The single-player mode lasts quite a while, with adjustable difficulty levels and a variety of goodies to unlock. Multiplayer, however, ends up lacking. The co-op mode can be fun, with two players marauding Black Falcon's forces at once for massive scoring opportunities. On the other hand, versus mode ends up a bit shallow. Players merely play tag through each level, with one player being "it" (in this case, a mad cow... no, seriously) and the others hunting him or her down. Once tagged, that player then becomes "it". This grows tedious after a few levels.
Black Falcon's graphics should entice fans of the original After Burner as well as newcomers. Deserts, ice-covered mountains, volcanoes and other locales zip by as players shoot down enemies. Each of these levels features striking detail, sometime burdensome to if the player doesn't pay attention. For instance, a jet can easily smack right into a rock formation or a hanging ice wall. Some textures appear a little blurry at times, but considering the game's speed, it isn't a huge issue. While the generic rock music gets annoying, the thunderous explosions and blazing gunfire thoughtfully drown the annoying generic rock music.
Multiplayer issues and guitar rock aside, Planet Moon pulled off a superb achievement with After Burner: Black Falcon. The studio captured the old-school feeling of the arcade original while, at the same time, adding enough originality and excitement to make it feel like a cool modern-day action game. Now if Moon could just produce a console version with better multiplayer, customizable soundtracks and more flying cows, there would be no telling how high this franchise could fly.
Final Score: 8 (out of 10)
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