When it comes to video game warfare, no company does it better than Ubisoft. Armed with the lucrative Tom Clancy name, the publisher has created several high profile franchises, such as Splinter Cell, Ghost Recon and Rainbow Six, all of which let you control top-secret operatives on the ground. This fall, however, you'll take to the unfriendly skies in Tom Clancy's HAWX, an air combat game in which you'll soar through the air and engage multiple hostiles, shredding them with gunfire and blasting them with missiles.

HAWX (high-altitude warfare) takes place in the year 2012, during a time where private military companies, mercenaries that bend the law, have too much power. Something called the Reykjavik Accords gives them free reign to stick their bloodstained mitts into military operations, and this supposedly leads to conflicts that can only be settled thousands of feet in the air. Whether you play as one of these mercs or a soldier out to thwart their schemes remains to be seen.

Since Tom Clancy games are all about utilizing advanced technology, HAWX comes with multiple goodies to play with. An Enhanced Reality System (E.R.S.) throws multiple doodads your way, including an anti-crash system, radar, tactical maps, a damage control system, incoming missile detection and weapons trajectory control. In addition, an Assistance Mode lessens the game's learning curve by supplying you with support with your plane; think of it as an assist mode in racing games that takes your turns for you or helps you ease into them. With that said, you have the option of turning this feature off, hopefully on the fly.

There are well over 50 planes in the game, each of which carries a destructive payload. You'll need it, as you'll engage multiple hostiles across war-torn but still gorgeous looking terrain. However, you won't be alone, and you'll have the option of issuing orders to your squad mates.

Similar to Halo 3, you can play HAWX's single player campaign online with up to three other players. And when you're done with that, there are competitive online modes that support up to 16 gamers.

Although we enjoyed Namco Bandai's Ace Combat 6, we were left wanting more. Tom Clancy's HAWX may satisfy our cravings, especially since it appears Ubisoft will throw tons of support behind the project in order to continue its respected brand of combat games. Prepare to soar with HAWX when it releases this fall.

Related Links

Tom Clancy's HAWX Xbox 360 Game Guide

Tom Clancy's HAWX PS3 Game Guide

Tom Clancy's HAWX PC Game Guide