Blazing Angels first flight on the 360 was a sporadic affair that offered gamers moments of brilliance flanked by sheer mediocrity. Certain aspects of the game were spectacular, others unforgivable. The game had the potential to deliver in the absence of a killer aviation title and I was eager to learn whether the sequel would capitalise on said potential.
Fortunately for gamers, Ubisoft successfully eradicated all blemishes that plagued the original. Dialogue may not be Shakespearian, but the ridiculously annoying and repetitive noise pollution of your squad and enemies are long gone. Boxy and out of place ground units that insulted the landscapes in the original now look just as they should. Checkpoints are all in the right places and the learning curve is far more consistent; although the game is a little too easy to begin with and there are gaps in difficulty between some levels. Your wingmen never die, just as the first, but their impact on the game is nicely balanced.
Your wingmen are very similar to the original. One will cover your tail, one will ferociously attack whoever you want him to and one will repair your plane. However this is one area the game takes a backward step. Originally repairs were done by hitting a sequence of buttons in the heat of battle, now repairs are done automatically (although there is a limit to the number of possible repairs). Controlling wingmen is once again simply a matter of using your d-pad.
