Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge
| Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Developer(s) | FASA Interactive |
| Publisher(s) | Microsoft Game Studios |
| Series | Crimson Skies |
| Platform(s) | Xbox |
| Release date(s) | |
| Genre(s) | Action, Arcade flight |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Aggregator | Score |
| GameRankings | 90 of 100 (based on 96 reviews) |
| Metacritic | 88 of 100 (based on 49 reviews) |
| Review scores | |
| Publication | Score |
| 1UP.com | B+, A (2 reviews) |
| Edge | 7 of 10 |
| Game Informer | 9.0 of 10 |
| GameSpot | 8.9 of 10 |
| GameSpy |   |
| IGN | 9.1 of 10 |
| Award | |
|---|---|
| Publication | Award |
| 7th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards: Console Action/Adventure Game of the Year | |
Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge is a first-party video game developed by FASA Studio (part of Microsoft Game Studios) for the Xbox. The game, like the earlier Crimson Skies for the PC, is an action-oriented arcade flight game. Nonetheless, there are significant differences between the gameplay of High Road to Revenge and that of the original PC title. For example, while the Xbox game has a more open-ended mission structure, it offers less plane customization than the PC game.
Set in an alternate 1930s in which the plane and Zeppelin become the primary means of transportation, the game focuses on the adventures of Nathan Zachary, leader of the Fortune Hunters air pirate gang. Players assume his role as he undertakes a crusade to avenge the death of his old friend, "Doc" Fassenbiender.
The game was originally announced in March 2002 for a release that fall. However, developers postponed the release date to give them time to retool the game. As a result of this overhaul, which delayed the game's publication to October 2003, several issues were addressed and new features added, most notably the addition of Xbox Live support. Critically the game was very well received, most notably for its graphics, audio, gameplay, and Xbox Live features.
High Road to Revenge is a flight-based combat game: during most of the game, the player controls an aircraft from a third-person perspective. It is an arcade flight game as opposed to a flight simulator; physics are relaxed, controls are simplified, and takeoffs and landings are completely automated. Project lead Jim Deal explained that Crimson Skies was built around an arcade design to make the game easy to learn, and to place its focus on action instead of the physics of flight.
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