Best Jet Game Ever?

JustLikeHeaven1 · Postby **JustLikeHeaven1** » March 27th, 2007, 10:48 pm

Througout the history of videogames there have been numerous attempts at the jet/action genre. Some have been successful, while others have faded into obscurity. The upcoming Heatseekers for the Wii/PS2 had me wondering what you guys thought of as the best jet/shooters ever.

I'm not talking about flight simulators, but rather intense arcade flying games that have you pretending to be Maverick from Top Gun. Any game that features jets/planes ripping it up is elegible for the list. I'll start with a few favorites.

Afterburner (Arcade, 32X) - Afterburner is the king of all arcade jet games. It was intense, fast paced and a joy to play. Its a personal favorite and I hope to one day own the orginal arcade game.

Captain SkyHawk (NES) - This is a game I remember loving from my childhood. The game was hard, but I had great time flying through the levels. The over the top view and pseudo 3D graphics pushed this game over the top for me.

Crimson Skies (Xbox) - This game is frickin amazing! Sure it features planes instead of jets, but that doesn't stop it from kicking all sorts of ass! If you own an xbox and you haven't picked this game up...buy it now.

Atarifever1 · Postby **Atarifever1** » March 27th, 2007, 11:02 pm

[QUOTE=JustLikeHeaven]

Crimson Skies (Xbox) - This game is frickin amazing! Sure it features planes instead of jets, but that doesn't stop it from kicking all sorts of ass! If you own an xbox and you haven't picked this game up...buy it now.

[/QUOTE]
Agreed. The sad thing is I was blowing through this game and loving it, an then I hit one of those horribly unfun areas I sometimes hit in games, and I gave up forever. After fighting all kinds of great dog fights through spectacular backdrops, with crazy great weapons and eventually fighting my way through a tough desert section where I used giant guns on a train and everything I hit the section with the Native Americans. I help save them and they have this good cut scene where the chief tells me if I want to cross his land, I must pass the trials. I couldn't wait. I was all like "Oh yeah man, I'll show those trials. I'm all over them. Your best warriors got nothing on me". And what are the trials? Shooting some stupid balloon targets. What!?!? I tried a couple times and failed and thought "I'll come back to this later", but couldn't bring myself to turn it back on and after awhile another game got my interest instead.

Leo Ames · Postby **Leo Ames** » March 27th, 2007, 11:28 pm

The Ace Combat series by far. For simulations, I'd give MIG Alley and LOMAC my vote for the PC.

ActRaiser1 · Postby **ActRaiser1** » March 28th, 2007, 12:02 am

Someone else brought this up a while back but the R360 Afterburner version that allowed you to completely spin in all directions is the absolute best arcade game ever...and whatever this thread was about.

JustLikeHeaven1 · Postby **JustLikeHeaven1** » March 28th, 2007, 10:41 am

I really like the first PS2 versions of Ace Combat, but the last ones were awful. They had a nice little arcade game on their hands and they kept trying to make it deeper and more immersive and to me it ruined the experience.

Heatseekers on the Wii has a ton of potential for me. The controls could be great, and the game has been described as Burnout with wings. Fast action jet games are great and the more explosions the better in my book.

Does anybody remember playing the Strike games back in the 16 bit days? I was obssessed with planes and helicopters as a kid and Jungle Strike was like crack to me. I couldn't put those games down. They aren't realistic at all and the multiple vehicles you could control were great. I would kill for EA to bring that series back from the grave.

Alienblue · Postby **Alienblue** » March 29th, 2007, 12:36 am

AFTERBURNER was good, but I don't much care for the 3D jet games. How about a mention for two of the geatest 2D Jet games ever? (by the way I thought you meant JET GRIND RADIO with your title!)

River Raid- the first home vertical shooter, stands up well even today. The graphics are nothing to write home about but the gameplay is addictive! One of the best VCS2600 games!

Aero Blasters- different characters, different stages, mind blowing weapons and bosses, this NEO shooter had it all! I recently got a copy of it and it is INTENSE!

Bomber Raid-? I THINK that was the title. This "under the radar" (heehee) Jet game as only available on the Sega Master Sytem by Activision. A souped-up Rver Raid!

Michael Danehy · Postby **Michael Danehy** » March 29th, 2007, 8:17 pm

I loved F-22 Interceptor for Genesis. Was technically impressive for a console game back then.

bluemonkey1 · Postby **bluemonkey1** » March 29th, 2007, 8:19 pm

My personal fav: Propellor Arena: Aviation Battle Championship!

Deep controls, true crazy taxi vibe, an awesome indie punk soundtrack and some great vistas for the DC. Cracking 4 way multiplayer with bots as well.

Leo Ames · Postby **Leo Ames** » April 2nd, 2007, 1:07 pm

I'm shocked I didn't think to mention River Raid first

ActRaiser1 · Postby **ActRaiser1** » April 2nd, 2007, 5:46 pm

[QUOTE=bluemonkey]My personal fav: Propellor Arena: Aviation Battle Championship!

Deep controls, true crazy taxi vibe, an awesome indie punk soundtrack and some great vistas for the DC. Cracking 4 way multiplayer with bots as well.
[/QUOTE]

Was that ever actually released? I recall that it got canned in the states right after 911 and I was so looking forward to it. I think I can get it by doing a little research and burning it but never knew if it got a release in Europe.