Video Game Vintage Title: Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X 2

Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X 2

Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X. 2 is an arcade-style flight action game developed by Ubisoft Romania and published by Ubisoft. The game is the sequel to Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X, released in 2009. The game was announced in May 2010 and was scheduled to be released on September 3 in UK and September 7 in Europe. However, Ubisoft delayed the release date for the PC, PS3 and Wii, while the Xbox 360 was pushed back to its new September 3, 2010 release date. The PS3 version was released one week later on September 10. The PC and Wii versions of the game were released on November 12.

Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X 2 Plot

After the events of the first game, the H.A.W.X squadron is sent to Middle East, where a high level of violence is taking place, and the appearance of various insurgents leaders in various hotspots is becoming common. The team also has to investigate the mysterious disappearance of Russian nuclear weapons. The player can control three groups at different points in the game: one American (Alex Hunter), one British (Colin Munro) and one Russian (Dimitri Sokov), each with its own pilots and supporting characters. There will also be references to other characters in the Tom Clancy universe.

The game begins with Colonel David Crenshaw piloting a routine patrol mission in the Middle East. After stopping an insurgent attack, a volley of cruise missiles is fired at the Prince Faisal Air Force Base where Crenshaw was stationed. After one of the missiles disables Crenshaw's aircraft, resulting Crenshaw being in enemy captivity and the deaths of his comrades from the previous series. A joint strike force, coordinated by Lieutenant Colonel Simms and composed of the U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, and a Ghost Recon squad executes an operation to rescue Crenshaw. They are supported by Major Rebecca Walters, who pilots an AC-130 gunship during the rescue. In Scotland, Royal Navy Pilot Colin Munro encounters an unidentified passenger aircraft that explodes from an on-board bomb when undergoing training exercise. In Russia, an air force squadron led by Colonel Denisov and Captain Dimitri Sokov engages separatist aircraft but is ordered to retreat from the region after numerous Russian military installations have been attacked.

Shortly after his rescue, Crenshaw stays on board an aircraft carrier due to an injured arm and conducts a remote surveillance operation with Voron agent Drachev. Drachev was originally undercover inside the Middle Eastern insurgent cell for Russia, only to have his cover blown. A large scale military operation composed of Drachev and the U.S. military is undertaken to secure the region. Shortly after, Drachev executes a joint-operation with Russian Spetznaz and the Russian Air Force to recover stolen nuclear warheads from Separatists in Romaniskhov. However, only two out of the three warheads were recovered, and Drachev's transport is shot down during the middle of the extraction. Colonel Denisov and Captain Sokov provide air support to the best of their abilities, only to be ordered by General Morgunov, to blow up the Nevskaya Dam in order to prevent the warheads from falling into enemy hands. This presumably kills everyone on the ground, but Drachev survives. Despite their efforts, a nuclear warhead is detonated in the Romashkino oil field, crippling Russia's energy supplies. As a result of the attack, Russian Ultranationalists seize control of Russia under the leadership of President Alexander Treshkayev.

While Sokov pilots a UAV to kill the separatists, Drachev covertly calls him in a command center, revealing that the events in Russia had been a ruse for the Russian Ultranationalists to sabotage Russia's energy industry and seize control of the Russian government. As a result of Ultranationalist control, Russia would then create war to gather much-needed resources and the government would be declared as heroes. Drachev has Sokov trace a call with one of the Separatists members to General Morgunov, Sokov's commanding officer. After being privy of the truth, Sokov escapes from a military installation with Drachev and retreats to Crenshaw's custody with the incriminating evidence. Drachev and U.S. pilots Hunter, Simms, and Walters undergo a joint operation to disarm one of the remaining warheads in Cape Town.

Meanwhile, Munro and the Royal Navy repels an assault by the Russian Navy. The Royal Navy then undergoes a joint operation with the U.S. military, Sokov, Drachev, and Norwegian forces to attack Morgunov's military and assault Moscow. During the final stages of the operation, Morgunov reveals that he and Treskayev did not act on their own, but were "following orders" from a "mysterious organization." He intends to detonate nuclear warheads at a captured military base to attack the organization. The H.A.W.X squadron proceeds with the final assault and destroys the underground base, with Simms and Walters being killed by attacks from space lasers, Colonel Denisov being killed in an engagement with Hunter, and Morgunov being blown to pieces by Hunter during the assault on his command bunker, leaving only Major Alex Hunter, Captain Dimitri Sokov, and the remaining members of Agent Drachev`s assault force (including himself) .

Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X 2 Gameplay

The game, like its predecessor puts the player in control of various aircraft, including Harrier GR9, F-22 Raptor, A-10 Thunderbolt II, F-16 Fighting Falcon, Eurofighter Typhoon, F-35 Lightning II and Su-47 Berkut. In one instance however, the player also assumes the role of an AC-130 gunner. H.A.W.X.2 features night-time precision targeted bomb and unmanned aerial vehicles, which play a great role in stealth missions. Also new to the game is aerial refueling in the middle of missions, as well as taking off and landing in different situations that would require different approaches. For instance, landing on an airfield in the middle of the day is not the same as a midnight landing on an aircraft carrier.

Along with the visual features, a new damage system is implemented. The AI is also improved to perform more dodging and maneuvering. The game also features a four player co-op mode whereby multiple players can play a mission as a team, as well a death match mode in which up to eight players can engage each other in aerial combat.Due to the lack of a real budget, the game's visuals have been downgraded.

The Wii version has simplified gameplay and a different story altogether. Many of the gameplay mechanics present in the other versions, including takeoff and landing, aerial refueling, plane configuration and teamwork are absent. Also, enemy fighters only fire missiles when they are in front of the player. The player has to use his cannon to shoot down these missiles before they hit.