Graphics

As flight simulators go, Crimson Skies did not fail in its graphical burden. Vast horizons, detailed ground work and amazing looking airships we're only the beginning. The ability to customize planes with decals and paint jobs sweetened it all the more. Add to this the cut scenes and menus, we were far from being the little gremlin on the wing.

Cockpit

Nice water

Seeing as most, if not all, of the gaming experience is felt while in flight, the developers had to give you something decent to look at. All the levels we went through looked spectacular. Whether you were simply dog fighting in the clouds, or making strafing runs on some Hollywood movie lot, the scenery did not disappoint. The level of detail that could be witnessed was what amazed me the most. You could actually see little cars rolling about, completely oblivious to the carnage that was taking place above them. We enabled FSAA and the game got an order of magnitude prettier. Our only qualms were with the amount of fogging. At times I would be flying right up to a building that was being rendered. I never came close to tagging them, but someone with a slower computer is bound to run into a few snags of this sort sooner or later.

Graf

Planes and other airships were equally well detailed. Rather sad considering I rarely ever saw the outside of my own plane, as I normally flew in first person mode. But while taking screenshots I took the liberty of grabbing a few shots of my hull. Not too shabby, although I have to say I rather enjoyed seeing the zeppelins over the rinky-dink prop planes. These air-filled hotdogs were massive, gigantic even. It got even better when you got to mangle them all up. Most of the little bits could be blown off, a turret here, an engine there. You could even see the engine propellers fall of after they were shot up. Short of ripping holes into the sides, you could see all the damage inflicted.

Fluffy clouds

Head for the hills!

While on the topic of planes, the damage they took looked quite convincing. Little bits of metal would fly off; smoke and flames would erupt from critically damaged craft. Explosions from planes and rockets looked equally impressive; direct hits looking like massive fireballs. Some of the rockets were particularly eye-candyrific, with the sonic rocket hogging all the graphical glory. Upon detonation, this thing looked like the wormhole in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.

CG

To go along with the story in the campaign, a series of movie clips and CG sequences were used. The movies resembled and sounded like something from the era. They even have the classic grainy quality in them. I have to say I savored each and every one of these clips as they were doled out.

Missed with a rocket

Uh oh forest fire...

Aside from the cut scenes in the game, you are also treated to a little scrapbook. For every mission you accomplish, there are little news stories and pictures that you receive. Think of it as a personal trophy book.