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Review: Blazing Angels 2: Secret Missions of WWII

by Mike Bantick

Saturday, 20 October 2007

The quickly released sequel for the arcade flyer, Barnstorming has rarely been this fun, or refreshingly diverse. Just remember kids, don’t fly like this at home.

The initial Blazing Angels was a somewhat lack-lustre affair. Though it built on the popular “Biggles” style, first made popular in the Crimson Skies series, it tried a bit to hard to be a series flight SIM built on a Barnstorming close-to-the-ground engine. The result was a confused, difficult to play and, compared to this iteration, just not too much fun to play.

Blazing Angels 2:Secret Missions of WWII
	Developer	Ubisoft Romania
	Publisher	Ubisoft
	Rating	PG

PS3, PC, Reviewed on Xbox 360

Ubisoft Romania have dropped any SIM premise with the release of Blazing Angels 2. The definitive focus helps the game cut loose and enjoy itself, now knowing just who it should be.

Set in a number of theatres of WWII, right from the start it is evident that much thought has gone into the variety on offer, one mission will see you dive bombing navel vessels, the next has you jockeying a Hurricane over Cairo, then you will fly your stolen BF-109 through (yes! Through!) the streets of Paris.

Not only does the scenery change, so do the challenges. Drop a spy onto a train, take out a gigantic enemy Zeppelin piece by piece or drop ordinance onto the enemy hold up in an Artic base. Achieve all this, and at the same time fend of enemy fighters, issue orders to your wingmen and simply lookout for the ground.

If there is one particular thing that has improved, helping the fun factor, it is the controls. Despite each plane having different handling, the BA2 controls feel much sharper than the previous release. With a pull of the left trigger, you can lock the camera onto your target, giving further control advantages.

While we are on the subject of targeting, each field of play is littered with primary and secondary targets, there are some ‘target selection’ issues with controller set-up, and it does take getting used to.

Nice touches such as ground targets running for cover make each level feel dynamic though the wealth of targets can sometimes be overwhelming with the player caught between primary objectives and those providing an imminent threat.

Checkpointing during missions is a little hit and miss, this has the odd effect of making some missions too easy, whilst others will be reloaded many times before success. This can be a little frustrating in both cases.

Graphically BA2 steps up from the already detailed ground representation in the original. Levels such as Paris are a delight, and give the player ample opportunity to buzz the Franco inhabitants as they hang out their washing.

Sometimes missions allow some free time to buzz around maps, discovering flying challenges such as passing under bridge arches and so forth. Nailing these challenges as well as mission success rewards players with points used for upgrading aircraft with unlocked aesthetics along with all important, weapon, armour and mobility improvements.

Pacing – apart from some frustrating checkpointing issues mentioned already – is on the money. Because of the variety in missions, locations and air-craft there is never a feeling of staleness that creeps in.

Cut-scenes between missions however feel forced. You can see what was aimed for, the usual, boarding on camp, pip-pip tally-ho, let’s stick it to the enemy for old blighty feel, with a smattering of film Noir romance thrown in. But it falls flat, possibly because the comic book presentation looks too ‘modern’.

Still once you fast forward through the scenes and get into the action, this is flight battle game that has a lot going for it. Specifically and simply, BA2 is fun.

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