Snoopy crossed with Crimson Skies: it’s a strange concept to imagine but it works surprisingly well. I didn’t expect it. As much as I love Snoopy and the Peanuts crew, I couldn’t see how a dogfighting game based around the colourful characters could really work. I figured it’d be cute but ultimately as terrible as many of the movie tie in games are. I was pleasantly surprised.
At first it didn’t quite click. Playing through the single player mode first was a mistake. While it’s fun, it’s pretty mindless and brief. At only a few hours long with no story to speak of, it feels more like an introduction to the game’s mechanics than a game in its own right. There are a few different mission types in all: ring races, escort missions and a scattering of boss fights forming the majority of the single player mode. The lack of entertaining storyline is a let down though especially with the potential available. As a big Peanuts fan it would have been good to see some appropriate humour introduced here. It’s not to be seen though. There is some replay value here with determined souls able to focus on achieving higher ranks and scores but that’s about it. Having said that it is quite fun to explore the ‘historically inaccurate’ locations as the game so enthusiastically tells you.
Controls are simple to get the hang of with only a few buttons ever being essential to your success. You can pull off a few special moves such as barrel rolling and Immelman turns (loop the loops) with a flick of the right stick. Everything is clearly here to be as accessible as possible. If the single player mode was all that Snoopy Flying Ace had to offer, this would be very disappointing and all too brief an experience. Fortunately there’s more to it thanks to its multiplayer mode.
The multiplayer mode instantly harks back to the happy days of Crimson Skies, with Snoopy and co to make things cuter of course. With plenty of different multiplayer modes available, there’s a lot to do. You can play the single player campaign in co-op mode if you so wish, but the most fun comes in the form of the competitive options.
Dogfight pits 16 players against each other in an arena full of carnage, while Pigskin provides sky based American Football and Dogpile pits a team of players against the AI as they fly through a gauntlet of opposition. Throw in Capture the Flag and a few other modes and you’re looking at enough variety to make you forgive the single player’s mediocrity. Add a Modern Warfare style ranking system which makes you feel as if you’re truly achieving something with every kill, and it’s a lot of fun. Much like Modern Warfare, killstreaks reward you with certain perks. In this case, acquiring 4 kills in a row gives you the aid of Snoopy’s little bird friend, Woodstock, who sits on the back of your plane covering your back. 9 kills in a row and you turn into Snoopy’s doghouse. Quirky perks but fun.
Physics and realism don’t play a huge role here with the differences between each plane divided by handling, speed and health statistics. Which plane you use does make a difference though and like most multiplayer games, depending on how you approach each battle. It’s not complicated in any way but it does add a slight level of depth to proceedings.
Snoopy Flying Ace is all about simple fun and it achieves that perfectly. At 800 points it makes an excellent buy for those looking for enjoyable, aerial based multiplayer fun. It’s refreshing to see that there’s currently a thriving community within the game and I hope to see that continue. Snoopy Flying Ace’s multiplayer mode is the ideal palate cleanser in between more complex games and well worth a look. Just a shame the single player campaign is lacking in thrills.
VideogameUK verdict: 8/10
