History VideoGame / HAWX

** The second installment even has this on its box: Fight in the same conflict depicted in ''Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Future Soldier''. In turn, ''Future Soldier'' features the HAWX squadron in one mission, though it caused some issues when ''Future Soldier'' came out [[DevelopmentHell two years later]] with a very different plot.

* DrillSergeantNasty: Colonel Bruce has shades of this. He becomes nastier after the HAWX squadron disobeys direct orders and refuse to abandon their allies during Operation Backfire, before finally [[spoiler: betraying you in Operation Ulysses]].

* FriendlyFireproof: Bombs, missiles, machine guns and other forms of damage will not affect allies.
* FunWithAcronyms: The titular squadron.

** The ''real'' explanation to this whole craziness is RuleOfFun. We have over 50 awesome airplanes to fly around with, and we'll use 'em anytime we damn well please.
* [[GoodGunsBadGuns Good Planes Bad Planes]]: Mostly [[AvertedTrope averted]]. Enemies, being PrivateMilitaryContractors that bought aircraft from all over the world, can fly any country's plane to attack you. Likewise, you can choose any plane you want, too, regardless of nationality. The enemy does seem to send a lot of Mikoyan and Sukhoi jets after you, though.

* HyperspaceArsenal: Just like Ace Combat before it, the planes in HAWX can carry over 100 missiles. Even the supposed "Low Payload" trait still grants the player a whopping 140 JSM's.

** [[spoiler: Failing to disable the nuke in time in Los Angeles will simply show you getting vaporized along with the rest of the city.]]

* KaizoTrap: It is still possible to crash your plane and die after you've completed all the objectives in a mission. The sequel has landing sequences, which makes this trope happen even more often.
* KillSat: Different in most respects as the particular kill sat in question is actually on the side of the good guys (for [[ContinuityPorn more information]], play [=EndWar=]), and must be repaired and reactivated after Artemis used an ElectroMagneticPulse to disable it for their invasion.

* ShoutOut: One of the trophy/achievement in ''HAWX 2'' is named "[[VideoGame/{{Portal}} Still Alive" and its icon depicts a cake]].

The protagonist is a Captain in the U.S. Air Force named David Crenshaw, who is part of the titular High Altitude Warfare Xperimental Squadron. He begins the game on his last day on the job, supporting covert operations being conducted south of America's border (''GhostRecon'' fans should recognize the mission as [[ContinuityNod being a part of the ''Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2'' storyline]]). Afterwards, the H.A.W.X. squadron is deactivated and subsequently headhunted, along with Crenshaw, by Artemis Global Security. The team quickly proves themselves to be one of Artemis' most valuable assets and helps secure them a place as one of the richest and most powerful [=PMCs=] in the world. Life has never been so good. Right?

After a war in Brazil breaks out between U.S.-friendly Brazil and "Las Trinidad" (an anti-American alliance of South American countries), U.S. involvement within the conflict hurt Artemis's bottom line, causing them to [[FaceHeelTurn backstab]] the U.S, side with Las Trinidad, and [[InvadedStatesOfAmerica launch a full scale invasion of the U.S]]. This, of course, didn't bode well with the patriotic ex-Air Force pilots, who defect back to the U.S. and have their old HAWX squadron [[UnCancelled reactivated]], as a result. Now they must work together with U.S. military forces to beat back the invading PMC military.

If this is all starting to sound familiar to you, chances are you have played ''AceCombat'' before, and you would be right. The gameplay is almost identical to that of the ''Ace Combat'' games and there is a degree of overlap between the fanbases of the two. On the other hand, ''H.A.W.X.'' has been ported to the PC whereas ''Ace Combat'' remained a console-exclusive until ''Assault Horizon Enhanced''.

* AcePilot: The titular squadron is made up of these, but they're not the only ones. The US Navy and Japanese pilots are also pretty damn good in Operation Typhoon. [[AcePilot Ace pilots]] are also frequent enemies, being more agile than normal {{Mooks}} (Though they still die from the same amount of damage).
* UsefulNotes/AirForceOne: There's an EscortMission involving it after [[spoiler: Artemis betrays the U.S. and launches a full-scale invasion]], where Crenshaw must escort the President to a secure location, fighting off enemy fighters that try to shoot it down. The mission gets harder toward the end when [[spoiler:Artemis]] brings in radar jammers that make it harder for your aircraft to lock-on and stay locked-on.
** A trailer also depicted UsefulNotes/AirForceOne, where a cruise missile was hurling toward the plane and Crenshaw maneuvers to shoot it down. It's a cool sequence, but [[NeverTrustATrailer it never actually occurs in-game.]]

* ArtisticLicensePhysics: This game is in no way, shape, or form a realistic flight simulator. Aerodynamics and gravity are complete non-issues within the game, with stalling dependent solely on speed. The game then brings this trope UpToEleven with [=OFF=] Mode. In [=OFF=] Mode, the game more or less defies physics, pulling off moves that would kill the pilot and overstress the plane in real life. In the words of Mark from WebVideo/ClassicGameRoom, the only thing the planes don't do in [=OFF=] mode is turn into [[HumongousMecha giant robots]] and smash things with their fists.
** AluminumChristmasTrees: It ''is'', in fact, very possible to get a plane to "drift" in a manner similar to what's capable in [=OFF=] mode, though not nearly so tightly, not at all so controlled, and with so much sudden change in g-force that it will likely black out the pilot in seconds. It will also likely stall the plane, cause a flat-spin (exceedingly dangerous), and is more or less prohibited by any rational air force in the world. But still...possible.

** The [=OFF=] mode transition can also be jarring at times, due to the game wanting to be "dynamic" and thus causing your camera to focus on your plane first before panning over to your targeted enemy. This causes a delay between when you switch and when you can actually fire, which can be pretty jarring when you're trying to attack something. This also makes switching targets a bit harder. However, the game is smart enough to realize that if you switch in the middle of a heated battle, the view will just immediately change.
* CanonImmigrant: ''H.A.W.X.'' contains a handful of references to other games in the Tom Clancy brand, including ''GhostRecon'', ''SplinterCell'', and ''EndWar''.
** The ContinuityNod to ''EndWar'' also helps make the plot stretch the SuspensionOfDisbelief less. Read the discussion in the Fridge section for more details.
** The second installment even has this on its box: Fight in the same conflict depicted in ''Tom Clancy's GhostRecon Future Soldier''. In turn, ''Future Soldier'' features the HAWX squadron in one mission.

* CoolBoat: The US Navy employs many in this game. Artemis also has these. Their typical Destroyers and Cruisers can fire SAMs that deal twice as much damage as normal missiles, and their flagship, the ''Myrmidon'', has cruise missiles that outrange an entire US Naval carrier group. All these boats are MadeOfIron, and, Aircraft Carriers especially, can take many missiles before finally going down.
* CoolPlane: The cover and cinematic intro feature the extremely cool [[GaulsWithGrenades Dassault Rafale]]. In game, you can fly over ''50'' different aircraft from around the world. DLC increases that number to ''[[UpToEleven over 60]]''. This game probably has the highest number of [[CoolPlane cool planes]] in any one game. There's even an internet tool to help you manage all these planes and find the one you want to fly. You can find it [[http://hawx.max-worlds.net/ here]].

* DamnYouMuscleMemory: AceCombat and HAWX on consoles have almost the exact same controls... except for the teensy fact that the missile and gun buttons are switched. The PC version, however, allows you to change controls.

* DoABarrelRoll: Thanks to the OFF Mode, the planes can perform so many cool maneuvers to the point that it [[YouFailPhysicsForever defies the laws of physics]]. These maneuvers are both [[RuleOfCool cool to watch and perform]] (many Website/YouTube videos consist of nothing but flying tricks), [[AwesomeYetPractical and actually useful in outmaneuvering your enemy and dodging incoming missiles.]]

* DuelingGames: With AceCombat.

* EMP: The satellite control center and its generators are protected by [=EMP=]s. The EMP in the game avoids the "temporarily-disabled only" aspect of the trope, but still isn't completely realistic as it causes your plane to [[MadeOfExplodium explode in a spectacular burst]] of [[YouFailPhysicsForever electricity]] instead of simply disabling your plane and causing it to crash.

* FollowTheLeader: To AceCombat.
** ''HAWX 2'' has some overt inspiration from ''ModernWarfare''. There's a AC-130 gunnery mission, the bad guys are ultranationalist Russians and the plot keeps switching between the POV of several pilots from different nations.

* GameplayAndStorySegregation: The game features many [[CoolPlane cool planes]] to fly that would not make any sense story-wise. It's HandWaved when you're employed by Artemis by saying that they can buy any aircraft from anyone, but when you defect back to the US, that HandWave no longer works. The Air Force and Navy missions still give you the same options as the Artemis missions (and possibly more due to the missions taking place later in the game), which leads to the odd sight of the US Military using planes from different branches (like flying Navy missions with the F-15, or Air Force missions with the F/A-18), retired planes (like the F-14 and F-117), foreign planes (like the Eurofighter and all the different MiG and Sukhoi aircraft), armed versions of tech demos (like the Su-47, also foreign, and the F-15 ACTIVE), and concept planes (like the A-12, which was cancelled before any prototype was developed). Even the HandWave of the squadron being [[ElitesAreMoreGlamorous elite]], and could possibly have access to planes that would be unavailable to the average pilot would still be a weak explanation story-wise.

* GuyInBack: The instructor who teaches you how to use OFF mode in the JustifiedTutorial sits in the back of your plane. He even tells you that since he's sitting in the back, it is advised that [[TryNotToDie you don't crash the plane]].

* HyperSpaceArsenal: Just like AceCombat before it, the planes in HAWX can carry over 100 missiles. Even the supposed "Low Payload" trait still grants the player a whopping 140 JSM's.

** The first mission has the player working for the Air Force... piloting F/A-18s. Unlike the GameplayStorySegregation entry above, the game chooses the aircraft for you in this mission, meaning there's no excuse. Similarly, the mission where [[spoiler:you defect back to the US]] has the captain of a carrier suggest clearing off some space for you to land at the end, but the game's suggested plane for that mission is the [=MiG=]-33, which is ''not'' carrier-capable (though this time you have a choice, at least).
** The game's arcade nature also means that the planes feel like weird mixes between spaceships and flying cars that shoot magic. For one there is apparently no gravity and aerodynamics modeling: diving/climbing doesn't increase/decrease your speed so most real-life maneuvers lose all significance. Stalling is not dependent on aerodynamics but instead purely on speed. Angles of attack, sideslip and lift are complete non issues. Missles just work: forget about ground-clutter, radar modes, TVM pixel hunting, Rpi, or engagement aspects. G-forces are not simulated and turning off the assistance mode grants your plane an exemption from the laws of physics. It is basically a classic shooter with gravity disabled and autoaim turned on.

* KaizoTrap: It is still possible to crash your plane and die after you completed all the objectives in a mission. The sequel has landing sequences, which makes this trope happen even more often.
* KillSat: Different in most respects as the particular KillSat in question is actually on the side of the good guys (for [[ContinuityPorn more information]], play EndWar), and must be repaired and reactivated after Artemis used an ElectroMagneticPulse to disable it for their invasion.
** The Ultranationalist Russians in the sequel have access to a KillSat as well, and kill many of your allies with it.

* RareVehicles: Many. There's the typical ones like the Su-47 Berkut (which is just [[RuleOfCool too]] [[CoolPlane cool]] to pass up) and the YF-23 Black Widow II/Grey Ghost ([[RuleOfCool like]][[CoolPlane wise]]), but it's the most ridiculous with the A-12 Avenger II. Although it's just a PreOrderBonus, the A-12 Avenger II in RealLife never had a working prototype before it was [[ScrewedByTheNetwork cancelled]] by the government due to [[AwesomeButImpractical cost overruns and delays]].
* RealLife: One of the main things that HAWX had differently from AceCombat was the fact that HAWX took place in the real world, albeit TwentyMinutesInTheFuture. It seems like AceCombat has [[FollowTheLeader followed]] with AceCombatJointAssault and AceCombatAssaultHorizon.

* SeriesContinuityError: ''HAWX 2'' and ''GhostRecon: Future Soldier'' present the same conflict, but there's a noticeable discrepancy in the details of the coup d'état. ''HAWX 2'' shows that the Loyalist Russian president is a frail-looking guy called "Anton Karskazev" and his replacement is a guy named "Alexandr Treskayev", while in ''Future Soldier'', the former president is a grizzled former Army veteran named "Volodin" while the usurper is "Sergey Makhmudov". However, this could be explained by ''HAWX 2'' being based on the aborted 2010 build of ''Future Soldier'' rather than the final version.

* ShortRangeLongRangeWeapon: Missile ranges aren't as bad as in AceCombat, but they are still much shorter than in RealLife. Of course, sniping at each other over long distances is much less [[RuleOfFun fun]] than dogfighting, so TropesAreNotBad.

** One of the missions in the first ''H.A.W.X'' consists of defending a space launch first against cargo planes dropping tanks to assault the launch pad, then a combination of ground-attack aircraft and cruise missiles attack the launch pad and vehicle. This is almost identical to a mission in ''AceCombat5TheUnsungWar'', "The White Bird (Part 1)".

** On defensive, they follow you around and generally stay out of the way until [[BerserkButton someone tries to get a radar lock on you or an AA gun starts firing in your general direction]], at which point they instantly start chasing the offender. Which means that yes, the AI is smart enough to do WildWeasel tactics with you as the bait.

* TrainingDummy: The [=OFF=] Mode Certification mission has no actual enemies, with targets mainly being flying drones to teach you how to fly in [=OFF=] Mode. Even the armed drones fire dummy missiles that do not do any real damage (the effects of damaging, like the fuzzing screen, however, is simulated).
* UnexpectedGameplayChange: The sequel introduced UAV missions where you eavedrops on enemy conversations and a AC-130 bombing mission.

** A trailer also depicted AirForceOne, where a cruise missile was hurling toward the plane and Crenshaw maneuvers to shoot it down. It's a cool sequence, but [[NeverTrustATrailer it never actually occurs in-game.]]

* AirForceOne: There's an EscortMission involving it after [[spoiler: Artemis betrays the U.S. and launches a full-scale invasion]], where Crenshaw must escort the President to a secure location, fighting off enemy fighters that try to shoot it down. The mission gets harder toward the end when [[spoiler:Artemis]] brings in radar jammers that make it harder for your aircraft to lock-on and stay locked-on.

The game has the player flying various real-world aircraft on their missions and employs a semi-realistic simulation of aerial combat. Under normal conditions, the game prevents the plane from stalling and limits its maneuverability but this limiter can be disengaged to allow the player to perform all sorts of funky post-stall maneuvers. The other aspects of the game are more arcade-like; planes carry mountains upon mountains of missiles, even on the highest difficulty levels, and there is no need to keep track of fuel or the effects of physics on the human body. If this is all starting to sound familiar to you, chances are you have played ''AceCombat'' before, and you would be right. The gameplay is almost identical to that of the ''Ace Combat'' games and there is a degree of overlap between the fanbases of the two. On the other hand, ''H.A.W.X.'' has been ported to the PC whereas ''Ace Combat'' remained a console-exclusive until ''Assault Horizon Enhanced''.

** AlminumChristmasTrees: It ''is'', in fact, very possible to get a plane to "drift" in a manner similar to what's capable in [=OFF=] mode, though not nearly so tightly, not at all so controlled, and with so much sudden change in g-force that it will likely black out the pilot in seconds. It will also likely stall the plane, cause a flat-spin (exceedingly dangerous), and is more or less prohibited by any rational air force in the world. But still...possible.

'''''H.A.W.X.''''' is an arcade flight combat game and part of the TomClancy brand. The story is set in [[TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture the near future]] where PrivateMilitaryContractors are recognized as lawful combatants by the fictional Reykjavik Accords.

The protagonist is a Captain in the U.S. Air Force named David Crenshaw, who is part of the titular High Altitude Warfare Xperimental Squadron. He begins the game on his last day on the job, supporting covert operations being conducted south of America's border (''GhostRecon'' fans should recognize the mission as [[ContinuityNod being a part of Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2's storyline]]). Afterwards, the H.A.W.X. squadron is deactivated and subsequently headhunted, along with Crenshaw, by Artemis Global Security. The team quickly proves themselves to be one of Artemis' most valuable assets and helps secure them a place as one of the richest and most powerful [=PMCs=] in the world. Life has never been so good. Right?

*** The assistance off mode leads to the ludicrous image of a YF-12 or A-10 Thunderbolt II outmaneuvering an F-22 Raptor or Su-47 Berkut in a dogfight... yeah... one can tell that the developers weren't exactly going for realism on this one (ironic given [[TomClancy what franchise this game is based in]]).

The game has the player flying various real-world aircraft on their missions and employs a semi-realistic simulation of aerial combat. Under normal conditions, the game prevents the plane from stalling and limits its maneuverability but this limiter can be disengaged to allow the player to perform all sorts of funky post-stall maneuvers. The other aspects of the game are more arcade-like; planes carry mountains upon mountains of missiles, even on the highest difficulty levels, and there is no need to keep track of fuel or the effects of physics on the human body. If this is all starting to sound familiar to you, chances are you have played ''AceCombat'' before, and you would be right. The gameplay is almost identical to that of the ''Ace Combat'' games and there is a degree of overlap between the fanbases of the two. On the other hand, ''H.A.W.X.'' has been ported to the PC whereas ''Ace Combat'' remains a console-exclusive.

* ScrewTheRulesIHaveANuke: Artemis manages to control ''all'' of America's nukes, actually, and naturally uses that to blackmail the U.S. into complying with its demands. The final mission involves you trying to prevent them from carrying out their threat.

* CameraScrew: All damage on your vehicle causes a fuzz on your screen, even the weak anti-aircraft guns (it's pretty much the only thing keeping them from being simple annoyances). This fuzzing could cause you do crash or get hit again if you're in the middle of a heated battle.

** Less memorable? Are you trying to say that shooting down nukes while dodging a KillSat's FrickinLaserBeams is ''less memorable''?

* SquadControls: There's in extremely simple one in this game, with the only two controls being attack and defend. Attack causes your wingmen to attack your highlighted target, and defend means your wingmen return and fly behind you.

** In a more minor fashion, the mastermind behind the Russian civil war in ''HAWX 2'' is called "Yuri Treskayev" in his first scene (as in ''Ghost Recon: Shadow Wars'') and "Alexander Treskayev" for the rest of the game.

* SeriesContinuityError: ''HAWX 2'' and ''GhostRecon: Future Soldier'' present the same conflict, but there's a noticeable discrepancy in the details of the coup d'état. ''HAWX 2'' shows that the Loyalist Russian president is a frail-looking guy called "Anton Karskazev" and his replacement is a guy named "Alexander Treskayev", while in ''Future Soldier'', the former president is a grizzled former Army veteran named "Volodin" while the usurper is "Sergey Makhmudov". However, this could be explained by ''HAWX 2'' being based on the aborted 2010 build of ''Future Soldier'' rather than the final version.

** One of the missions consists of defending a space launch first against cargo planes dropping tanks to assault the launch pad, then a combination of ground-attack aircraft and cruise missiles attack the launch pad and vehicle. This is almost identical to a mission in ''AceCombat5TheUnsungWar'', "The White Bird (Part 1)".

* SeriesContinuityError: ''HAWX 2'' and ''GhostRecon: Future Soldier'' present the same conflict, but there's a noticeable discrepancy in the details of the coup d'état. ''HAWX 2'' shows that the Loyalist Russian president is a frail-looking guy called "Anton Karskazev" and his replacement is a guy named "Aleksandr Treskayev", while in ''Future Soldier'', the former president is a grizzled former Army veteran named "Volodin" while the usurper is "Sergey Makhmudov". However, this could be explained by ''HAWX 2'' being based on the aborted 2010 build of ''Future Soldier'' rather than the final version.

* DoABarrelRoll: Thanks to the OFF Mode, the planes can perform so many cool maneuvers to the point that it [[YouFailPhysicsForever defies the laws of physics]]. These maneuvers are both [[RuleOfCool cool to watch and perform]] (many YouTube videos consist of nothing but flying tricks), [[AwesomeYetPractical and actually useful in outmaneuvering your enemy and dodging incoming missiles.]]

* EnemyDetectingRadar: It's even "advanced" enough to [[ColorCodedForYourConvenience differentiate color]] for you. However, there are numerous instances in the game where the enemy show up with radar jammers, which fuzzes up your radar and even causes your targeting system to malfunction.

* MacrossMissileMassacre: Some points in the game has you constantly dodging missiles. Thank God the game gives you the ERS and OFF mode. Of course, due to the exorbitant amount of missiles you can carry, it's easy to return the favor.

* NoEndorHolocaust: The final "true" mission has you blowing up a nuke in Los Angeles. General Keating acknowledges the inevitable radiation, but then says that they managed to evacuate everyone in time.

* SpiritualSuccessor: To ''VideoGame/BlazingAngels'', another series of flight games by Ubisoft Romania.

* TheCapitalOfBrazilIsBuenosAires: Pretty bad in this case. Colonel Bruce warns the squadron in the Rio mission that they are the only ones standing between the invaders and Brazil's leaders. Good if it were not for the fact that [[YouFailGeographyForever Brasilia is the capital of Brazil]].

* NoEndorHolocaust: The final "true" mission has you blowing up a nuke in Los Angeles. The General acknowledges the inevitable radiation, but then says that they managed to evacuate everyone in time.

* NoEndorHolocaust: The final "true" mission has you blowing up a nuke in Los Angeles. The General acknowledges the inevitable radiations but then say they managed to evacuate everyone in time.

** The first mission has the player working for the Air Force... piloting F/A-18s. Unlike the GameplayStorySegregation entry above, the game chooses the aircraft for you in this mission, meaning there's no excuse. Similarly, the mission where [[spoiler:you defect back to the US]] has the captain of a carrier suggest clearing off some space for you to land at the end, but the game's suggested plane for that mission is the MiG-33, which is ''not'' carrier-capable (though this time you have a choice, at least).
** The games arcade nature also means that the planes feel like weird mixes between spaceships and flying cars that shoot magic. For one there is apparently no gravity and aerodynamics modeling: diving/climbing doesn't increase/decrease your speed so most real-life maneuvers lose all significance. Stalling is not dependent on aerodynamics but instead purely on speed. Angles of attack, sideslip and lift are complete non issues. Missles just work: forget about ground-clutter, radar modes, TVM pixel hunting, Rpi, or engagement aspects. G-forces are not simulated and turning off the assistance mode grants your plane an exemption from the laws of physics. It is basically a classic shooter with gravity disabled and autoaim turned on.

** The second installment even has this on its box: Fight in the same conflict depicted in Tom Clancy's GhostRecon Future Soldier

* ArtisticLicensePhysics: This game is in no way, shape, or form a realistic flight simulator. Aerodynamics and gravity are complete non-issues within the game, with stalling dependent solely on speed. The game then brings this trope UpToEleven with [=OFF=] Mode. In [=OFF=] Mode, the game more or less defies physics, pulling off moves that would kill the pilot and overstress the plane in real life. In the words of Mark from ClassicGameRoom, the only thing the planes don't do in [=OFF=] mode is turn into [[HumongousMecha giant robots]] and smash things with their fists.