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Xbox 360 | Fly | Blazing Angels: Squadrons of WWII

Boxart for Blazing Angels: Squadrons of WWII
Blazing Angels: Squadrons of WWII 3 screen shots
  • GRAPHICS: 3.5
  • SOUND: 3.5
  • CONTROL: 2.5
  • FUN FACTOR 3.5
  • AVG USER SCORE 3.9
  • AVG CRITIC SCORE 3.3

Review: Blazing Angels: Squadrons of WWII

Review by FOUREYEDDRAGON | 03/22/2006 | 14:37:40 PM PST

Fasten those seatbelts tight. Blazing Angels hits some serious turbulence as the first air combat game on the Xbox 360.

Fasten those seatbelts tight. Blazing Angels hits some serious turbulence as the first air combat game on the Xbox 360.

The Bombs Keep Coming
Blazing Angels puts you in the WWII cockpit of some of the most revered fighter and bomber planes of that time. But don't expect a simulation that rivals the already crowded WWII flying genre on the PC. Instead, this flyer is much more arcade action-oriented where you have an unlimited number of bombs, missiles, and bullets to dispose your enemy. In the single player campaign mode, you're tasked to fly as an Allie in some of the most harrowing air raids and air-to-air encounters throughout the war, from defending the attack on London and Pearl Harbor to going on the offensive in Midway and Paris.

Dogfight Eat Dogfight World
An uncomplicated control scheme offers accessibility, but once airborne, Blazing Angels doesn't handle well. The control setup is basic. Target the next objective, shoot gun, and use special weapons with just one button press. During a dogfight, however, maneuvering in the deadly skies can be a challenge. The left stick lets you turn, but for some reason, the right stick controls the rolls as well as your speed. Huh?! This setup can get confusing and frustrating, especially if you're in a heated air fight. You'll want to roll as well as lower the airspeed, but you can't do both at the same time. This just doesn't make sense.

Look Sharp, Pilots
Making sense, however, seems farthest from Blazing Angels intentions. The game certainly flies away from realism--it enables you to repair your heavily damaged plane in mid-flight, you have unlimited firepower, and you can land your plane in the most awkward positions. While flying enthusiast might balk at the unrealistic aspects, Blazing Angels does cater to the pick-up-and-fly gameplay as the missions and even online play are simple enough to recruit the most amateur pilot.

Pilots in Blazing Angels will also notice some sharp visuals, although details expected in an Xbox 360 game are lacking. Flying over the narrow streets of London and tracking enemy ships at sea are certainly great sites from above. The battle at Pearl Harbor alone is graphically intense. But the level of detail in Blazing Angels isn't noteworthy. Bombs hitting a runway, for example, do not make potholes, and destroyed ships are recognized only by its smoke without any fires or debris floating around. And in one level, there's not much to see when you're flying in a sandstorm over the desert. At least make the towns look more realistic.

Be Careful Not to Stall
Blazing Angels could have been much better, especially on the Xbox 360. Unwieldy controls and average graphics stall this flyer. But the game is certainly not grounded. As the first flying game for the Xbox 360, you should definitely glide through some online rounds as well as try out the single-player missions. Just don't expect a first-class flight; coach is all you'll get.


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