Piloting

Fans of Big Robots are in for a real treat if they happen to own the Xbox console. For some strange reason, Microsoft's black behemoth will be host to a virtual armada of mecha-themed games quite soon. With upcoming titles like Murakumo, Phantom Crash, Robotech: Battlecry and Steel Battalion (to name just a few) there won't be any shortage of missile-launching, jet-boosting, laser-sword-slicing fury. I'm really a bit mystified as to exactly why there will be so many on the Box as opposed to the other two consoles, but whatever the case, the invasion's first wave has just hit.

Somewhere in Sky Gunner there's a great shooter—unfortunately, it's buried under a small mountain of technical and design flaws that make the gaming experience seem more like a chore than fun.

Precision is a concept that requires not only patience, but also the right instrument. After all, would a painter be able to create a detailed portrait were he given nothing more than a paint roller? This example not only bears an obvious answer but also depicts a situation where precision is essential. Without its respective tools of the trade, accomplishing such a task would near the impossibility. Such is the dilemma with Lethal Skies for PlayStation 2.

According to ESRB, this game contains: Mild Language, Violence

Game Description: Set in the not-too-distant future on an Earth devastated by the effects of global warming, Lethal Skies puts players in the role of an elite pilot flying for an alliance to save civilization. Players choose from among the most advanced fighter jets in the world, taking flight on numerous air-to-air and air-to-ground missions that span the globe. Lethal Skies includes accurately reproduced fighters such as the F-15, F-16, F/A-18, and F-22, as well as "black program" futuristic prototype jets that can be unlocked through gameplay. Pilots are propelled through cooperative and competitive missions to take on bombers, fighters, attack helicopters, and other enemies in a progressive series of attack and defense scenarios. With stunning 3D graphics not typically found in flight simulation games, Lethal Skies delivers a heart-pounding experience.

According to the ESRB, this game contains: Mild Violence

Shooters are getting to be few and far between in today's game scene. While they represented a significant portion of the 16-bit era, developers just aren't making them anymore despite all of the amazing technology at their disposal. Newer gamers probably don't even notice the genre's vanishing presence. But as someone who can appreciate barrages of homing missiles and deadly laser blossoms destroying hordes of enemies in aerobatic fury, it's sad to see it fade away.

According to ESRB, this game contains: Mild Language, Violence