Crimson Skies

Flying a plane has never been this much fun! Crimson Skies combines the thrill of a good dogfight with high-flying stunts and swashbuckling adventure.

Flying a plane has never been this much fun! Crimson Skies combines the thrill of a good dogfight with high-flying stunts and swashbuckling adventure.

Crimson Skies takes place in an alternate-reality 1930s America after war has torn the country apart and left in its place a group of rival territories, such as the Republic of Texas, the Nation of Hollywood, and the Confederation of Dixie. Most of the streets and railroads have been destroyed, leaving air travel as the most popular - and most dangerous - form of transportation.

As the gallant air pirate Nathan Zachary, you must lead your band of gypsy Fortune Hunters through a series of missions, fighting off dastardly villains, rescuing damsels in distress, and maybe pocketing a little cash in the process.

Crimson Skies plays more like an aerial Interstate '76 than Falcon 4.0. Rather than just shooting down hordes of enemy planes, many missions require you to perform hair-raising stunts, like docking with an enemy zeppelin or rescuing a hostage from the top of a speeding train. These stunts add excitement to the game, though some of the more difficult ones can be very frustrating. Thankfully, Crimson Skies allows you to skip a mission after three failed attempts, which means even novice flyers will be able to play through the entire game.

The world of Crimson Skies is filled with some eye-grabbing sights. Details abound, from parts flying off a plane under fire to a cloud effect that rivals that of any other flight sim. But what really brings the 1930's era to life is the sound. Humorous radio-chatter combines with an awesome soundtrack that mixes Indiana Jones-style theme music with Big Band swing.

Controlling your planes is easy, but you'll definitely want a joystick for the best Crimson Skies experience. The various planes handle differently depending on their engine and size, with larger aircraft like the dual-hulled McDonnell Kestrel offering greater stability in exchange for limited maneuverability, and smaller models like the Hughes Bloodhawk sacrificing control for speed.

Crimson Skies does suffer from a few technical problems. Choppy frame rates and sound skips crop up periodically, and painfully long load times between missions bog down the gameplay. Also, your wingmen may occasionally appear from out of nowhere and ram directly into your plane; it's hard enough dealing with actual enemies without having to worry about kamikaze attacks from your allies. Hopefully, a patch will take care of these issues.

Even if you've never touched a flight sim in your life, you'll have a blast shooting down fighter aces, skimming Hollywood studio lots, and buzzing Manhattan skyscrapers. Crimson Skies is simply the best air combat action the PC has to offer.

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