Heatseeker PS2 Review

Since the controls have such a daunting learning curve, we aren’t what you’d call enamoured with flight simulations. we’d much rather play a flight game that allows us to perform fancy corkscrews from the get-go and watch in glorious slow motion, as our prey violently blows to pieces.

Heatseeker is one such game, giving us the immediacy and exhilaration that we, umm…seek.

Upon starting the game, you must first choose a control scheme. Professional is obviously the hardest to get to grips with, but still not as tricky as your usual po-faced simulation, whilst the arcade type, allows you to control your plane via one stick as opposed to two, naturally we chose this one.

After you’ve made your choice, the excitement then begins.

Heatseeker has eighteen missions, which largely involve you blowing things up or protecting a friendly from hostiles. It has to be said that the blowing things up business is supremely satisfying courtesy of some beautiful explosions and the grin inducing addition of the impact cam, which is a randomly triggered cutaway, showing an obliterated plane going to its fiery death.

Generally the first few missions require you to simply just blast enemy planes out of the skies. Doing so isn’t difficult as the games challenge doesn’t really pick up until a good few missions in, it’s then that you will be tasked with juggling multiple objectives at once or protecting sea and ground convoys from heavy enemy attacks. Thankfully there’s a friendly checkpoint system, which keeps frustration levels relatively low.

All of the missions have three bonus objectives, and although none of these have to be achieved, doing so does reward you with new weapon sets and additional planes, so it’s well worth the effort to carry them out and will perhaps extend the length of the game for those looking to accomplish every one of these tasks, and since the game has no form of multiplayer, this is a godsend.

The games graphics, whilst not really impressive in a technological sense, still provide plenty of appeal. Everything is pleasantly bright, explosions are satisfying, the sensation of speed is fantastic and the game has a brilliant arcade look, one which we’d take over a photo realistic appearance any day of the week.

Tremendous explosions, accessible controls, immediate thrills and an appealing, vibrant look. For those looking for an arcade style flight game, Heatseeker is a grin inducing thrill ride. Dumb? Without a doubt, fun? Absolutely.

8/10