The 80s seem very popular right now. Maybe it’s because all the kids of the 80s are all grown up now and are thinking back to how awesome their youth was. So how can we have an 80s resurgence without a Top Gun game? Enter doublesix, makers of Burn Zombie Burn! and quite nice chaps. In fact, they’re such nice chaps that they invited TSA to their studio in Guildford to check out their take on the Top Gun license with a fun and entertaining arcade flight game. Sadly, the PSN exclusive doesn’t feature any volleyball or use of the SingStar mic to do your own rendition of ‘You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling’. What it does feature is one of the most fun flight models I’ve ever seen in a game.
First a quick overview of the basics. For a downloadable title this game features a surprising wealth of modes; I was actually pretty surprised. Of course, you have a single player campaign, touted at five to seven hours long, along with a quick and dirty tutorial mode that’ll take you through the basics of flight. However, it also features Horde mode, basically a concept taken directly from the Gears of War mode of the same name. Taking on endless waves of Russian jets is simple fun, something that not enough games present to you.
Along with this you also get five modes of sixteen player online multiplayer. There’s no local multiplayer, but after playing the game I just don’t think split-screen would work. Even playing on a large screen you feel like you need all of the available real estate just for one player. I didn’t actually get to try any of the online as even if doublesix had wanted to show it off, I don’t think they actually have fifteen other people to put into the game with me. In the multiplayer you get the normal deathmatch, team deathmatch and capture the flag along with the Top Gun mode (last man standing) and Bombing Run – basically one team attempts to defend a bomber on its run to a base, whilst the opposing side tries to stop the attack. To me this all seems like an awful lot of game for a downloadable title and, whilst doublesix wouldn’t confirm a price, I was told it was going to be in line with traditional ‘downloadable game’ pricing.
Of course, value for money means nothing if the game isn’t enjoyable to play but there’s no need to worry about that with Top Gun. I got to play through all of the tutorials, which work well at conveying the relatively simple controls of the game, as well as one of the missions and a stint in Horde mode. Overall, the game feels incredibly responsive and fast paced, and with infinite ammo for guns and missiles, it’s definitely placed firmly in the arcade category. The most interesting thing in the controls is the CFI or Controller Flight Instabillity. This is an ability which switches the camera to a more distant camera angle and basically allows you to do whatever you want with the plane. This aspect of the game really makes you feel like you’re an ace pilot, pulling off acrobatic tricks. Beyond looking and feeling cool, it also allows you to get missile locks from odd angles, adding a new aspect to the gameplay.
Whilst overall the graphics didn’t blow me away, they were pretty much what I’d expected from a small developer working on a downloadable title. However, there are a few things they’ve done that impressed me. The fact that the target reticule and lock on is taken directly from the movie is a nice touch. Also, the speed blur when you kick in the after burner and the gradual blackout that comes if you pull off a high-G turn are both great. They just seem to have hit both of the effects right on the head.
For me the real stand out thing about the title is the audio. Sure they’ve only got two songs from the Top Gun movie, both of which are covers, but whilst the rest is originally composed for the title, it very much fits with the gameplay and 80s feel of the title. Along with the soundtrack, the sound effects are excellent, in particular the use of audio cues. I found myself not having to actually use the HUD all that much, the cues for most major events like missile reloads and lock-ons are very clear.
Beyond the atmospheric audio, the game has some fantastic voice work. Voices over the radio is all you get in terms of characters in the game, along with an occasional static shot of the character. Whilst I was told that none of the actors from the film were voicing the game, whoever they’ve found to fill their shoes are doing a fantastic job. The dialogue is spot on, which you’d expect as doublesix managed to get Jack Epps Jr., the screenwriter for the film, on board to handle the game’s scripting. He’s really recaptured the film’s feel, in particular the banter between characters. You’ll always get a response from your RIO on a successful kill, which actually helps as you don’t always know if you’ve been successful due to the game’s speed.
So final word based on what I played? I loved the game. Doublesix have done a brilliant job in trying to convert the film into a playable game. It doesn’t seem to follow along with the film’s plot exactly, but there are definitely scenes that are shared and the overall structure will be familiar to fans. Even if they hadn’t tied the game into 80s nostalgia I’d still love it, I don’t think I’ve played anything that has the same feel of speed and agility. Doublesix said they’ve gone to great lengths to make you feel like an ace fighter pilot, and you really do.
BIGAL-1992
How the hell did you secure an exclusive like that?
MUKARKAR
TSA is a bid deal now and this is not the first time they go exclusive!
Raen
;)
Pemberton_
Great preview. And well in TSA for getting the exclusive.
freezebug2
That does look a bit awesome, great scoop Raen. Flight yoke at the ready ;)
Raen
Didn’t mention it, but they do support one flight stick. The Saitek I think.
freezebug2
Cool, that is around the same price as a PS3 controller but I’m sure that it could be utilised in tonnes of other games.
gazzagb
Ive got a Saitek one! This will be brilliant!
hunterstryfe
I can,t wait for it, top gun is in my all time 3 favorite films, next to mortal kombat and bloodsport, lets hope it lives up to it lol
TSBonyman
Doesn’t look too bad in the pics, i might pick it up at the right price.
MadBoJangles
Yeah looks good.
Cramming in all those modes AND a 5-7 hour SP campaign on a PSN title…AND for a budget price???
A lot of Full price retail games don’t manage that these days. Yes Dante’s Inferno, I’m looking at you…
minerwilly
Great work Kris . At 34 I was very much an eighties child and have to admit I never saw Top Gun !!!
Madness considered i spent so much time glueing together those Airfix Tamiya and Humbrol kits (when i wasnt on the ZX Spectrum of course!)
kassatsu
Too much bold ;P
bunimomike
Agreed. However, great article, Kris. Optimistic enthusiasm coupled with a visit to the developers themselves. Can’t beat it. Hope TSA continue this “seeing UK developers in the flesh” as it’s very much a Unique Selling Point to TSA, I feel.
Raen
Too much bold?
colmshan1990
I think he means the formatting of the article. Doesn’t bother me though. I only hate it if it changes back and forth, but it doesn’t here.
bunimomike
For me, yes. Bold is to highlight something but the entire article (sans the opening paragraph) looks overly heavy on the eyes and bucks the usual formatting of TSA articles. That’s all, fella.
Raen
But it’s not in bold when I look at it :S
Manorhowze
Yeeee-ha, Jester’s Dead.
Great scoop Kris. I like games like this and I may well check this out on release, speaking of which do you know if is there a release date (or timescale) for this yet?
Raen
No, nothing official yet. Soon though.
Manorhowze
Ok, cheers mate.
LiquescentShadow
Great preview, really excited for the game now! Can’t wait to get my hands on it :D
Danza Di Fuoco
I don’t care about Top Gun… but since this is like Ace Combat I only hope they don’t screw this up I know the force is with Doublesixx and they will pull it off!! (hope)
tinman9
Great movie of yesteryear but a game?