in FPS. You just glide in a direction and shoot. Since the controls are weird, you're never precise either. You'll still lock on a target and you can shoot missile on the target. So you just wait for waves of different enemy, go after them and shoot missile on them. Once fights comes in, you'll be harassed by other missile. You can dodge them or throw flares... it's still not that fun and just a bit chaotic. So you end up chasing the target and throwing missile at it while randomly going for another one until the mission is done. 4. While you play, there's some dialogs but you only see a small thumbnail with voice-over and it's nothing special. Just like Star fox. Sometimes, you see a cutscene but it's only for a short time until you're rethrowed into action. 5. Graphics are OK I guess. I thought it'd be more than that. Since you don't even feel like flying, it just look like empty space. It might look good when you get higher but seriously.. it's just bland. Nothing like scenery in Flight Simulator. 6. When you crash, it's ugly. You get a small explosion and a commentary like Don't shoot! Don't shoot! Than you're ask if you want to restart to checkpoint or restart the mission. Then you have to watch a bland cutscene showing the same surrounding when you retry. 7. There doesn't seem to be any physics in the game. I found it tough to even try to shoot tank on the ground. I would have liked to be able to shoot ground target in a line, like in movies but it's unrealistic. You end up so low that you can crash at any time trying to correct your direction. 8. You get XP for kills and it unlocks new plane. Looked like a gimmick. Nothing original here. 9. I never got to take off or land or anything. I was never showed outside my plane or anything. Seriously, this game is lame. I don't recommend it to anyone. I was really thrilled to try it but I suggest getting IL2 or something like that. Missions are a lot more rewarding to me. Even the menu don't work well with a mouse.

Jon gave it a9:
There are a number of things to be said about this game: 1. Of course it's a bloody arcade game, if you want to fly planes then play flight sim X. I just want to blow people out of the sky and not have to worry about whether I'm going to accidentally deploy the landing gear, play this game if you want click... Bang! Gameplay. 2. Play it with a joystick, the old mouse and keyboard is great for shooters RPGs and RTS but if you want to drive a plane at least get a gamepad. 3. Yes, the story is crap. Remember this is tom Clancy. His stories only make sense if you are patriotically American and actually care about a bunch of grown army men whining about they're paychecks. 4. Multiplayer is fun. Anyone who has a problem with the game should play multiplayer. If the AI is to stoopid you've got humans to asplode instead. If you FEEL stupid then you can make your friends feel stupid too. 5. The graphics... Don't expect anything brilliant and you'll be pleasantly surprised. If you've played a game with lots of area and planes and buildings you'll know what to expect

tim s gave it a5:
good single player mode, but 2 full months after buying it (retail, not steam) and after multiple correspondence with ubisoft support, MULTIPLAYER IS STILL NOT WORKING despite trying all of their suggested fixes, including completely disabling any and all firewalls, antivirus software, and putting your computer straight out onto the internet and completely open to attack

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.

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

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