This manages to include all the right elements of an enjoyable flight sim. Despite its rather outdated graphics, it is still worth playing. Controlling your Apache isn't overly tough but doesn't feel too simplified either. Combat is fun, and there are a variety of missions that put the included features of the aircraft to good use. The battlefield feels alive and active once you get into the missions. Although If it has a weakness, the lack of communication with other units can occasionally make you feel as if you're either the only one who knows what to do, or the only one who doesn't know what to do.
I think I can honestly say this is unlike almost any other game out there (I suppose other David Cage products might qualify). And it's true in almost all aspects. For one, you get to play on both sides of a murder mystery — both as the culprit and those trying to find him. The gameplay is unusual as well for an adventure game, be being primarily focused on quick-time events. Finally the plot ends up being one of the most bizarre (and I do mean ... "bizarre") ever conceived. Just because something is different does not make it good, and this game is proof of that. The initial hook doesn't hold up after a while as other parts of the plot take over. The control scheme is strange and some events just seem to drag on. Those without gamepads (like me) are likely to find it unworkable at higher difficulty, which is a shame. Finally, the part about the plot being bizarre is that it goes off the rails so spectacularly that you almost do have to play it just to experience that.
The core of this game is a relatively routine adventure game with its share of fun, if illogical puzzles that often get solved only because the options at any point are so restricted. But that's really not important because the characters are all so real. Every person has an interesting story (even those that won't tell it to you have an interesting spark to them). The voice acting is top-notch, too. The artwork and the feel of the world is really great, although it would have been nice to see something a touch more expansive. I'd rate it higher but I do feel the gameplay could have been better and it is possible to run into a bug (as I did). The game's not super tough to blow through if you need to restart. Just don't do that the first time or you'll miss out on the best part of it.
