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How Metascores Are Calculated
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Altered Beast
Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed games. |
During the course of the 18-mission campaign, players will evolve along with their wingmen into an ace fighting force. Spectacular graphics enhance the combat experience in true World War II battle sites such as England, Germany, France, Morocco, Pearl Harbor, Midway and Tokyo. The heroic storyline that follows the evolution of a single squadron and the cinematic presentation create moments reminiscent of classic World War II movies. Pilots fly in close to Germany’s industrial terrain during a bombing raid or emerge from the fog and cloud cover over London to engage the enemy. Up to 16 players online can engage over Xbox Live online game service in head-to-head dogfights or cooperative team play between squadrons in 10 additional missions. [Ubisoft]
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... 85
Team Xbox
Graphic ho’s will also marvel at how Ubisoft Romania managed to make each frame of action look like a professional oil painting depicting the harsh but strangely beautiful skies of WWII.
 85
eToychest
Fans of the genre will find a lot to like, but if you want an edge-of-your-seat arcade experience, Blazing Angels will inevitably disappoint. However, for those who simply want to shoot planes out of the sky, especially online, Angels has all of the ingredients for a good time.
81
XGP Gaming
If you love World War II games or flying games, you owe it to yourself to get a copy of Blazing Angels, as it is a very good start for flying games on the Xbox 360.
80
Games Radar (in-house)
As we weaved through wave after wave of enemies, downing them wholesale, we couldn't help but wish there had been a replay feature included with the game. Still, for the raw, explosive fury of aerial battle, you can accept no substitute for Blazing Angels.
80
GameBiz
What lets it down is the lack of variety in missions. Although the single-player mode will lose your interest quickly, Xbox Live is the heart of Blazing Angels with a multitude of well thought out combative and cooperative modes.
79
Game Chronicles
As long as you don’t go into this thinking it’s a flight-sim you won’t be disappointed. Blazing Angels controls and plays great, offering some intense arcade thrills and looks fantastic while doing it. The campaign missions serve as a great tutorial for the countless hours you will likely be spending online with this game.
78
Gaming Horizon
Blazing Angels is enjoyable for a quick spin, but probably won’t provide gamers with the lasting appeal that you can find with other 360 games on the market.
78
Cheat Code Central
BA is best played online, but the single player mode can be fun for awhile; it may not capture everyones attention span for the entire 20 missions.
75
Pelit (Finland)
Fun to play and easy to look at, but the gameplay is ultimately a bit too straightforward and shallow. It is borderline outrageous that the single-player campaign lasts only for 5 hours. [Apr 2006]
75
Official Xbox Magazine
If staring down a virtual swarm of Japanese Zeroes gets your heart racing and your under-used flight-shooter trigger finger itchy, this game certainly has the scratch. [May 2006, p.71]
75
Game Informer
Blazing Angels is definitely a sight for sore eyes. Its visuals will leave you gazing in wonder, but at the same time, the gameplay will have you fighting back tars. [May 2006, p.94]
74
GameZone
A decent game that required more time to polish up the game to make it truly unforgettable.
73
GamingTrend
Blazing Angels is a victim of its subject matter. Maybe this is why there aren’t many WWII air combat games.
72
Gaming Nexus
It's nothing that screams next gen and the game can be rather easy in spots and frustrating at others. Blazing Angels Squadrons of World War II is impressive looking on the Xbox but not on the Xbox 360.
72
Talk Xbox
A pretty average game. You have fairly simple combat with a few nice graphical touches. Nothing really stands out as overtly good or bad, and everything here has pretty much been seen before in some form or fashion.
71
Gaming Target
The pitfalls come from the game’s lack of online population (read: no players to match against for dogfights) and the fairly mediocre in-game presentation. Not a total misfire, but really only worth a rental (or Marketplace demo) for most people.
70
360 Gamer Magazine UK
When it's good, it's ace. When it's not, it often runs the gauntlet of making aerial combat occasionally feel dull. [Issue #7]
70
DarkStation
Ubisoft provides a glimpse of things may come for the flight sim genre, but sadly misses the mark with this unpolished title that just needed more time in the studio.
70
DailyGame
A fun game that tackles WWII from a different standpoint which is a breath of fresh air; marred by some sound issues and slight graphical missteps.
70
MS Xbox World
Blazing Angels is definitely one for aircraft and arcade fans who aren’t overly fussed about realism especially as it offers nothing really new to the genre. There is no cockpit view included which may annoy some players but when you play the game and begin to appreciate the lock on camera you are left with often stunning dog fights that will most certainly bring a smile to your face.
70
GamerFeed
You know, there's a crowd out there that Blazing Angels: Squadrons of WWII was built for, and it's spelled out in clear letters- ARCADE.
70
GamePro
Unwieldy controls and average graphics stall this flyer. But the game is certainly not grounded.
69
GameSpot
Blazing Angels has nice looks, but the action doesn't distinguish itself in any way.
69
Games Master UK
Wildly inconsistent: flashes of brilliance, ruined by incompetence. [May 2006, p.80]
68
IGN
Flying through the historical battles are fun the first time, but after you complete the game you'll feel more of a sense of relief than elation because, without any real story, the game lacks emotional appeal.
67
Electronic Gaming Monthly
It's the most fun I've had flying online since "Crimson Skies" for the original Xbox. If only the single-player game flew as high.
65
Kombo
While Blazing Angels shows high production values, the single-player gameplay falls incredibly flat. Those desperately looking for a dog-fighting fix should find the multiplayer enjoyable however.
65
Gamers' Temple
Great visuals can’t make up for repetitive and unchallenging gameplay.
65
Extreme Gamer
Blazing Angels does a sufficient job making an entertaining are aerial action game. It's not full with substance, but the action is fast and intense.
65
Play Magazine
Online play proves more challenging and, without the poor voice work, certainly easier on the soul. [May 2006, p.45]
65
Gamezilla!
Graphically, Blazing Angels is actually much less impressive in motion than the screenshots would imply.
63
Next Level Gaming
I kept playing it thinking there was more, or something I missed that was jading me. But in the end the game is just not that good for me.
63
Jolt Online Gaming UK
A pretty basic combat flight game with some nice graphics; but a lack of focus in the single player game, annoying voiceovers and features that deserved to have been pushed a little further spoil what could have been a really manic and exciting shooter.
62
Xbox Evolved
Blazing Angels doesn't add anything new to the shooter genre. It has good controls, but, it's bland to the very end. I couldn't get hyped when shooting Nazis, which really is the best thing about a WW2 game.
60
PALGN
Yet another slightly above average Xbox 360 game. It’s decent fun for a few hours in single player, until the repetitive objectives and brainless AI start to melt the mind.
60
Armchair Empire
Although I wasn’t one of the many that figured Blazing Angels to be the spiritual successor to "Crimson Skies," I did expect a bit more than just an average experience peppered with frustration and a poorly thought out control scheme.
60
Xbox World Australia
Despite its hefty premium pricetag, it plays and feels like a second-string budget title, albeit with a coat of shiny graphical gloss.
60
G4 TV
It’s certainly no Crimson Skies, but still manages to give fans of aerial combat an overall decent online and single player experience with a variety of gaming modes and planes.
60
Gamenikki
It's an awkward position to be in for a game that's not bad - just not as good as it could have been.
60
X360 Magazine UK
While Blazing Angels certainly looks the part, the rest of the game doesn't really follow suit. The aircraft are great to control but the game just doesn't feel as epic as it should. [Issue#5, p.100]
60
Gamestyle
It's not a better game all round than "Crimson Skies" but offers quite a challenge for the single player, with several nicely playable multiplayer scenarios thrown in.
60
Planet Xbox 360
The planes, their camouflage and most of the battles are all true and valid to their real-life counterparts; but, some of the presentations and mechanics of the game are quite unrealistic.
60
games(TM)
The repetitive nature of the majority of missions soon takes its toll, and the primary motivation for progressing soon becomes the desire to see how nice the next level looks, not the love of playing the game. [Apr 2006, p.110]
60
1UP
The extra ten bucks buys you much better looking planes and light effects, no slowdown during particularly busy fights, and access to your 360 Live list.
60
Total Video Games
Fun to play in the short term, especially over the course of a mission or two, there's a repetitiveness to the gameplay that fails to entice players to experience the campaign for hours on end.
60
WHAM! Gaming
Ground targets like tanks and trucks look oddly crude, and there's some very noticeable slowdown when you're flying low and strafing, especially through smoke.
60
Deeko
You can look at the voice acting in one of two ways. It's either "so bad it's good" or just plain bad. The German voices are the worst throwback to the days of "Hogan's Heroes."
60
GameSpy
Ultimately, playing the game makes you wish that the developers had spent more time refining the command system (or finding a decent cast of voiceover artists).
60
VideoGamer
Without any truly brilliant missions to balance things out, the single-player campaign never really gets off the ground. Multiplayer games are a lot more fun, but if you have no interest in taking to the skies with other people, this isn't a squadron that you want to be part of.
58
Game Revolution
The unimaginative single-player experience and that awful, awful chatter almost leaves this plane in full retreat. Despite some snazzy graphics, it’s really the terrific multiplayer that manages to snatch a mild victory from the jaws of this near-defeat.
58
GameShark
I’d definitely recommend a rental before plunking down the hard-earned green for this $60 purchase. It is just barely above average with a C+ score.
50
Eurogamer
With genuinely appalling voicework setting the tone for development incompetence, it's compounded by a few dreadful levels, camera issues and the feeling that the whole project was ported onto the 360 as an afterthought.
50
RewiredMind
A solid game idea realised with some weak online play and a mixed graphical performance means that there are many titles that are more deserving of your money for the 360 right now.
50
Detroit Free Press
History buffs and simulation junkies might find Blazing Angels uplifting for its period lessons. But give me the fantasy worlds of "Crimson Skies" instead, with its pirates and weird zeppelins, and I'll be a happier flying ace.
50
Official Xbox Magazine UK
The dogfights in the skies are a lot of fun, but they fly a fine line between tense standoffs and frustration. Achieving a five-star rating and a better designation of your flight rank just doesn't have the same sense of achievement as other games out there.
50
Sydney Morning Herald
The only thing blazing will be the tail section of your plane and your fragile patience.
50
The Onion (A.V. Club)
Recommended only to Xbox Live subscribers or kids with half-assed history papers due tomorrow.
20
Boomtown
A deeply flawed game. From the terrible image tearing to the offensive voice-overs, it’s as big a failure as I’ve seen from a major Publisher for some time.
Ben G. gave it a6: David B. gave it an8: T. J. gave it a7: Reel World gave it a6: John M. gave it a6: James L. gave it a7: Jeff A. gave it a0: |
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