Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X 2

33%
Game Brain Score Based on 174 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X 2 Game Cover
HAWX 2 improves on its predecessor but it’s similarity with Ace Combat might keep wannabe pilots away from the game.
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"Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X 2" is an action-packed aerial combat simulation game, offering both single-player and multi-player modes. As part of the secret H.A.W.X. 2 squadron, you'll dominate skies with cutting-edge technology, executing stealth missions, executing night raids, and engaging in intense dogfights. Despite its bugs and weak storyline, the game offers thrilling aerial warfare experiences for aviators seeking superior lethality and reflex challenges.

  • PC
  • Play​Station
  • Play​station 3
  • Uplay
  • Wii
  • Xbox
  • Xbox 360
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

33%
Audience ScoreBased on 174 reviews
graphics8 positive mentions
story12 negative mentions
  • The game offers enjoyable aerial combat and can be fun to play, especially with a joystick.
  • Graphics are decent for the time, and the game includes a variety of aircraft and missions.
  • Some players appreciate the challenge and mechanics of the game, finding it engaging despite its flaws.
  • The game is plagued by severe bugs and issues related to Ubisoft's DRM, making it unplayable for many users.
  • Controls are often criticized as clunky and frustrating, with many players unable to complete missions due to technical problems.
  • The game lacks innovation compared to its predecessor and is seen as a disappointing sequel with repetitive gameplay and a weak story.
  • story47 mentions

    The game's story has been widely criticized for being unoriginal and poorly executed, with many reviewers noting it feels like a derivative copy of other titles, particularly "Ace Combat." Players report that the narrative lacks depth and is often overshadowed by technical issues, making missions frustrating and repetitive. While some moments are enjoyable, the overall consensus is that the story fails to engage and is a significant step down from its predecessor.

    • “The story is not too bad and the game has some fine memorable moments.”
    • “Very good game, very nice and cheap as well, good graphics and nice storyline.”
    • “The game may not quite live up to its predecessor but is still an enjoyable play and continuation of the story.”
    • “The story is mediocre and this game is far too much for what it is priced.”
    • “Story mode is rubbish, and the last missions are a joke; someone must have been watching Star Wars and thought 'hey, a Death Star run at the end of the game.'”
    • “With this package, you get the following: bad DRM, additional DRM from Ubisoft (badly written and syncs terribly with the game), gimmicky missions (probably the worst AC-130 mission ever made, and those retarded UAV missions that someone thought would be fun), even less planes than the original, did I mention syncing bugs?”
  • graphics18 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising them as stunning and smooth, while others criticize them as sub-par or even atrocious compared to previous titles. Many players note that the visuals are decent for the time, but they are often overshadowed by gameplay issues and poor design choices. Overall, the graphics seem to be a highlight for some, but a significant disappointment for others, leading to a polarized reception.

    • “This abomination of a plane game is definitely a good looker; it features awesome graphics and nice plane variety.”
    • “The graphics are stunning and the game still runs smooth.”
    • “The authentic part of the game, the huge and realistic maps, the great graphics, even the realistic sound effects and comm chatter were great.”
    • “This game seems to have had the exact opposite intention, abysmal controls (with enforced, non-removable deadzones), 'TrackIR support' which left you wishing they hadn't even tried, and graphics which are atrocious, even compared to the first game.”
    • “Sub-par graphics, terrible soundtrack and voice acting, arcade controls.”
    • “My smartphone flight sims have better graphics than this.”
  • gameplay15 mentions

    The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising its enjoyable co-op elements and improved mechanics like starting and landing, while others criticize it for a lack of depth, poor flight mechanics, and a significant reduction in the engaging arcade action found in its predecessor. Many players found the campaign too short and felt that the game sacrificed fun for realism, leading to a disappointing overall experience. Despite some promising features, the gameplay ultimately fails to meet expectations for a sequel.

    • “Wow, where to start... I bought and enjoyed the first HAWX game; it certainly wasn't DCS or FSX, but I wasn't expecting either, and it delivered hours of great co-op gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay is not bad; in fact, it's a really enjoyable game to play.”
    • “While they added rudimentary starting and landing gameplay, which was a feature I felt HAWX 1 lacked, they removed like 90% of the actual flying that HAWX 1 had.”
    • “The campaign is less than 3 hours of gameplay in which they have removed the player's choice of which plane to fly.”
    • “But the gameplay is just flat out horrendous and it takes 5 steps backwards from the fluid and entertaining arcade action that HAWX 1 delivered.”
    • “So overall this game is a big disappointment...the better graphics and the starting/landing/refueling mechanics seemed promising, all the rest (especially the stuff that HAWX 1 did well) is either missing or just no fun.”
  • stability8 mentions

    The stability of the game has been widely criticized, with numerous users reporting severe bugs and glitches that prevent the game from starting or functioning properly. Many players express frustration over the lack of effective troubleshooting options and poor customer support, leading to an overall negative experience. While some acknowledge minor glitches as common in PC games, the overwhelming sentiment is that this game suffers from significant stability issues.

    • “You pay for a game out of your own pocket and then it is full of bugs and glitches.”
    • “I don't know what upsets me more, the fact that the game doesn't even start (I've tried every single bit of troubleshooting out there besides formatting my hard drive), or the fact that Steam refuses to take back this game.”
    • “Buggy, bad multiplayer matching and permanent connection to Ubisoft required make this game a pain to enjoy.”
  • music3 mentions

    The music in the game has been criticized for being sub-par and uninteresting, contributing to an overall lackluster experience. Reviewers noted that the absence of a mission select screen and poor sound effects detract from the game's atmosphere, making it feel rushed and less engaging compared to its predecessor.

    • “The music and missions are overall not interesting, making this game feel more like a checklist than a well-thought-out experience.”
    • “Subpar graphics, terrible soundtrack, and voice acting, combined with arcade controls.”
  • grinding1 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, as many missions require repetitive tasks that involve chasing the same objectives repeatedly.

    • “However, it can make the game incredibly tedious and frustrating, as many of the missions can have you going round and round in circles after the same captain.”
    • “The grinding feels endless, and it often detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
    • “I found myself spending hours on repetitive tasks that offered little reward, making the experience feel more like a chore than fun.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

52% average critic score

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Play time

3hMedian play time
3hAverage play time
3-3hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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