Spring TGS 2001: Air Force Delta 2 hands-on

At the ongoing Tokyo Game Show 2001 Spring, Konami unveiled a playable version of Air Force Delta 2 for the Microsoft Xbox. In fact, this flight-combat sequel was the only playable Konami Xbox game, as the company's other Xbox titles--Silent Hill 2, Jikkyo World Soccer 2001, and ESPN Winter X-Games Snowboarding 2002--were all shown on a looping video clip. The playable demo featured two primary levels, a cluttered industrial area and a relatively open warehouse area. At the demo's onset, we were able to select from five fighter planes, including such aircraft as the FA18 Hornet, the IDF, and the A10 Thunderbolt. As with the original, Air Force Delta 2 will feature a complete roster of true-to-life planes, ranging from the sleek fighter planes to the more traditional bombers.

Once the plane is selected the demo moves quickly into the mission, unlike the original where a 3D map, shown from an isometric perspective, detailed the specific objectives prior to the start of the mission itself. It is not yet known whether the mission-briefing mode will make it into the final version. However, given that the game was only in demo form at TGS the final version will likely have that feature available. Once in the game, we took to the warehouse location, which was surrounded by rows of canyon walls--the entire level had a natural, brownish hue to it. Flying through this level we were able to fly up to and through the clouds, which were rendered using advanced fogging effects, and down to the actual warehouse structures on the terrain. Using the power of the Xbox, Konami has rendered every last structure in complete 3D, and every object on the terrain is textured in generous detail. There were virtually no 2D bitmaps used for the terrain, or blurry texture map. Even the opposing ground forces, such as tanks and antiaircraft weapons, could be seen in detail as we flew close to ground level. Other visual effects included realistic vapor trails from missiles and aircraft as well as real-time light sources such as the accurate glare of the setting sun. One effect that was missing--one that the Xbox hardware is very capable of--was real-time shadows on the planes themselves. Hopefully, Konami will implement further graphical effects and enhancements to improve a game that is already impressive visually.

The control scheme in Air Force Delta 2 is simple and intuitive, but at the same time it is effective. The trigger buttons control acceleration and deceleration, similar to the system used in Dreamcast racing games. This gives the game an arcade-style feel, without compromising the realistic flight physics--momentum and attitude are still very much in play. The weapons in the game are mapped to the face buttons. In the default setting, the Y-button is used to fire the machine gun, while the B-button is for the missiles. The analog controls direction. As with the original Air Force Delta, the gameplay system makes the game easy to pick up and play.

At this stage Air Force Delta 2 is easily one of the most impressive games in Konami's Xbox lineup. In fact, it is probably one of the more graphically intensive games shown thus far for the console. The gameplay system bears a close resemblance to the original, which means that it exhibits arcade-oriented characteristics. Air Force Delta 2 for the Xbox will be released by the end of the year. GameSpot will have further details, as they are available.