PlayStation 2

Fireblade

FireBlade is the kind of combat title gamers will find hard to put down and, while it suffers from a number of imperfections, the missions are far too engaging to care about the little things. Those gamers looking for a copter simulation won’t find it here but arcade action fans will find this one up their alley.

Though Fireblade isn't going to win any awards with its so-so visuals and paper-thin plotline, the effort that Kuju and Midway have shown with the finished product is a nice one. A little too short for wartime veterans, and possibly too complicated for Joe Average, this arcade war-simulation probably won't attract a huge audience.

In the end, Fire Blade is a surprisingly good game that will more than satisfy helicopter combat fans. Its mix of gameplay--which alternates between stealthy first-person sniping and the classic frenzy of a traditional shooter, complete with more bullets than you think you can dodge and more targets than you think you have ammo for--really makes Fire Blade entertaining and exciting all the way through.

Here’s a classic case of a good game with a bad control scheme. The graphics and missions are interesting, but the controls turned me off before I was ready to quit playing. I have a sneaking suspicion that fans of the rock ’em, sock ‘em, blow-stuff-up helicopter genre will be much more forgiving than most who fire this one up (no pun intended), but it’s definitely going to be a thorn in their side. Proceed at flank speed.

Fire Blade is definitely a neat concept that looks and sounds decent. Unfortunately, I had a heck of time having fun because it was so very challenging. If you want a difficult game, then this is your cup of tea. There aren't any unlockable things from stage to stage so immediate rewards for such a tough time made Fire Blade cumbersome at times. If you're a military guy, or action gamer, then I think you'll really like this game. Kuju really came up with a great concept that needed a little tweaking. For all the other gamers, I would rent first and then make a decision.

Fireblade is a fun and challenging game that offers a considerable learning curve to get you up to speed. The overall campaign is a bit on the short side unless you are a dedicated perfectionist. The intense action and suspenseful stealth gameplay is mixed with great special effects that help to conceal some bland textures and an awkward visual perspective.

It's a shame that FireBlade is burdened by such stringent objectives when it could have been so much more entertaining. It's recommended for helicopter sim fans only, and might be too tough for the casual gamer.

Fire Blade ne marquera pas les esprits autant qu'un Desert Strike. Le pilotage est très axé arcade et pas vraiment plaisant à jouer. Le jeu est clairement axé sur l'action, mais l'aspect furtif y tient une place non négligeable, alors que le gameplay est trop limité pour servir correctement ce type de progression.

Ultimately, there's nothing to make Fireblade stand out it's like every other mission-based helicopter shooter, except that it lacks a personality. Fireblade Firebland.