|
Heatseeker
Heatseeker is one of
the latest arcade jet simulators for the PSP that is oozing with 80’s
and 90's glamour which borrows heavily from Top Gun in this entertaining title
yet clichéd title.
The story revolves around rookie Mike ‘Downtown’ Hudson who is a fighter
pilot in the US government, preventing a variety of hostile attacks in the name of
world peace.
With over 35-missions
and a plethora of in-game cutscenes, Heatseeker is like your traditional
arcade jet game of the 80’s and 90’s where the player must engage in a
variety of foes, whether airborne, land based or water based with
unlimited firepower. Needless to say, this game is perfectly suited to
the PSP, however it does become a little repetitive as you play mission
after mission which is a little unfortunate.
The control system of
Heatseeker is perfect on the PSP with the shoulder buttons used to
accelerate and break, however a double tap of each buttons will either
launch your fighter into afterburner mode or violently slow your
aircraft down. The D-pad is used to swap between weapons and to engage
in the enemy. Fortunately, the auto-aiming aspect of the title will
benefit those inexperienced gamers.
As you progress through
the game, various weapons and different types of aircraft are unlocked
giving the player access to around 20 different types of weapons by the
end of the game from stock standard machine guns to deadly rockets and
even deadlier microwaves.
Needless to say, the
rockets are by far the most superior weapons in the title because once
they are locked in, provided you are in range, you will have no problem
dispensing them. Apart from your stock standard enemies such as speed
boats or jet fighters, the gamer must also engage in bosses which range
from easy to moderate. This of course depends on your proficiency using
the PSP and gaming experience.
The developers have
ensured that the gaming environments are quite diverse and varied which
range from Lord Roberts Island to the harshness of Antarctica.
Heatseeker also offers five different multiplayer modes that include
Dogfight, Team Dogfight, Fox and Hound, Base vs. Base and Last Man
Flying.
Graphically, Heatseeker,
although looking impressive on the PSP feels a little dated with its
cheesy arcade feel. However the plane models are quite detailed and the
replay of your enemies being blown to smithereens is also impressive
for this handheld console. As with the graphics, the music and sound are
also clichéd and unfortunately there is a lack of voice acting in this
title which is disappointing.
In conclusion, Heatseeker is a interesting
game for the PSP with sturdy gameplay and good graphics, however the title is extremely
80's and 90's and may not hold the interest of modern gamers. Still
worth a peek or two or for those that love arcade jet fighters! |
