Review: Heatseeker (Wii)

Nintendo fans continue to wait for an update to the Pilot Wings franchise and this test of patience looks set to continue, although with Heatseeker the Wii finally takes to the skies. Heatseeker offers modest arcade thrills combined with the novelty of the control system, which pushes a sub par experience into the realms of something more pleasant but only just.

Few flying releases manage to produce a relevant and worthwhile storyline to backup the aerial acrobatics. Heatseeker tries to insert you in the role of a faceless hero known as “downtown” initially defending a base under attack, and then branching out into investigating before the tally-ho building up to the grand finale. A mixture of styles are employed to transmit the plot, with in game sequences standing side by side with mock video news reporting and static mission briefings.

While the environments and major players are imaginary, the tools that you rely on are certainly based on real life aircraft. Top Gun fans will be pleased with the inclusion of the F-15 Eagle, while more futuristic offerings are available in the form of the F-22 and SU-47 Berkut. IR Gurus have tried to keep the action pegged to Die Hard levels, but this reliance on adrenaline to cover up the shortcomings elsewhere soon becomes tiresome and the cracks emerge. Your initial goal is displayed and after resolving this target - almost immediately another appears - allowing you little time to engage in those flying activities Gamestyle enjoys such as dodging bridges, mountains and housing schemes. Goals show little imagination, apart from aligning your aircraft; locking on; pressing fire and identifying the next helpless soul. The experience works best when you are engaging enemy pilots, but tiresome bombing missions and other types such as scanning show how safe Heatseeker actually is.

The difficulty curve is well pitched, slowly rising in difficulty regardless of whether you select the arcade or professional simulation style of game controls. For the arcade the nunchuk handles the throttle and machine guns, while the Wii remote will sense direction both vertically and horizontally. The difference is that on the arcade setting the Wii itself will take control of pitch, yaw and rolling. Ultimately the disadvantage is that these can take a little too long to kick in, leaving you unable to fully exploit the manoeuvrability of your chosen aircraft.

Without the unique appeal of the Will control method, Heatseeker would be very poor indeed. However the ability to control your plane through motion is simply great fun. Modest movements are all that are required, at times it feels too sensitive and this certainly becomes apparent when trying to reach other buttons on the Wii remote. For instance the D-pad offers a variety of functions including zooming, wingmen control and weapon selection. The placement of the pad combined with the sensitivity, can result in a momentary lapse in control, which at times is costly. Despite the fun element, the feeling of restraint also applies here, as a sturdy wrist and penchant for insignificant movements is required. You might as well be holding a spirit level on a building site. What it does cofirm if anything is the potential for an excellent flying title, whether it be the puzzle orientated Pilot Wings or the blockbuster style of Ace Combat.

Visually Heatseeker is very much of the last generation, and at distances had Gamestyle reminiscing of the Nintendo 64 console. The detail is lacking, and only when you fly over areas at low altitude can you appreciate some of the scenery but even then the Wii is capable of much more than this. Such visual necessities have been sacrificed to maintain a fluid frame rate that impresses when you go full throttle and zoom across a level. These highspeed manoeuvres only confirm the existence of those dreaded invisible walls and a ceiling height that cannot be breached.

And what of the Impact Cam feature that has been highlighted in accompanying press releases? The inclusion is meant to bring an aerial equivalent of the Burnout replay to proceedings and fails miserably. A successful missile hit that results in a downed opponent will prompt the short replay, which is almost immediately over before it began. Given the poor visual standard of Heatseeker and the constant supply of aerial opponents, it is an ineffectual tool that soon becomes extremely repetitive.

If only there were additional modes outside of the main story, but Heatseeker only offers the option to go back to a selected mission. That means a frustratingly limited experience that offers no multi-player aspect or freeform or mini-game modes to unleash some potential. You can pursue some of the bonus aircraft or weaponry that is unlocked through good performance or meeting a specific goal. Yet Gamestyle asks why bother? There is little need to improve your odds of success in what is a shortlived title at best.

Rating: 4 / 10

Words by Jason Julier