Headstrong Games catapults you right into the action: Rocket after rocket, hard-lock-mode, barellroll, Immelmann, BOOM! But if you're looking for a challenge, find other skies to conquer.
The multiplayer frustration might leave a bad taste in your mouth, but it shouldn't detract from the fact that the campaign in Top Gun: Hard Lock is a heck of a lot of fun.
Before i start about this game, the film was in 1986, not 1985. just thought id mention that bit, the game should have come with a in **** view rather than 3rd person, not to bad with missles and dogfights, game is ok for the money! MW3 is much worse to be honest
I'm surprised... yes the game is based on the 1985 film (but in today settings), yes it is simple, and somewhat repetitive - but it's pretty fun, actually - I expected something way worse.
It has a graphical display with fine background grain and colors that look much like the movie of 85, and not in High Definition, but that is what gives it's characteristic- the sets and locations of the battles are immersing and abuse of bold colors in sunsets on the sea, deserts, etc.; the graphics are adequate, although simple: the speed and feeling of the game, is pretty cool, just when you die, which slow down a bit you can see the lack of details on targets, and pixels around the graphics.
The narration has surnames of the movie, and communications between the aircraft also in the radio, and of course the theme song of Top Gun, among other Rock / Hard Rock-80s that make the soundtrack.
The action consists of a Arcade style game, much like the Ace Combat: Assault Horizon in vision, and the commands are very simple: Analog is right up the afterburner, X for Lock On (the so-called "Hard Lock"), for the cannon, missile and B, when you can get a Lock-On in the target. The Hard-Lock mode is a chasing one, where you can gun down the other aircraft, in full action chasing sequences.
In such parts you should be maneuvering to get off of the Lock-On from the enemies, or continue chasing them, and there are some QTE events in the screen, using the analog (Roll Left, etc..) - in the game there are a number of maneuvers, all real, that can be done with the analog sticks, to escape the sight of their opponents, or to keep them in your sight.
When a missile gets you in Lock-On, you have to wait for the right distance and perform a maneuver to escape with the right analog (indicated on the screen), or launch flares with LB, wherever show in the screen. There are targets both in ground and air, and RB selects the appropriate type of missile or bomb (no ammo restriction, but you have to wait a while to be able to shoot them again).
According to your performance in the stage, you'll score points, and can be promoted, besides getting new aircraft, weapons and skins for use as camouflage in the aircraft. The game also does not use any kind of indicator on the HUD, high speed, etc., only the targets, their distance and weapons selected.
The game also has some Multiplayer modes in Xbox Live, that I did not try to play.
The cut-scenes between stages do not have movies, or anything, other than the planes and things of the stages announced: you just hear the characters talking to each other. You can even think that teh game setting is in the 80-90s (after all, Grumman F-14 are no longer in service), but top-edge aircraft like the russian Sukhoi Su-47 Berkut and American Stealth Frigates appear on it ...
My Score: 6,6, for the fun in it - it's simple and uncommitted gameplay (with the feeling of the classic "After Burner" Arcade game). I recommend it for a rent or when the price of it gets lower than 40 bucks.
There's something to be said about a game that loads you up with infinite missiles and a sky full of bogeys; Top Gun: Hard Lock is high on intensity and low on reality and it's rather fun because of that.
When you name a game Hard Lock and the mechanic with the same name is the worst part of the game then it's time to rethink your strategy. Otherwise it's a decent action orientated flight game with a good mix of missions, but with way too repetetive gameplay.
ZZZ... Top Gun Hard Lock is one of the most boring games, ever, the gameplay is same, any new, the airplanes are not much, and this is a title?, have good things, but in the hour to play, no much response.
This game is tied for the most inaccurate flight sim next to JASF. An F-18 would not be able to take on an SU-47 and win. An A-6 did not carry Air-to-Air weapons. This game takes place in 2012. The A-6 was retired in 1997. Whats next, a SPAD S.XIII taking on an F-22?
SummaryTop Gun: Hard Lock is aerial dog-fighting at jet speeds and tailgating MiGs at Mach 2, while offering a unique "Hard lock" mode where players perform air combat maneuvers that deliver an explosively satisfying visual payoff that brings them right into the action. Featuring the legendary F-14 Tomcat fighter jet and a number of a...