Freedom Wings

by Natsume

Product Features

• Features an innovative combat system involving the DS touch screen
• Use your DS stylus to lock on to enemy aircraft and shoot them out of your path
• Multiple missions as you engage in dogfights with air pirate gangs
• Up to four players can play in the ultimate dog fight!

Product Details

• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B000EHT3MU
• Product Dimensions: 5 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Media: Video Game
• Release Date: July 11, 2006
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #28,378 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)
  • #65 in Video Games > Nintendo DS > Racing

Product Description

Freedom Wings takes you into the wild blue skies, for an incredible set of missions in the early days of aviation! In the South Sea islands, aircraft were the ideal choice for transportation. But there were always pilots who sought to prey on aircraft, and these air pirates turned the skies into a war zone. The world's top pilots got together and started the Air Patrol Association (A.P.A.) hoping to make the skies safe once again. You are now an A.P.A. member -- your job is to find and shoot down the pirates, to secure the open sky.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An RPG based on figher aircraft, a breath of fresh air!, September 17, 2006

By 

Reuben Gathright "rgathright" (United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Freedom Wings (Video Game)

The wait is over, the first real flight simulator for the Gameboy platform has been released! With a price of around $20 at most retailers this is a title you should pick up to relax your nerves and tear up some evil pirates.

I have played this title for a little over a dozen hours now and I can't wait to start playing again. I enjoy putting the entire simulator on auto and watching the planes dog fight each other. This title reminds me of Electroplankton's "Audience Mode" where you let the DS entertain you.

Of course, you can take total control over the sim at any time. The flight controls all work intuitively off the DS game pad and should pose little challenge to the average gamer. The physics in this game are very impressive when considering the limitations of the DS platform: CPU, RAM and limited space to store simulator data on the game card.

I will give no spoilers, half the fun is learning from the in game tutorial and taking off into the cloud filled scenery. Yes, this game actually implements flying through clouds.

Pros:
1) Automatic control let's you watch the air battles like they were a movie.
2) Completely customizeable airframe: turbos, oil coolers, different wing types, weight reduction and more as you gain experience in the form of levels.
3) Statistic rich format keep you involved in the game.
4) Graphics actually are quite good for a dual screen realtime air battle simulator on a mobile platform with limited memory capabilities!

Cons:
1) If you never liked flying, this title may not be for you.
2) If you do not like having to figure out the right upgrade to make an RPG character work, this title may not be for you.
3) If you are looking for a playable map (only about the size of the state of Texas) larger than the continental US, this title may not be for you.

Note: I am a software design analyst. I apply these concepts towards the limitations of the DS platform in all my reviews.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Generally not fun., November 12, 2006

By 

T. Thatcher - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Fun:2.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Freedom Wings (Video Game)

I'm an avid Nintendo DS fan, and play regularly. I picked up Freedom Wings with only a little hesitation, as the $20 "discount" DS titles so far have never disappointed me. It's unfortunate that Freedom Wings is the first to do so.

I fail to see this as a "flying/RPG" crossover, as there is really very little to offer for either genre. RPG-wise, the storyline is very watery and almost non-existent; what little there is has been around the block and down the corner a thousand times in countless other games. The character development and interaction is minimal and hollow, and the scripts are extremely weak and lacking any sort of creative feeling.

As as flying game it's crippled. With extremely poor controls on the 'manual' flight setting, it's hardly fun to fly. And if you want to take all of the fun out, you can engage the automatic flight mode and let a (weak) AI take over flying and fighting (against more weak AI) for you, reducing this game to an even more mind-numbing experience.

The graphics aren't terribly bad, I'll give it that. Unfortunately, "doesn't hurt the eyes too much" doesn't make the game fun. The landscape is pretty repetitive and boring, anyways. The music, meanwhile, is repetitive and tinny, with no on/off option.

The part with potential? Customizing the airplanes. I like the idea. It could be more fun, but it feels.. Unfinished, rushed. There is very little explanation in-game of what you're buying, what it does, and what you already have.

I give this game 2 stars, and for two reasons. The first is, some folks seem to enjoy it, and at $20, it's not a big loss if you don't. The second is the multi-player. I admit to not having played it yet, but it does exist, and that could prove to be quite fun.

Short answer: if you can spare the money and you're really hard-up for a DS game, give it a go. If not, you can give it a pass and you won't even miss it.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars good game!, February 10, 2009

A Kid's Review

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Freedom Wings (Video Game)

this game is great! it has great graphics, a good storyline, & easy controls.pocket size! the hard part is fighting,though. but it's easy once you know how.

==> pros: good,clean graphics,large map,many upgrades & planes,lots of guns.

==> cons: you are the only plane against a horde of pirates. did the APA {air patrol association} only have one plane? I don't think so.& the music is repetitive. overall this is a good game with just a few flaws.it's still a good game,though.try it!