The latest addition to Konami's Deadly Skies series, which has seen titles on Dreamcast and, more recently Xbox, appears courtesy of Nintendo's handheld system. Opting for a Mode 7-style, 2D scrolling guise, as opposed to the bigger systems' 3D visuals, Deadly Skies on the GBA maintains the all-action air combat, placing players in control of classic and modern military aircraft in a series of combat scenarios.

20 missions, ranging from protecting craft to bombing runs, unfold as the gam ... more >>

The latest addition to Konami's Deadly Skies series, which has seen titles on Dreamcast and, more recently Xbox, appears courtesy of Nintendo's handheld system. Opting for a Mode 7-style, 2D scrolling guise, as opposed to the bigger systems' 3D visuals, Deadly Skies on the GBA maintains the all-action air combat, placing players in control of classic and modern military aircraft in a series of combat scenarios.

20 missions, ranging from protecting craft to bombing runs, unfold as the game progresses, with each one demanding greater strategic planning and reflexes from the player. The missions are also tied in to the individual attributes of the nine aircraft on offer. As such, players need to plot courses using the maps provided and also monitor the instruments of their plane, as they engage in such objectives as aerial dogfights and attacking key enemy installations.

Graphically, Deadly Skies is akin to such titles as Pilot Wings on the SNES, due to its top-down, 2D perspective and its use of the Mode 7 scale and rotate effects. A much greater level of detail can be found here though, presenting the player with intricately detailed cities and forests, covering vast areas of land. Varying densities of cloud contribute to the feeling of flight elevation, making for a realistic experience for all you vertigo sufferers.

Play itself is sufficiently arcade-like to make it appeal to the 'pick-up-and-play' audience, whilst, for the more discerning virtual pilots amongst you, a greater amount of depth and a more intricate handling dynamic can be discovered with lengthy play. This is an important factor, as mastery of the controls is fundamental to beating the game's steep learning curve.
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