Warhawk Now Available On Playstation Network
Sony's oft-delayed flagship online exclusive multiplayer experience Warhawk hit the PlayStation Network today. As revealed earlier, the online version will retail US $39.99, while the retail version will include the Jabra Bluetooth headset for $59.99. Engage in epic 32 person battles from the land to the skies. Players can jump into jet fighters, ground vehicles, or tackle their opponents on foot. Sony plans on supporting the title with downloadable content and a variety of online game modes. The game includes 5 maps with 4 different game types. Which may not sound like much, but with the variety of vehicle/weapon types, so it should appease intense multliplayer action junkies.
There haven't been many reviews published of the title yet. 1up gave a very positive review with their checklist rundown:
In fact, Warhawk is an impressive job all around. We can run down a "competent game design" checklist, if you want: Sharp graphics? Check. Smooth framerate? Oh yeah, check. Low latency? Big check: I have yet to encounter one single moment of lag. Easy-to-use online interface and solid community support? Check and check. User-friendly control? A slightly reserved check, only because the novel -- and entirely optional -- motion controls take an awful lot of getting used to.
While the PSM Magazine had a different take on Warhawk:
It's fun enough, but even with the headset, it's too expensive for a game that you cannot play by yourself, and its balancing issues severely limit what you can do in the game.
If anyone downloaded or purchased the game today, plug your impressions below.
Toots
Posted to Hot Stuff, Video Games on 28 August 2007
· Comments (6)
Other stuff like this: incognito, multiplayer, ps3, sony, warhawk
Sony needs to learn from what made Lost Planet a successful multiplayer game with legs: free multiplayer demo. Any downloadable title over $20 should be required to have a demo for people to try before buying, but from what I hear "game sharing" isn't even allowed with Warhawk! Also, Shadowrun had more maps...just sayin'!
I'm normally all over games like this, but witht he lack of any type of single player and the price, I'm not looking to jump on board. [Besides, still playing Bioshock and Metroid]
just to clarify, there are 5 map "locations", each of which have different zones that link together. to say that there are only 5 "levels" is a bit off as i think they said that there are closer to 20 different arrangements/configurations.
@game-boi:
i really don't get your complaint about game sharing as it's only not allowed on the version downloaded from the Store when you buy a copy of any game, they don't give you multiple copies to give to your friends, so why should it be with a downloadable version of any game.
also, why should only downloadable games be required to have demos? regular games cost more than $20 and they don't get demos all the time. if you wanna learn about a game, go online to sites you trust (like gaygamer.net *plug*), read reviews, or rent the game to try it out. what's the problem with those options?
back on topic, is there going to be a GayGamer.net clan?
This is what I mean by game sharing...
http://www.gamespot.com/news/6177766.html
It doesn't matter to people that are picking up the retail version, but could matter to those interested in the downloadable version. In place of a demo, they could have used game sharing (or a limited variant there of) to reach a bigger audience of fence sitters. (This type of strategy has been used on handful of DS games with varied success)
In a perfect world, all games have demos. But for one reason or another it may or may not be possible, I understand. The tricky part is that from my experience with games that only have online multiplayer, a great majority of these titles have demos to allow players to "get into it." PC MMO's have done a great job boiling the trail/demo to a time tested formula. And a few Console and even handheld games have done the same.
Warhawk has to potential to something big, but for a lot of people (not all, mind you) $40 is a lot of money when you're not getting a physical copy of something and a lot of reviewers have stated that it's an experience that isn't worth $60. I think that a demo would be the easiest way for Warhawk to overcome the pricing hurdle and prove that it's worth the investment.
For me, the reason why reviews from sites like Gamespot, 1up, ign may not be completely trusted is because they aren't experiencing what real players will be experiencing after launch. I don't think anyone would deny that a game like this greatly depends on the community following it. I wonder how much would a review today will differ from a review four months from now when the game is still $40/$60 and a portion of players have moved on to other games on the platform.
I'm not knocking the game per se (although I don't think 5 "locations" = 20 maps, that's someone's marketing department talking), but Sony/Incog has made some rather strange choices with this game and doesn't seem to recognize the success or failure of others.
@ game-boi:
the fact that you believe old reviews that were written months ago rather than online review sites that HAVE been playing the game on servers with multiple people shows exactly how skewed your view of things is.
and saying that it only has 5 levels is NOT correct, no matter how you want to spin it. that's some fanboy talking if you think it is.
when in doubt, rent it or talk to someone that WAS in the BETA, that did play it, that did enjoy it, and that are totally psyched for it. go on message boards and see all the positive gamer feedback that people who ARE playing it are giving it.
if it's not your kinda game, that's one thing. but to just dismiss it because you erroneously believe it to be limited, well, your loss...
Ok. So i was in the beta. I had an immense amount of fun playing this game, and if it's something that even vaguely interests you, then I'd recommend buying it. Honestly, I'll never get people who believe that every game should be for everyone...if that were the case, we'd have about 3 games, that everyone found mediocre but acceptable. Anyway, if you don't have $60, spend the $40 on the download...and if you don't have the $40, concentrate on things like feeding yourself, and buying soap.
Let's wrap it up, shall we? The game is good. Even if you don't play well with others, you can turn down the voices, and pretend they're all computer-people. That's what I do. In real life.
I'm a little late, but I just wanted to give my impressions. I was playing the game almost all day yesterday and it's a blast. No, it's not a very technical online shooter like SOCOM or R6. That's not what this game is trying to be. It's about fast and furious action. Run (and fly) and gun with some strategy thrown in from time to time. It's very arcade-like gameplay. The controls are a bit loose and very forgiving, which makes the game very accessible to a wide range of temperaments and talents.
Oh and, about the 5 map thing: Really, the configurations of each location are so different for each tier of game size, that it does feel like almost completely different maps. To me, anyway.
All in all, very addicting, easily accessible gameplay. I like it.