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Information Updated: 3/9/2007

Heatseeker. From the get go, Codemasters' game is a bit of a contradiction. Featuring a simulation-like production value that includes a handful of licensed airplanes, one would think it would be slow and methodical. Instead, Heatseeker throws the standards to the wind and brings a fast and furious experience that make it an excellent entry in the dogfighting genre.

Although intermittent equipment failure (bless you, oh fragile casemodded PS2) prevented me from playing too much of Heatseeker, the beta of the game proved its worth in delivering massive environments with some decent visuals and a whole lotta action on the screen at once. Starting in the first mission, it's easy to see this isn't a typical dogfighter, as it contains some dozen-strong fleets of enemy fliers that throw out all manner of decoys and make impossible right-angle turns to avoid your weaponry.

That's not to say your plane isn't a terror in its own right. Due to the arcade-tuning of Heatseeker, you can follow your prey turn for turn and lock on to take him out. At this point, you could tap the fire button and watch as a stream of fire and smoke impacts with the other guy to make a steel rain. Of course, that's no fun compared to holding the button and taking manual control of your missiles. The camera shifts to the missile's point of view, letting you see up close and personal what you're doing. On some shootouts, you'll even get an instant replay that hearkens to Burnout.

Although I figure I've only played around a third of the game so far, I'm liking what I'm seeing. At the end of one generation and the beginning of another, it seems that developers are cobbling together concepts that worked independently in the past, and are trying to make them into a single, cohesive product. Heatseeker has this feel, and—well, I'm not going to lie. I like it.

Another nice batch of shots of the Wii version in action.

The first PSP shots of Codemasters' arcade flight combat game.

Heatseeker is a joint development project between Codemasters and IR Gurus, the Australian studio behind the acclaimed historic air combat title, Heroes of the Pacific.

Heatseeker will strap you into the pilot’s seat and deliver an exhilarating white-knuckle ride that’ll have you clutching the joypad as you engage in face-melting 6G turns and fight against a seemingly-impossible amount of airborne enemies.

And when you launch a strike, you’ll follow your missiles as they ruthlessly home in on their targets via the Impact Cam. Delivering awesome cinematic 3rd-person camera cutaway scenes, the Impact Cam will reveal the results of your attack in all their devastating glory from all kinds of dynamic angles, complete with jaw-dropping explosions and smoke trails.

With missions across the US, down to the Caribbean, across Antarctica and into the Far East, it’ll be high-velocity combat all the way that’ll see you constantly switching from predator to prey as an enemy missiles lock on.

Throughout the game’s campaigns, you’ll be proving your right to fly with the best. Are you good enough to advance ahead of your fellow pilots and stay top? Can you throw your aircraft to the floor, twist and turn, and punch out counter measures as you pull as many Gs as necessary to out-manoeuvre the missile? Basically, are you good enough to stay alive?

Putting you right in the centre of the action, Heatseeker will deliver the latest fighters, current conflicts, black ops, grey and white missions and a constant stream of macho military radio traffic to build the atmosphere. Heatseeker will launch Q1 2007 for Wii, PlayStation 2 system and the PSP system.