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Platform Filters:   All Platforms  Xbox   GameCube   PlayStation 2   PC   Game Boy Advance   Site Sections:   Updates  News   Games   Publishers   Developers   Reviews   Previews   Release Dates   Editorials   Glossary   Contact Us		Preview:       12th October 2003: Echelon: Wind Warriors  A promising sci-fi flight sim, but can it deliver on all of its promises while still being fun to play? Posted by Peter Cavan - PC - UK and Europe Echelon: Wind Warriors is a flying game with a difference: you pilot futuristic aircraft that would look at home in space, but you fly over land maps, sometimes skimming over the surface of the world below. EWW is the sequel to the original game Echelon, which was well received when it was released in 2001. Some critics even called it the "best thing for a joystick," and EWW tries to emulate that success. Echelon is a sci-fi flight sim, and involves the player piloting an attack craft to destroy enemy targets. These include aircraft, battleships and various ground opponents. This gives plenty of variety to the gameplay; in many of the missions you will have to do things like protecting your side's battleship while destroying enemy positions. Combat will be fast and frenetic, with dozens of craft on the screen at one time and usually most of them shooting at you. There will be over 40 multiplayer missions. These can be done in a variety of craft, from the nimbler craft, which can turn and twist with ease, to the heavier varieties, which won't be able to complete the same aerobatics, but can pack in tons of firepower. Power or speed, or a combination of both, its up to you. There are 15+ different craft available, and over 250 other objects and vehicles to see and destroy. The game can be played without a joystick, having one is recommended, not required, due to the excellent mouse controls available. The player assumes the role of Major Jason "Wolf" Scott, a pilot for the Galactic Federation, and is involved in a simplistic storyline. (Federation v Enemies, Wolf kills them all, etc) There will be a team-like addition to the game; you can give commands to allies such as calling in other craft and ground units. Plenty of weapons will be on offer too, with new additions such as plasma rockets complementing the game's already large armoury. This change of scenery certainly helps the title, none of the usual bland black backgrounds associated with space games. MADia used an all-new 3D engine for this, there are some excellent effects like dust clouds and detailed environments. You can see for miles if go high enough, and sometimes the scenery is truly stunning. The maps are set on a continent, which takes 7 real hours of flying to cross. Though not to the exacting detail of something like FS2004, the areas are more than good enough for their purpose and add a lot not just to the look of the game, but to the dynamics as well. No more simple blasting at enemies, you and your opponents can fly under bridges, through twisty canyons and over mountains. This gives the playing a much more involving feeling. Not just outgunning but also outmanoeuvring your opponent, which in turn gives a much more satisfying feeling when your kills start to rack up. The sounds are satisfying while not being amazing. The whoosh and bang of guns helps the atmosphere immensely, and the music has just the right power to help, not hinder the flow of the game. There is also a multiplayer included with several game types such as death match, co-op and Capture the Base. These should server to vastly lengthen the game, if optimised enough to provide a quick game for all connections. We won't know how good the multiplayer really is until the game is released and the servers start to fill up. Overall, this a good game which takes a couple of genres (sci-fi, flying, shooting) and successfully rolls them into one accomplished title. Everybody won't love it but most will enjoy it if they try it. Not perfect, but if it is finished well before its late October release date it could be a surprise hit. Peter Cavan             Latest Images:		Related Games:  Echelon: Wind Warriors for PC  9  Screenshots  1  Preview Click here for All Game Information.
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