I just finished the normal campaign of HAWX. I liked it quite a bit, and I think it has gaming goodness to offer just about everyone who might be interested in a game about planes that shoot things. The draw for me? The A-10 Thunderbolt. Who can deny the might of the Avenger Cannon?

A genre-expanding feature of note is a distinct new camera angle and control system that pulls you away from the plane, giving you greater control and a broader cinematic view of the sky. While in this view your plane has the ability to pull off X-TREME maneuvers, including 180 degree turns in the middle of a dogfight. That's obviously controversial for simulator fanatics, but for people casually interested in cool planes doing cool things (like myself), it's highly rewarding.

For game aficionados, HAWX offers some interesting design choices that expand on a tried-and-true genre. For flight arcade fans, HAWX offers thrills, spills and 'splosions across a diverse set of missions. And for plane buffs, HAWX lets you fly a huge variety of lovingly-rendered aircraft...if you can bring yourself to forgive the in-air 180s and other fantastical elements.

Overall: Recommended!