M.A.C.H. (Modified Air Combat Heroes) – PSP – Review

There was a
time when most major genres (and most major game franchises) were in danger of
being turned into a racing game. It just couldn’t be escaped. Racers are
popular, mainstream-approved games that are easy to make. Their development
only becomes difficult when studios care about making them fun.


Flight/combat is one of the few genres that should have made the
transition to racing. Think about it: take four or five of the fastest jets in
the world, equip them with the latest high-tech weaponry, and require them to
fly low in a dangerous, obstacle-filled environment. The intensity created by
this type of race would be unparalleled. It would draw massive crowds and
thousands of aspiring participants. And according to an article in Popular
Science, it could have a future in the real world (minus the weapons and
obstacles!).

 

This ideal
[fantasy?] racing scenario is completed with M.A.C.H.s – Modified Air Combat
Heroes. M.A.C.H.s are pilots who race outside the law and evade police with
ease. They’re the stars of a game that’s named after their high-flying status.
But don’t think that this is another one of those boring, story-infused racers
that’ll put you to sleep. Unlike most PSP games, M.A.C.H. is a racer that
barely gives you the chance to blink.

 

Four Aces

M.A.C.H. is
best described as Ace Combat meets Burnout. It contains a cool dogfight mode,
but most levels have you flying through caves, over and around large
mountains, in between man-made structures, and in and out of tiny crevices.
The sharp turns and constant weaving add to the intensity, which is high from
the start.

Levels are a
blend of organic scenery that’s been given a futuristic touch. Rows of lights
hover over certain areas of each course, while arrows indicate where to turn.
These slight additions are actually believable. One would imagine that, if an
aerial race were to occur, there would be a visual to guide participants.

The controls
are excellent, combining superb steering with top-notch maneuverability. This
game involves more than the usual left and right functionality. Given that you
are in control of a fighter jet, there is no limit to where you can go.
Likewise, there is no limit to how many surprises the developers will throw
your way.

Like any
good racer, M.A.C.H. offers a speed accelerant. It can be charged in two
different ways: (1) collect a special power-up or (2) fly as low to the ground
as possible without crashing. The former choice may be the safest route, but
it’s hardly the most convenient. Thus, if you want to go far in this game,
you’ll be flying low regularly.

 

At first glance, M.A.C.H. is
likely to come across as another Wipeout. But unlike that series, which
contain hovercrafts that are more or less nailed to the track, M.A.C.H.’s
aircrafts can fly anywhere on screen. This creates one of the coolest and most
outrageous racing experiences developed in a long time.

Blast Off

When the
speed accelerant meter reaches a certain point (indicated by an arrow),
players can start using its functionality. The main purpose is to increase
your jet’s speed, but its secondary function lets you perform a
missile-evading spin move. This is the part Burnout fans will go crazy for.

Now picture
this scenario: just as the speed accelerant becomes available, a warning
appears to alert you of an oncoming missile. Most of the time you’ll have two
to four seconds to perform an evasive maneuver. At the best of times you’ll be
flying through tight corridors and dodge the missile without even trying.
Missiles can’t travel everywhere and occasionally miss their target. At the
worst times you’ll only have one second to react and face destruction.

If you act
quickly, your jet will perform one fast spin. It’s a very exciting maneuver –
the entire screen spins with your jet, leading to both enthrallment and
disorientation at the exact same time! When the spin ends, there might be a
mountain, a wall, or some other barrier that needs to be avoided in order to
survive. Until you know what’s ahead, which isn’t possible until you’ve been
through the course, the chances of success are not great.

This
might’ve come off as being cheap or disruptive in another racing game. But in
M.A.C.H. it only serves as one of the many pieces necessary to complete the
puzzle – a puzzle you don’t solve as much as you live through (or at least try
to live through). I wasn’t frustrated by my inability to overcome an obstacle;
I was engrossed in the experience and wanted to fight harder the next time
around. There are a lot of great racing games for PSP, but it’s not everyday
that we get one that’s great and different. The first may have only
just now been released, but I am already craving a sequel.

 

S.H.O.R.T.
(But) S.W.E.E.T.

M.A.C.H.
doesn’t fail where most games fail. It’s a thoroughly satisfying experience
that, despite coming up short in one area, is still pretty fulfilling. The
problem is, no matter how much you love this game, it won’t take most gamers
more than a couple of days to finish the single-player campaign(s). Over 20
race and dogfight stages are included, but only five courses are available.
That means you’ll race the same environment more than once. M.A.C.H.’s replay
value is high, so I wouldn’t let this deter you from experiencing one of the
PSP’s best racing games. But don’t count on it to get you through more than
one car trip.


Review
Scoring Details

for M.A.C.H.

Gameplay: 7.6
Excellent,
off-the-ground racing with great controls, intense maneuvers, and satisfying
world design. Why a rating of 7.6, then? This game is very short. There
are only a handful of courses to race, and only a few dogfight environments to
explore. Tracks typically come in two forms: long and short. They are also
reversed to add an extra option, but that doesn’t alleviate the game’s
short
comings.


Graphics: 8.0
Very well done.
There aren’t a ton of effects presented, but the jets, environments,
explosions, and super-fast gameplay are extremely impressive.


Sound: 6.9
Generic. You’ll
hear techno-style music and explosions, but nothing that stands out.


Difficulty: Easy/Medium
M.A.C.H. doesn’t
become challenging until the final tier is unlocked. The rest is pretty easy.
That’s good for the pick-up-and-play aspect, but bad for its longevity.


Concept: 8.0
It’s been thought
of, hinted at, and executed in some forms. Regardless, M.A.C.H. is the first
aerial racing game that doesn’t come across as Mario Kart without gravity.
M.A.C.H. is its own unique title – a terrific racing experience that’ll
impress fans of Wipeout and Burnout, as well as Ace Combat.


Multiplayer: 7.5
Only one UMD is
required to enjoy M.A.C.H.’s multiplayer options. Up to eight can battle
simultaneously.


Overall: 7.5
For the initial
thrills, high replay value, and outstanding time-kill factor, M.A.C.H. is a
great game to have spinning in your PSP. But if a sequel is to be made, here’s
hoping for a lengthier single-player campaign. The current title, though
complete as far as gameplay and controls are concerned, does not have nearly
enough courses.