| Warhawk | |
|---|---|
 North American PlayStation 3 cover art | |
| Developer(s) | Incognito Entertainment[a] |
| Publisher(s) | Sony Computer Entertainment |
| Director(s) | Dylan Jobe |
| Designer(s) | Dylan Jobe Ryan Mudd |
| Composer(s) | Christopher Lennertz Timothy Michael Wynn |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation 3 |
| Release | |
| Genre(s) | Third-person shooter |
| Mode(s) | Multiplayer |
Warhawk was a 2007online multiplayerthird-person shootervideo game developed byIncognito Entertainment and published bySony Computer Entertainment for thePlayStation 3. It was intended to be aremake of anaerial warfare game of thesame name, which was an early title on the originalPlayStation. It was the first PlayStation 3 game to be available both physically and digitally on thePlayStation Network.[1]
Warhawk was initially intended to have bothsingle-player andmultiplayer modes, however the single-player element was canceled during development due to concerns that it was inferior to the game's multiplayer component.[2] The game was released with five maps (each with five possible configurations) and four game types,Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, Zones andCapture the Flag. After the 1.4 update, the number of game types increased to six with the addition of the Hero and Collection modes. Three optional expansion packs for the game containing new maps and equipment increase the number of available maps to eight.
Warhawk was met with a generally positive reception by reviewers. However, for a few months after its initial launch it was plagued by connection and server issues, including ranking issues with players, which were subsequently corrected in updates.[3] The player is able to rank-up though 20 ranks ranging from Recruit to General, unlocking new personnel and aircraft customization options at each rank. A spiritual successor,Starhawk, was released in May 2012.
Sony shut down Warhawk's online servers on January 31, 2019, at 8 am GMT, providing notice by email toPlayStation Network members.[4][5] Since the shutdown, numerous players in the game's community have utilized third party tools and services such asXLink Kai and PlayStation Online Network Emulated to continue playing.[6][7]
Warhawk is a third-person shooter set in a science fictional, perpetual war between the Eucadian Republic and Chernovan Empire (blue and red team, respectively).
There are two ground vehicles, a jeep and a tank, and anarmored personnel carrier is added by the Operation: Broken Mirror expansion. There are two air vehicles, the Warhawk and Nemesis (which are only cosmetically different), both of which can use nine weapons, an example is the AS-3 Tow Missile system. That weapon is the only weapon in the game where the player guides the weapon, the players screen is devoted to guiding the missile and leaving the player open to getting hit. But the upside is that it does massive damage and is the largest explosion in the game. The Omega Dawn expansion adds a dropship, and the Fallen Star expansion adds a jetpack. There are three turrets available to the player (anti-airmissile turret, anti-air flak turret, and the .50 caliber anti-infantry machine gun). The game uses thePlayStation 3Sixaxis[8] andDualShock 3 controllers.[9] The game can be set to make use of these controllers'motion sensing function to allow the players to control aircraft and ground vehicles by tilting the controller in different directions rather than the more conventional methods of using theD-pad oranalog sticks. However, a traditional control scheme is the default option.Warhawk offers online and offline multiplayer play. Offline allows for 1-4 playerssplitscreen (withoutbots). Online features up to 32-player battles, with the ability to have up to 4 players use onePlayStation 3 insplit screen mode (on non-ranked servers that permit it). Players 2-4 can enter or exit the game while a match is in progress.
The game uses medals and rewards, which are awarded for certain tasks. As of v1.50, the game supports trophies, which will be used in the online servicePlayStation Home.[10] Players are also able to customize their characters with armor squad markings, Warhawk paint schemes, and other accessories. More customization options are unlocked as the player increases in rank.[11]Warhawk also allows the creation of clans, which may participate in online events and competitions. The game also makes use of arbiters, paid anonymous players who are tasked to find cheaters within the game. They are able to punish offending players in several ways, such as an email warning, a forum post, a kick, or a temporary/permanent ban. Arbiters can also request that the player's stats be erased.[12]
Warhawk is one of many games that supports game launching inPlayStation Home. This feature allows players to host a game in Home and then launch it once other players have joined. The player may even invite friends to the game launch. Once the game has been launched from Home the players may return to Home at any time via the "Return to PlayStation Home" option that appears instead of the "Quit Game" option. On February 26, 2009, Incognito Entertainment and Santa Monica Studio launched theWarhawkspace for PlayStation Home. Beyond its unique aesthetics, the space is functionally similar to those forUncharted: Drake's Fortune andFar Cry 2, with one notable exception: the "Warhawk Sand Table". It's a place to plan in-game strategies using "VR" set-pieces—vehicles, maneuver icons, etc. - which can be moved around on 2D versions of any of the game's maps (and their variants).[13]
The first person to access the table is in control. Here's where one of the problems arises: anyone can walk up and watch as a user plans their "secret" strategy. Furthermore, there's no way to share or use the finished battle plan within the game. It's all up to each player's memory (or notepad).
There is also a "Learning Terminal" (eight in all) that tells the users about General Hints, Weapons, and Flying.
Outso developed theWarhawk game space for Incognito Entertainment and Santa Monica Studio as well as the "Warhawk Sand Table" in the space.[14]
On February 11, 2010, aWarhawk personal space was released in Home. It includes the Sand Table featured in the Game Space as well as a multiplayer turret mini-game.[15]
As of July 2010, theWarhawk game space has been removed from PlayStation Home, due to lack of players actually using the space.
Warhawk supports six separate game modes compatible with all variations of all of the maps.
Warhawk was first announced to the public in May 2005, with a working build shown atE3 in 2006. This version was the firstPlayStation 3 title to be shown with the newly announced Sixaxis motion sensing technology.[17] In February 2007, it was announced that the single player element of the game was to be pulled.[2] This was due to concerns Incognito had over the quality of the single-player campaign, particularly when compared to the multi-player modes.[18] Dylan Jobe, the game'sdirector, stated, "If we were to continue down our single-player/multiplayer approach, it would have resulted in not as good single player or not as good multiplayer".[19] The extra development of the multiplayer mode was used to improve existing elements such as in-gamecommunication, and to implement new features such asOn Demand Split Screen, whereby players can easily enter split screen mid-game. Split screen can only be used in battles that allow it. Only unranked servers have the ability to have it and even then, it is an option whether or not the host wants it on or off.[18] It was also revealed at the same time thatWarhawk would be made available for download over thePlayStation Network.[20]
In August 2007,Sony Computer Entertainment America released news thatPlayStation 3 consoles would be used as the dedicated servers forWarhawk. A photograph was released which showed aserver room with severalPlayStation 3 consoles in racks. Each server is able to support 32 players.[21] The games developers have commented that the engine used in the game features technology which could not be easily implemented on any other platform, such asprocedurally generated water and waves, as well asvolumetric clouds.[22]
Following the games release, many issues with networking and player statistics were reported, such as delays in receiving points and awards, failure to receive the points or awards, and "connection failed" and "connection lost" errors.[23][24] To address these issues, Incognito released several server-side patches before releasing the game's firstupdate, Version 1.1. This update addressed the majority of issues users experienced with the game,[12] with others being addressed in the Version 1.2 update.[25] A demo was released on the PlayStation Store on October 9, 2008.
There was initial confusion as to how this game would be distributed to consumers, after the announcement that it would be amultiplayer-only title.[26]Sony announced on May 16, 2007, that there would be two iterations of the game. The game alone is downloadable from thePlayStation Store forUS$29.99 (£19.99,€29.99), with an initial download size of 798MB. This version is restricted to thePlayStation Network account that buys it. The second is a retailBlu-ray Disc version that sells for $59.99 (the standard retail price of mostPlayStation 3 games upon release), bundled with aJabra BT125Bluetooth headset in America and the Jabra BT135 in Europe, allowing players to chat with other players online while playing the game.[27][28] An additional third was later released on October 10, 2007 without the inclusion of a USB headset, which was priced at US$39.99.[29] Both retail versions feature extra content such as behind-the-scenes developer interviews, concept art and trailers. Warhawk was re-released as aGreatest Hits title on July 28, 2008 for $29.99.[30]
Additionaldownloadable content (DLC) has been released, with more announced, since the game's launch. Expansions include new maps, weapon upgrades and character customization options. The DualShock 3 controller became compatible with the game upon the release of the version 1.20 patch.[9] Incognito has stated that any future development on the incomplete single player campaign would only be released as a separate product, and not as an expansion to the current game.[31] Warhawk updates are free, but expansion packs are sold online for a price.[26] Updates are mandatory installations that must be completed in order to play the game. Expansion packs are optional, and the ability to purchase expansion packs is available within the menu of the game itself, as well as through thePlayStation Store.
The 1.1 and 1.2 updates were released on October 19, 2007 and December 19, 2007 respectively, fixing numerous exploits and stability issues.[32][33] Update 1.3 was released on April 2, 2008 and included two new weapons, eighteen new player-made customizations for planes and forty-four new player-made custom insignias for both troops and planes, integration ofPlayStation Home, and new in-game chat features, such as cross-team chat. Also in update 1.3, the "stat padding" issue, abug that allowed game players to cheat by increasing their points cumulatively by dropping the opponents' flag off the level and having itrespawn back into the players' hands to repeat, was resolved by completely removing the ability to drop the flag.[34] Update 1.4, released on July 16, 2008, features two new game modes called "Hero" and "Collection," and introduced the Quick Join feature, which searches for a server that connects the user to matches that work with the user's current level.[35] The next update, Version 1.5, was released on August 27, 2008 and includes trophy support, the winning entries from the European version of the paint and insignia contest,[36] and allows the user to play music via theXrossMediaBar in-game.[37]
Three expansion packs have been released. The first, "Operation: Omega Dawn," released on December 20, 2007, includes a new night-themed map, Omega Factory, and a new aircraft, the KT-424 Combat Dropship.[38] The second expansion pack was released on April 17, 2008 entitled "Operation: Broken Mirror",[39] which includes a newarmoured personnel carrier equipped with an energy shield and the ability to boost, similar to a Warhawk, as well as serving as a mobile spawn point.[31] A new map called Vaporfield Glacier was also included in the new expansion. It is the largest map to date, and includes 10 different layouts.[40] In the PlayStation Store, there is also an option to purchase the first two Booster-packs for a reduced price,[41] and there will be another combo pack with all three included. The latest booster pack, "Operation Fallen Star," was released on August 28, 2008 and added the Icarus MK1 Jetpack which allows troops to fire while airborne as well as a new map called Tau Crater.[42] All three of the booster packs cannot be combined, nor can one affiliate with another, and people who do not own an expansion featured in a server they are attempting to join will not be able to join the server.
On August 27, 2008 the 1.5 patch was released and included the addition oftrophy support.[43] A total of 57 trophies are available in the game, 10 of which are retroactive and can be obtained based on previously recorded statistics without the user having to complete tasks a second time. A further 34 are based upon gameplay and so are not retroactive. The trophies can be attained Split-screen or Unranked as well. Each of the available expansions also feature an additional 4 trophies.[37][44]
On May 13, 2011, game developer Dylan Jobe unveiled the successor to the game entitledStarhawk on GTTV.Starhawk was released on May 8, 2012.
The music is composed by bothChristopher Lennertz andTimothy Michael Wynn. Their scores for this video game were recognized as one of the best video game scores of 2007 byIGN.[45]
| Aggregator | Score |
|---|---|
| GameRankings | 84/100[46] |
| Metacritic | 84/100[47] |
| Publication | Score |
|---|---|
| Edge | 8/10 |
| Game Informer | 8.25 |
| GamePro | 4/5 |
| GameRevolution | B |
| GameSpot | 8.5/10 |
| IGN | 8.8/10 |
| PlayStation Official Magazine – UK | 9/10 |
| PlayStation: The Official Magazine | 6.5/10 |
Warhawk generally received positive reviews, with its aggregate review scores being classed as generally favorable byMetacritic andGameRankings.[47][46]PSM provided the lowest review score officially qualified by the GameRankings website. The magazine described it as "a third-person shooter that never quite gets off the ground."[48] Other reviews were more positive in their outlook.PSM3 described the game as "a masterpiece of balance, of design, and the jewel in Sony's online crown."[49] UK magazineEdge described it as an "instantly gratifying experience", also saying that the lack of a single-player campaign was made up for by "its brilliantly implemented notion of flight and considered balance". Nick Costanza and Vin Acosta were largely critical of the game, saying "it can't be taken seriously".
1UP.com gaveWarhawk a positive review, but said, "It's just notquite $40 worth," referring to the price of the downloadable version on the U.S. PlayStation Store.[50] It was given the IGN Editors' Choice Award, calling it "a AAA experience that is an adrenaline rush for online fans."[51]Game Informer describedWarhawk as "better than they'd hoped for".[52]GamePro stated that althoughWarhawk offers an intense online combat experience, being dropped immediately into the action leaves you "somewhat bewildered" and doesn't give you that "feeling of connection" to the game.[53]GameTrailers describedWarhawk as "simply fun, easy to compete, but challenging to shine."[54] Adam Sessler fromX-Play complimented the game's multiplayer only style saying "...I wouldn't have it any other way."[55] Gaming Target selected Warhawk as one of their "52 Games We'll Still Be Playing From 2007" and awarded it "PlayStation 3-Exclusive Game of the Year".[56]