Tom Clancy's HAWX

The presentation of the game is nicely polished for the most part. From a distance, everything looks really good in-game. Up close, however, H.A.W.X kind of suffers from what most flight games do – bad terrain!

If the name of Clancy has led you to expect a solidly researched factual background, wake up, it's the XXI century and the entertainment value is the key to the treasury. Despite throwing around real aircraft and weapon systems names this is just an arcade shooter with nice looks and lots of action. [Apr 2009]

What's the worst that can happen to a fighter jet game? Playing it feels like sitting in a slow train. There's no difference between Mach 2 and the speed of a mallard, no difference between the F-117 Nighthawk and the Mirage III, and to crash your plane, you need to deliberately go for it. Only when there are far too many enemies, H.A.W.X. poses a challenge and never exploits its full potential.

There are mutliplayer modes which should keep you coming back to this title for a while.

A fun experience marred slightly by the fact that it feels too easy, but those looking for fast arcade laughs will enjoy it.

A vaguely comical arcade shooter in the clouds, and one that never pretends to be anything else. [June 2009, p.64]

Tom Clancy’s Hawx has the looks but is also as shallow as flight combat games come. For some people the lack of realism is a complete turn-off, but for those who can simply take it for what it is – a shoot ’em up – it’s actually good fun. [Apr 2009]

As it is the mission design is lacking, the combat is unimaginative, and the multiplayer is shallow. Still, there are plenty who will be able to enjoy soaring 40,000 feet above the earth destroying dozens of enemy planes.

Ace Combat never felt this empty. [May 2009, p.76]

Tom Clancy’s H.A.W.X. could be better in almost every way, with the exception of graphics, where it features some pretty impressive vistas. It’s just a shame the view’s horrible.

While there's fun to be had here, most people will want to look elsewhere to get their dogfight on.

Fast, dynamic and totally easy to play HAWX will satisfy those who do not know anything at all about flying. What is good on consoles may not be enough fun for PCs. Less then 20 missions? Come on... [Apr 2009]

The gaming equivalent of Flight 1549: starts well then mercilessly plops into the Hudson River of bad flight sims.