Buckle up your seatbelts ladies and gentlemen! This is not your typical game that you usually play using your Palm. May you have a safe flight and enjoy the ride. This is your captain speaking. Yeehaaa!
There's no single adjective to describe this game. Its as complex as its description, but will surely let you have second thoughts of replacing your precious game console! Even purist and hardcore gamer would agree that this game will take Palm gaming (or handheld gaming in general) to the next level. From the opening screen down to the credits, this surely is an eye candy.
At the briefing room
Your goal is to fly either an American Apache Longbow or the Russian MiL Mi-24 D Hind helicopter, finish 16 missions (by following those directional arrows, destroy those anti-aircrafts and enemy tanks, rescue some POWs, blow up any unfriendly flying objects) and you're on your way to a promotion. The game also gives you the option to play either a single mission, random mission, or down to a full campaign.
On the standard, you are given three lives; limited amount of ammunitions and three ammunition choices (basic machine gun, basic non-guided missile, or guided missile) that are accessible and interchangeable using the weapon select control.
Ready for lift off
Flying helicopters have never been this fun! Hellfire combines the game play of the classic Chop lifter and Top Gun with a twist of Command and Conquer - all made in 3-D! You could customize the controls for the four-way directions, airborne-landing control, weapon select control, and the triggering button. This game is best played using a Tap Wave Zodiac or any handheld device with a comfortable button placement (the Zire 72 would be the next best device to play with, but not on any Clies or Tungstens). The fluidity of the game's graphic engine can be best experienced using a Zire 72 (haven't tried playing it with a Zodiac, but stay out from using a TH-55 or a T3 - it doesn't give the graphics any justice!)
The sound effects are of average quality (nothing to be wowed about - I'm more amused listening to the sound effects of Chainz than this one). The other thing that doesn't impress me is the type of game play it incorporates. It plays more of an arcade game than a real third person shooting game. What I mean with this, is that the POWs (for example) doesn't crush if you accidentally landed upon them. Since this is just the initial release, it simply means that there's more to look forward to. :-)
Mission Complete!
Overall, I haven't expected seeing this kind of a game be available on handhelds. Well, our current handhelds are no longer confined to the walls of Bejeweled. It can now do wonders while staying mobile, thanks for bringing Hellfire! Other than the sound and a few glitches on the game play, this game will surely rock your Palm (to the effect that you'll surely won't look at it the same way again)!
Looking forward for future releases. Can we expect to see a wireless multi-player version that could be playable both locally and online? Dog fight, anyone? ;-)
This game is being brought to you by Pazzazz through Astraware (the same people who are responsible in bringing GTS Racing Challenge to the handhelds).
W
