User Reviews (1 - 11 of 34)

Show these reviews first:

Highest Rated
Lowest Rated Newest
Oldest Most Helpful
Least Helpful

Straight up fun

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 45 / 47
Date: December 01, 2000
Author: Amazon User

I love it when a game with very little hype or fanfare is released, and turns out to be one of the best titles of the season. This is such a game.

Not a logistical nightmare flight sim like some PC games, this one is a straight up arcade experience with wonderful graphics, total control, and the best sensation of flying this side of Pilotwings. So many flight games for the PSX were just tracked driving/shooting games in the air. Air Combat had such a close camera angle and sluggish handling that it felt more like wrangling a Buick in the sky than flying. This one lets you control all directions of movement like a true barnstormer. Diving, ascending, barrel rolls, bank turns, stalls, they're all here, and it really makes the game a pleasure because the impetus is all on you to complete the mission. Don't blame the game because there is very little you can't control when it comes to the aerobatics of your plane.

And you will need that control because, while some missions are easy, most will need to be done and re-done to successfully complete them. But it isn't a frustrating task. Sky Odyssey is one of those games (reminiscent of old 8-bit Nintendo titles) where, once you wreck, you wanna hurry up and try again, because you know it can be done.

Plenty of different modes and planes keep it interesting, as do the different objectives of each Adventure mission. Land on an aircraft carrier (hella fun,) pursue a train so you can link up and refuel mid-flight (through a tunnel, no less!), and maneuver in a canyon with huge rockslides occurring around every corner. The best word I can use to describe the experience is "fun." And that's what's so great about this game: no big-name sports stars (Madden), no past video game series to fall back on (Ridge Racer, Tekken), no million-dollar hype campaign (Final Fantasy), just rock solid gameplay.

Flying games don't get any better than this.

Great easy flying game...

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 18 / 19
Date: December 29, 2000
Author: Amazon User

This is the kind of flight simulator I have been looking for! If I wanted all the knobs, buttons and gizmos true flight simulators have, I'd just get my pilot's license. This is just a fun and simple game. No fuss or messy keystrokes to remember. You can just throw the CD in and begin flying with easy to use controls and gorgeous graphics.

I was also surprised at this game's long playability. There are so many levels and missions, that this game will have long lasting appeal. Also, I must admit I found myself drawn to the sky-writing exercises. I know how lame that might sound, but blowing smoke out the back of your plane while trying to make shapes and words was oddly addictive. I don't remember ever seeing that in other flight simulators.

So, if you are real pilot, I am sure this game will disappoint. However, if you just want to fly around with ease while having a great time, this game is sure to please.

Yaw, Pitch, and Roll!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 15 / 17
Date: November 21, 2000
Author: Amazon User

This is a great flight simulation game. I was a little worriedthat it might [not be good] .... However, this game has many options like mission, sky writing, target, and free flight modes. Target mode is my favorite because you need to hit red or blue targets in sequence and then land your plane in the given time frame or start over. I have had to land the aircraft with only seconds to spare so focus and flight skills are required. Carrier landings and mid-air re-fueling also make this game exciting! Build your skills and acquire more modern aircraft like the stealth bomber! If you like flight sim games this game is for you. I have rented and played most of the PS2 launch titles and Sky Odessey is one of the better titles out right now.

I'm hooked. You will be too! Great game

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 13 / 14
Date: December 06, 2000
Author: Amazon User

I have to admit, I didn't expect this game to be this good. Although the graphics are pretty decent (certainly not the best by far for the PS2), the aspect where the game excels the most is where a game SHOULD excel at: gameplay. This baby has got soume seriously GREAT gameplay. Some might find flight simulation games to be too technical, while some find arcade style flying games to be too unrealistic or cartoon-like. I think that this game is a perfect blend between the two. There are plenty of game modes to keep you coming back for more, and the game is structured in such a way that it's not too easy and not too hard. On levels that seem to be difficult to pass, you'll find yourself actually wanting to come back for more instead of throwing your controller down in frustration. The gameplay is that good. I actually find myself rocking back and forth in my chair while playing the darn thing becuase it immerses you so well into the game! I never thought I'd say this, but I'm being quite honest: this game is among the top 4 or 5 games overall that is available for the PS2 right now.

Sleeper Hit!

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 9 / 9
Date: January 04, 2001
Author: Amazon User

I'll admit I had many doubts at first when I went to buy this game, but I had heard some good things about it so I decided I would give it a try. Well, my doubts went out the window after just an hour with this masterpiece of a game by Activision. Sky Odyssey is a flight simulation game just like Pilotwings 64 but done much better. It gives you many modes of play at first, such as target practice and landing pads. But the true fun and challenge is in the adventure mode. You are taken to a series of islands and told to complete certain missions like refuel your plane in midair or fly quickly through a small cave while avoiding falling rocks and wavy waters. Before each mission you are given a specific tutorial so you know exactly what to do and how to do it. But believe me, even with the tutorials these missions are very challenging and quite hard to complete under your given time limit. If you should finish your mission, you are then given a grade and depending what grade you get, you then get to choose one of many upgrades for your plane which will help you later on. It is really quite a innovative and cool system. And dont worry about replay value because there are plenty of missions the game has to offer.

The different planes in this game are each very unique and neatly designed. As mentioned before they are all upgradable in areas such as their wing, engine, propeller, landing gear and more. And for you aspiring artists out there, the game even has a drawing program where you can draw your own symbol on the back of your plane!!

The target practice and landing pad parts of the game should be used by beginners as they are good places to practice all of the flying skills with all of the planes. The control of these planes takes some getting used to and is best when you have an analog playstation controller. Once mastered, you wont be able to wait for your next chance to become a virtual pilot.

My only problem with this game is the graphics. The weather effects are excellent and utilize the PS2's power very well, but on the training lessons and some parts of the main gameplay the graphics can get pretty bland and boring. A touch could've been made here and there to better enhance the whole flying experience. This is the only reason I didn't give the game a perfect score. But as long as a game has solid gameplay it usually hardly detracts from the whole experience.

All in all I'd have to say this is one of the most original, challenging, and fun games I've played in a long time. If you have some extra cash and are lucky enough to own a Playstation 2, I would highly recommend this game. Unless you really don't like flight simulators, there is something in here for everyone. Definately one of the top games for PS2 this year.

Cool Game

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 11 / 14
Date: November 19, 2000
Author: Amazon User

This is a great game. I just bought it, and rate it 5 stars. If you're looking for a multi-player game, then this isn't it becuase it has no multiplayer compadibility. I think the sky canvas mode is great, beccuase you get to make smoke drawings. I also think the mission mode is great becuase the landscapes are so large.

Science, freedom, beauty, adventure...

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 8 / 9
Date: February 21, 2001
Author: Amazon User

...what more could you ask of a video game? This simulator combines all the elements I love...

All right, I'll stop paraphrasing Lindbergh. But trust me: Awesome game. Hard to be disappointed with this one. I love flight games and simulators, and this is among my favorites. The levels are well designed. The missions and game modes are challenging and fun (but NOT too frustrating... not any more than any great game. It's easy to beat each level, after a couple of tries, but it's sometimes hard to beat it with a good score or fast time - that takes skill and practice, and feels good to achieve). The 11 planes fly very differently and were a lot of fun to flight-test. There are enough secrets to keep you coming back, and even after you unlock all the planes you still want to play through again because of how easy and fun it becomes, with the jets and UFOs (and learning to show off, like doing dangerous stunts and super-short landings, is cool too). Flying through those canyons is thrilling, and some very tight missions are extremely adrenaline-pumping (time and fuel are limited). Refueling from a train, landing on a carrier, flying a seaplane with engine trouble, writing in the sky with smoke, flying through targets and thunderclouds and air currents... a LOT of fun.

The graphics aren't that great. If compared to Pilotwings64, the resolution and framerate in Sky Odyssey are better, but the foggy draw-in/pop-in is about as bad (i.e from any point, you can see as far as you would in Pilotwings, but since you're flying faster, you can see fewer seconds into your flight path). The terrain textures are marginally sharper. The aircraft models are MUCH more detailed, however, and the weather effects are pretty stunning. A lot of effects, like sunlight reflecting off the water, steaming wingtip vortices, the splashing you cause by flying low over water... VERY cool. The pop-in is the only major flaw, and you KNOW it can be avoided somewhat in the PS2 if you ever saw the awesome graphics in Smuggler's Run. I own these two games, and the difference in graphics is significant.

Still, a fun game. I missed FUN flying games (Pilotwings is still the game I play most often, in the N64) like this. But the flight models are very realistic - how many console games have aircraft that show realistic performance at high angles of attack? (I mean, increased lift and drag leading to a gradual stall). NONE. Maybe the Gyrocopter in Pilotwings, but that's it. (By the way, the Gyrocopter in THIS game is really not worth the effort. It STINKS. Want short landings? Use the Triplane or UFO, or wiggle the ailerons after landing for a hard deceleration). Sure, landing those taildraggers is not as hard as it should be (the planes don't handle that realistically when in contact with the ground, actually), but I guess that's ok, it's a Playstation game. Still, the performance at hi-alpha, the KE/PE exchanges, the effects of damage, are all very realistic. The flight model is not comparable to anything else on the consoles (although Ace Combat 3 wasn't bad).

This game can be seen as an immensely improved PilotWings. It's faster, more acrobatic (if you want it to be), with diverse missions and game modes. If you thought the islands in PilotWings were big, THIS archipelago is HUGE! It takes a LONG time, even at 450-550 knots, to go from the southernmost island to the northernmost one (about 11 minutes). Do the math, that's 120 miles! (By about 70 miles wide, east-west). Miles and miles of caves, canyons, forests, deserts, mountains, ocean cliffs, beaches, and other good stuff. It's PilotWings times 10, with a Messerschmidt 262!

So go buy it. NOW. Trust me.

This Games Great.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 9 / 12
Date: November 20, 2000
Author: Amazon User

This game to me is very addictive. The game is very similiar to the pilotwings series on the nintendo, the main difference is you just fly planes. In this game you may not get to shoot or blow up things, but each mission is very different. From flying through caves, do mid-air refuels, finding lost ruins, or flying in horrible weather. The game overall in very enjoyable and will keep you on the edge of your seat. A must have.

A pleasant surprize!!

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 7 / 8
Date: January 02, 2001
Author: Amazon User

Many of the games on the PS2 at this point have dazzled with eye popping graphics but have had lackuster gameplay. Sky Odyssey does just the opposite.

The graphics in Sky Odyssey will not dazzle you. It seems like this could have been done easily on an N64. Although the graphics are not up to PS2 standards, the extremely fun gameplay will keep you coming back for more and more.

Activision did a great job laying this game out. The levels are challenging, creative and a whole lot of fun. The gameplay can be a little slow paced at times, but the varying missions and levels prevent any boredom from repetive gameplay. The controls are quite good, and very easy to get used to.

This game has the feel of Rogue Squadron on N64, however instead of shooting at Tie Fighters, your challenges lie mostly on flying and landing your aircraft throughout some tricky terrains, caves, tunnels, storms etc.

This game can only be played to be appreciated. It was a pleasant surprize for this PS2 owner.

I highly recommend picking this one up!!

Great graphics, decent game, but...

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: July 19, 2001
Author: Amazon User

If you like flight simulators, this game is for you. I loved the graphics, and the missions are challenging, but I found myself bored with the game pretty quickly, mainly because this just isn't my type of game.

The missions in the game were challenging, but not overly difficult. Learning to fly and control the plane was much easier than I expected. Graphics were great, just what you would expect from a PS2.

Personally, I like a good, realistic dog fighting simulator much like Microsoft's Combat Flight Simulator. This game reminds me of Microsoft's regular flight simulator with challenges.

If you like flying, this game is definitely for you. If you are like me and looking for flying with intense action and the challenge of flying with crippled planes, look for something else.

Review Page: 1 2 3 4 Next 

Actions