Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X 2
Encyclopedia
Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X. 2 is an arcade-style flight action game developed by Ubisoft Romania
and published by Ubisoft
. The game is the sequel to Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X.
, released in 2009. The game was announced in May 2010 and was scheduled to be released on September 3 in UK and September 7 in Europe. However, Ubisoft delayed the release date for the PC, PS3 and Wii, while the Xbox 360 was pushed back to its new September 3, 2010 release date. The PS3 version was released one week later on September 10. The PC and Wii versions of the game were released on November 12.
, where a high level of violence is being registered, and the appearance of various insurgents leaders in various hotspots. The team also has to investigate the mysterious disappearance of Russian nuclear weapons. The player will be controlling three groups: one American (Alex Hunter), one British (Colin Munro) and one Russian (Dimitri Sokov), each with its own pilots and supporting characters. There will also be references to other characters in the Tom Clancy
universe.
The game begins with Colonel David Crenshaw participating in a routine patrol mission in the Middle East. After halting an insurgent attack, a volley of missiles is fired at the Air Force base that Crenshaw was stationed at, with one of the missiles disabling Crenshaw's aircraft, resulting Crenshaw being in enemy captivity and killing his fellow comrades from the previous series. A joint strike force, coordinated by Lieutenant Colonel Simms and composed of the U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, and a Ghost Recon squad executes an operation to rescue Crenshaw. They are supported by Major Rebecca Walters, who pilots an AC-130 gunship during the rescue. In Scotland, Royal Navy Pilot Colin Munro encounters an unidentified passenger aircraft that explodes from an on-board bomb when undergoing training exercise. In Russia, an air force squadron led by Colonel Denisov and Captain Dimitri Sokov engages separatist aircraft but is ordered to retreat from the region after numerous Russian military installations have been attacked.
Shortly after his rescue, Crenshaw stays on-board an aircraft carrier due to an injured arm and conducts a remote surveillance operation with Voron agent Drachev. Drachev was originally undercover inside the Middle Eastern insurgent cell for Russia, only to have his cover become blown. A large scale military operation composed of Drachev and the U.S. military is undertaken to secure the region. Shortly after, Drachev executes a joint-operation with Russian Spetznaz and the Russian Air Force to recover stolen nuclear warheads from Separatists in Romaniskhov. However, only two out of the three warheads were recovered, and Drachev's transport is shot down during the middle of extraction. Colonel Denisov and Captain Sokov provide air support to the best of their abilities, only to be ordered by General Morgunov, to blow up the Nevskaya Dam in order to prevent the warheads from falling into enemy hands. This presumably kills everyone on the ground, but Drachev survives. Despite their efforts, a nuclear warhead is detonated in the Romashkino oil field, crippling Russia's energy supplies. As a result of the attack, Russian Ultranationalists seize control of Russia under the leadership of President Alexander Treshkayev.
While Sokov pilots a UAV
to kill the separatists, Drachev covertly calls him in a command center, revealing that the events in Russia had been a ruse for the Russian Ultranationalists to sabotage Russia's energy industry and seize control of the Russian government. As a result of Ultranationalist control, Russia would then create war to gather much-needed resources and the government would be declared as heroes. Drachev has Sokov trace a call with one of the Separatists members to General Morgunov, Sokov's commanding officer. After being privy of the truth, Sokov escapes from a military installation with Drachev and retreats to Crenshaw's custody with the incriminating evidence. Drachev and U.S. pilots Hunter, Simms, and Walters undergo a joint operation to disarm one of the remaining warheads in Cape Town
.
Meanwhile, Munro and the Royal Navy repels an assault by the Russian Navy. The Royal Navy then undergoes a joint operation with the U.S. military, Sokov, Drachev, and Norwegian forces to attack Morgunov's military and assault Moscow
. During the final stages of the operation, Morgunov reveals that he and Treskayev did not act on their own, but were "following orders" from a "Mysterious organization." He intends to detonate nuclear warheads at a captured military base to attack the organization. The H.A.W.X. squadron proceeds with the final assault and destroys the underground base, with Simms, Walters, Colonel Denisov, and Morgunov perishing in the process, leaving only Alex Hunter.
, A-10 Thunderbolt II
, F-16 Fighting Falcon
, Eurofighter Typhoon
, F-35 Lightning II
, Su-47 Berkut and the gun turrets of an AC-130. There is also night time precision targeted bomb and unmanned aerial vehicle
s, which plays a large role in stealth missions. New features include the ability to takeoff
and land
, with various scenarios that will require different approaches. For instance, landing on an airfield in the middle of the day won't be the same as a midnight landing on an aircraft carrier
. The graphics have also been improved, with a new damage system being implemented. The AI has been improved as well, with more lifelike actions such as dodging and maneuvering. The game also features a four player co-op through the game as well a "full adversarial multiplayer" with up to eight players. The player can also go head-to-head in close-range dogfights and use air-to-air refueling
in the middle of missions.
The H.A.W.X Squadron operate a number of aircraft which are the following,
F-15 Eagle
,
F-22 Raptor
,
F-16 Falcon,
F-35 Lightning II
,
A-10 Thunderbolt,
F-18 Hornet,
F-14 Tomcat
,
Dassault Rafale
and
Saab JAS 39 Gripen,
Ubisoft Romania
Ubisoft Romania was founded in October 1992 and was the first production studio established by Ubisoft outside France.- History :Starting with only 4 programmers and 2 graphic artists, in time, the Bucharest studio has grown to around 800 people working in different fields of activity, in 2010, and...
and published by Ubisoft
Ubisoft
Ubisoft Entertainment S.A. is a major French video game publisher and developer, with headquarters in Montreuil, France. The company has a worldwide presence with 25 studios in 17 countries and subsidiaries in 26 countries....
. The game is the sequel to Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X.
Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X.
Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X is an arcade flight video game developed by Ubisoft Romania and published by Ubisoft for Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Android, webOS, and iOS. It was released in United States on March 6, 2009. The Wii version was announced, but it has been canceled. In September...
, released in 2009. The game was announced in May 2010 and was scheduled to be released on September 3 in UK and September 7 in Europe. However, Ubisoft delayed the release date for the PC, PS3 and Wii, while the Xbox 360 was pushed back to its new September 3, 2010 release date. The PS3 version was released one week later on September 10. The PC and Wii versions of the game were released on November 12.
Plot
After the events of the first game, the H.A.W.X squadron is sent to Middle EastMiddle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
, where a high level of violence is being registered, and the appearance of various insurgents leaders in various hotspots. The team also has to investigate the mysterious disappearance of Russian nuclear weapons. The player will be controlling three groups: one American (Alex Hunter), one British (Colin Munro) and one Russian (Dimitri Sokov), each with its own pilots and supporting characters. There will also be references to other characters in the Tom Clancy
Tom Clancy
Thomas Leo "Tom" Clancy, Jr. is an American author, best known for his technically detailed espionage, military science, and techno thriller storylines set during and in the aftermath of the Cold War, along with video games on which he did not work, but which bear his name for licensing and...
universe.
The game begins with Colonel David Crenshaw participating in a routine patrol mission in the Middle East. After halting an insurgent attack, a volley of missiles is fired at the Air Force base that Crenshaw was stationed at, with one of the missiles disabling Crenshaw's aircraft, resulting Crenshaw being in enemy captivity and killing his fellow comrades from the previous series. A joint strike force, coordinated by Lieutenant Colonel Simms and composed of the U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, and a Ghost Recon squad executes an operation to rescue Crenshaw. They are supported by Major Rebecca Walters, who pilots an AC-130 gunship during the rescue. In Scotland, Royal Navy Pilot Colin Munro encounters an unidentified passenger aircraft that explodes from an on-board bomb when undergoing training exercise. In Russia, an air force squadron led by Colonel Denisov and Captain Dimitri Sokov engages separatist aircraft but is ordered to retreat from the region after numerous Russian military installations have been attacked.
Shortly after his rescue, Crenshaw stays on-board an aircraft carrier due to an injured arm and conducts a remote surveillance operation with Voron agent Drachev. Drachev was originally undercover inside the Middle Eastern insurgent cell for Russia, only to have his cover become blown. A large scale military operation composed of Drachev and the U.S. military is undertaken to secure the region. Shortly after, Drachev executes a joint-operation with Russian Spetznaz and the Russian Air Force to recover stolen nuclear warheads from Separatists in Romaniskhov. However, only two out of the three warheads were recovered, and Drachev's transport is shot down during the middle of extraction. Colonel Denisov and Captain Sokov provide air support to the best of their abilities, only to be ordered by General Morgunov, to blow up the Nevskaya Dam in order to prevent the warheads from falling into enemy hands. This presumably kills everyone on the ground, but Drachev survives. Despite their efforts, a nuclear warhead is detonated in the Romashkino oil field, crippling Russia's energy supplies. As a result of the attack, Russian Ultranationalists seize control of Russia under the leadership of President Alexander Treshkayev.
While Sokov pilots a UAV
Unmanned aerial vehicle
An unmanned aerial vehicle , also known as a unmanned aircraft system , remotely piloted aircraft or unmanned aircraft, is a machine which functions either by the remote control of a navigator or pilot or autonomously, that is, as a self-directing entity...
to kill the separatists, Drachev covertly calls him in a command center, revealing that the events in Russia had been a ruse for the Russian Ultranationalists to sabotage Russia's energy industry and seize control of the Russian government. As a result of Ultranationalist control, Russia would then create war to gather much-needed resources and the government would be declared as heroes. Drachev has Sokov trace a call with one of the Separatists members to General Morgunov, Sokov's commanding officer. After being privy of the truth, Sokov escapes from a military installation with Drachev and retreats to Crenshaw's custody with the incriminating evidence. Drachev and U.S. pilots Hunter, Simms, and Walters undergo a joint operation to disarm one of the remaining warheads in Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
.
Meanwhile, Munro and the Royal Navy repels an assault by the Russian Navy. The Royal Navy then undergoes a joint operation with the U.S. military, Sokov, Drachev, and Norwegian forces to attack Morgunov's military and assault Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
. During the final stages of the operation, Morgunov reveals that he and Treskayev did not act on their own, but were "following orders" from a "Mysterious organization." He intends to detonate nuclear warheads at a captured military base to attack the organization. The H.A.W.X. squadron proceeds with the final assault and destroys the underground base, with Simms, Walters, Colonel Denisov, and Morgunov perishing in the process, leaving only Alex Hunter.
Gameplay
The game is similar to the previous one. The player controls various aircraft, including the Harrier GR9, F-22 RaptorF-22 Raptor
The Lockheed Martin/Boeing F-22 Raptor is a single-seat, twin-engine fifth-generation supermaneuverable fighter aircraft that uses stealth technology. It was designed primarily as an air superiority fighter, but has additional capabilities that include ground attack, electronic warfare, and signals...
, A-10 Thunderbolt II
A-10 Thunderbolt II
The Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II is an American single-seat, twin-engine, straight-wing jet aircraft developed by Fairchild-Republic in the early 1970s. The A-10 was designed for a United States Air Force requirement to provide close air support for ground forces by attacking tanks,...
, F-16 Fighting Falcon
F-16 Fighting Falcon
The General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon is a multirole jet fighter aircraft originally developed by General Dynamics for the United States Air Force . Designed as an air superiority day fighter, it evolved into a successful all-weather multirole aircraft. Over 4,400 aircraft have been built since...
, Eurofighter Typhoon
Eurofighter Typhoon
The Eurofighter Typhoon is a twin-engine, canard-delta wing, multirole combat aircraft, designed and built by a consortium of three companies: EADS, Alenia Aeronautica and BAE Systems; working through a holding company, Eurofighter GmbH, which was formed in 1986...
, F-35 Lightning II
F-35 Lightning II
The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is a family of single-seat, single-engine, fifth generation multirole fighters under development to perform ground attack, reconnaissance, and air defense missions with stealth capability...
, Su-47 Berkut and the gun turrets of an AC-130. There is also night time precision targeted bomb and unmanned aerial vehicle
Unmanned aerial vehicle
An unmanned aerial vehicle , also known as a unmanned aircraft system , remotely piloted aircraft or unmanned aircraft, is a machine which functions either by the remote control of a navigator or pilot or autonomously, that is, as a self-directing entity...
s, which plays a large role in stealth missions. New features include the ability to takeoff
Takeoff
Takeoff is the phase of flight in which an aerospace vehicle goes from the ground to flying in the air.For horizontal takeoff aircraft this usually involves starting with a transition from moving along the ground on a runway. For balloons, helicopters and some specialized fixed-wing aircraft , no...
and land
Landing
thumb|A [[Mute Swan]] alighting. Note the ruffled feathers on top of the wings indicate that the swan is flying at the [[Stall |stall]]ing speed...
, with various scenarios that will require different approaches. For instance, landing on an airfield in the middle of the day won't be the same as a midnight landing on an aircraft carrier
Aircraft carrier
An aircraft carrier is a warship designed with a primary mission of deploying and recovering aircraft, acting as a seagoing airbase. Aircraft carriers thus allow a naval force to project air power worldwide without having to depend on local bases for staging aircraft operations...
. The graphics have also been improved, with a new damage system being implemented. The AI has been improved as well, with more lifelike actions such as dodging and maneuvering. The game also features a four player co-op through the game as well a "full adversarial multiplayer" with up to eight players. The player can also go head-to-head in close-range dogfights and use air-to-air refueling
Aerial refueling
Aerial refueling, also called air refueling, in-flight refueling , air-to-air refueling or tanking, is the process of transferring fuel from one aircraft to another during flight....
in the middle of missions.
The H.A.W.X Squadron operate a number of aircraft which are the following,
F-15 Eagle
F-15 Eagle
The McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle is a twin-engine, all-weather tactical fighter designed by McDonnell Douglas to gain and maintain air superiority in aerial combat. It is considered among the most successful modern fighters with over 100 aerial combat victories with no losses in dogfights...
,
F-22 Raptor
F-22 Raptor
The Lockheed Martin/Boeing F-22 Raptor is a single-seat, twin-engine fifth-generation supermaneuverable fighter aircraft that uses stealth technology. It was designed primarily as an air superiority fighter, but has additional capabilities that include ground attack, electronic warfare, and signals...
,
F-16 Falcon,
F-35 Lightning II
F-35 Lightning II
The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is a family of single-seat, single-engine, fifth generation multirole fighters under development to perform ground attack, reconnaissance, and air defense missions with stealth capability...
,
A-10 Thunderbolt,
F-18 Hornet,
F-14 Tomcat
F-14 Tomcat
The Grumman F-14 Tomcat is a supersonic, twin-engine, two-seat, variable-sweep wing fighter aircraft. The Tomcat was developed for the United States Navy's Naval Fighter Experimental program following the collapse of the F-111B project...
,
Dassault Rafale
Dassault Rafale
The Dassault Rafale is a French twin-engine delta-wing multi-role jet fighter aircraft designed and built by Dassault Aviation. Introduced in 2000, the Rafale is being produced both for land-based use with the French Air Force and for carrier-based operations with the French Navy...
and
Saab JAS 39 Gripen,