Games Database
Xbox
Combat Game: Flying
| Also for: | PC, PS2 | ||
| Viewed: | 3D First-person / Third-person | Genre: | Combat Game: Flying |
| Media: | DVD | Arcade origin: | No |
| Developer: | Totally Games | Soft. Co.: | LucasArts |
| Publishers: | Activision
(GB) |
Released: | 28 Nov 2003
(GB) |
| Ratings: | PEGI 12+ | ||
| Accessories: | Xbox Memory Unit | ||
| Connectivity: | Xbox Live | ||
Summary
Proving itself capable in a variety of genres, LucasArts is now expanding its portfolio to include World War II-based combat flight games. And in an attempt to bridge the gap between the arcade combat game and the hardcore story-led flight sim is Secret Weapons Over Normandy for Xbox.
Spanning a period of four years when world domination by the Third Reich seemed certain, Secret Weapons Over Normandy allows players to relive the most infamous air battles of that era to help swing the balance of power back to the Allied Forces. The game follows a historically accurate timeline of key conflicts including the dramatic Evacuation of Dunkirk, the fierce Battle of Britain, Germany’s daring planned invasion of England, the pivotal Battle of Midway and the D-Day invasion.
As a story, Secret Weapons of Normandy doesn’t focus on story-telling perhaps as much as it could. Little time is spent on narrative and many of the in-game characters are generic and lack any real personality. But, that said, Secret Weapons Over Normandy excels as a combat flight game. It features a broad range of fighter planes including the P-38 Lightning and P-51 Mustang, as well as one of the fastest piston-driven fighter planes of the era – the highly unstable ME 163 Komet rocket plane. Each of them handles differently, but all are relatively easy to pilot thanks to some simplified Xbox controls.
Additionally, the Xbox version of the game boasts online support, offering a multi-player co-operative mode. Those with online functionality will probably spend most of their time online, but the single-player experience is also enough to make Secret Weapons Over Normandy a thoroughly enjoyable game.
Spanning a period of four years when world domination by the Third Reich seemed certain, Secret Weapons Over Normandy allows players to relive the most infamous air battles of that era to help swing the balance of power back to the Allied Forces. The game follows a historically accurate timeline of key conflicts including the dramatic Evacuation of Dunkirk, the fierce Battle of Britain, Germany’s daring planned invasion of England, the pivotal Battle of Midway and the D-Day invasion.
As a story, Secret Weapons of Normandy doesn’t focus on story-telling perhaps as much as it could. Little time is spent on narrative and many of the in-game characters are generic and lack any real personality. But, that said, Secret Weapons Over Normandy excels as a combat flight game. It features a broad range of fighter planes including the P-38 Lightning and P-51 Mustang, as well as one of the fastest piston-driven fighter planes of the era – the highly unstable ME 163 Komet rocket plane. Each of them handles differently, but all are relatively easy to pilot thanks to some simplified Xbox controls.
Additionally, the Xbox version of the game boasts online support, offering a multi-player co-operative mode. Those with online functionality will probably spend most of their time online, but the single-player experience is also enough to make Secret Weapons Over Normandy a thoroughly enjoyable game.
