Game Reviews

It's easy to see why some games make it from concept to market. No-one at EA was going to turn down DICE when they decided the next game in the Battlefield series would have a modern warfare setting. CliffyB and co weren't exactly going out on a limb when they decided to set Gears of War in a future that was grim and brown and while Dirt 2 might retain Colin McRae's name its fusion of experience points, energy drinks and Xtreme stylings might well have come from some kind of MTV concept-o-matic machine.

Then there are some games that are the complete opposite; those with surprising concepts and original ideas. While many of these – Katamari Damacy, Ico and Brutal Legend to name a few – are the product of fevered, obsessive, visionary geniuses, some left-field games strike you as being more the product of a lot of banned substances.

Snoopy Flying Ace is one such game. It features the cast of Peanuts – Snoopy, Woodstock, Linus, Lucy and of course, Charlie Brown – flying wooden World War One bi- and tri-planes armed to the teeth (Muzzle? Whiskers?) with weapons including homing missiles, sniper rifles and shotguns. Despite its cartoon characters, the proceedings are surprisingly violent, packing in high-paced arcade aerial combat complete with stunt rolls as evasive manoeuvres. Admit it. You think this sounds like complete tripe. A dog’s dinner, as it were. Surprisingly not: Snoopy Flying Ace is an entertaining and fast paced arcade game with a tough singleplayer campaign and comprehensive multiplayer options. As a downloadable title, retailing for 800 Microsoft points, it’s a bit of a bargain too.

The signs are good the moment you’re introduced to the controls. They manage what all good arcade inputs should: they’re fast, responsive, and strike a good balance between simple (for accessibility) and complexity (so there’s actually enough to do). You fly as Snoopy, the game opting for a third-dog point of view; the left joytstick controls the plane, while the right essentially gives you four special moves for avoiding incoming fire – two loop-the-loops and two barrel rolls. There’s also a speed boost and an air-brake, which are both critical in dogfights.