Hands on with Warhawk

Incognito's multiplayer epic is nearing completion - so how's it shaping up?

Online multiplayer battles offer some of the most compelling experiences that interactive entertainment can boast - just ask any veteran of the popular SOCOM series. But even within a genre that thrives on epic confrontation, Warhawk raises the bar - and is an essential game for anyone connected to PlayStation®Network.

Taking place across a series of enormous maps, Warhawk pitches two sides against each other - each with up to 16 players - and gives you an amazing amount of freedom in how you choose to approach the battle. Pilot a Warhawk and assault the enemy from above, head into the battle zone on foot or pile into a jeep with teammates - the options keep on coming. The amount of choice is fantastic, and allows for plenty of strategy as battles evolve.

In the pilot seat

The freedom of choice that's evident in the gameplay extends to the options, with plenty of settings to tinker with, ensuring that Warhawk can be played just the way you like. The best example of this is the Warhawk itself, which you can pilot using familiar controls, or the intuitive SIXAXIS Wireless Controller's motion sensitivity. Choosing the latter frees up the analog stick for independent aiming of the craft's weapons - and once you've got the hang of it all, it's possible to pull off some truly amazing manoeuvres.

Once you've got the hang of the controls, you'll want to head into the field, and you'll immediately be struck by the brilliant variety of weaponry on offer, no matter how you're choosing to fight. Crucially, there's an excellent sense of balance to the game - the deadly surface-to-air missile turrets can be countered by a pilot's skilled use of chaff, for example - and it has that 'one more game' factor that marks out the very best multiplayer games.

Ultimately though, it's the scale that's most impressive with Warhawk. Whether you're flying in formation with another teammate and fulfilling those Top Gun fantasies, or fighting it out in a pitched ground battle, there's a great sense of being in the midst of something enormous. This promises to be a must for fans of multiplayer.