Line #30 VideoGame/SkyDrift


1	[[quoteright:250:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/SkyDrift_Coverart_2470.png]]
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3	''[=SkyDrift=]'' is an [[CoolPlane airborne]] VehicularCombat racing game developed by Creator/DigitalReality. It was self-published by them for the {{PC}} (November 21, 2011) and Platform/PlayStation3 (September 6, 2011) while Namco Bandai Partners handled the Platform/XBox360 release. (September 7, 2011)
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5	[[NoPlotNoProblem There isn't a plot to speak of, but that isn't really an issue here.]] The premise is a [[VehicularCombat brutal,]] [[WackyRacing over-the-top]] series of races involving a variety of [[CoolPlane colorful, fast, and very well-armed aircraft]], [[SceneryPorn pretty-looking environments]] and lots of [[PowerUp Power Ups.]] ImprobablePilotingSkills are a must. There are no [[CosmeticAward achivements]] for second place.
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7	The game consists of a single-player [[InevitableTournament tournament]] and various online options, with quick, player and custom matches available. The tournament has a linear series of stages, where completing a certain number of events in a stage will unlock the next one, though you need not finish them all ([[AndYourRewardIsClothes though doing so unlocks]] [[PaletteSwap new liveries for the planes]]).
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9	Game modes include:
10	** Power Race: Racing with [[PowerUp Power Ups.]] [[VehicularCombat A no holds-barred brawl]] to the finish.
11	** Speed Race: Racing ''without'' [[PowerUp Power Ups.]] Instead there are [[NitroBoost "speed rings", passing through which gives you a burst of speed.]]
12	** Survivor: Like Power Race, except that every thirty seconds or so, [[EliminatedFromTheRace the last-place plane is eliminated.]]
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14	Online play also includes (With DownloadableContent Deathmatch and Team Deathmatch.
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17	!!''[=SkyDrift=]'' provides examples of:
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19	* AnnouncerChatter: Though less chatter then some games. ''Another'' announcer can occasionally be heard yelling things to the crowd when passing by the observing blimps.
20	* CoolPlane: The developers took bits and pieces of real-world planes and mashed them together to create stylish new designs. The overall look is reminiscent of VideoGame/CrimsonSkies.
21	* CopyAndPasteEnvironments: Somewhat. Of the six tracks in the game, three take place on tropical islands with similar valleys, caves and beach areas. For variety, "Wrecks" [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin has wrecked ships to fly through]] and "[[MeaningfulName Heatwave]]" has a river of lava.
22	* CompetitiveBalance: The planes are fairly well balanced against one another, though some might perform better in certain game modes. This is also likely why the jets offered in the DownloadableContent aren't flat-out better then the vanilla prop-driven planes.
23	* ConvectionSchmonvection: Part of the "Heatwave" track is spent flying mere feet above a river of lava. While it doesn't damage your plane, it ''does'' cause heat distortion on your screen if you fly really low.
24	* DeathIsASlapOnTheWrist: If you get wrecked, you respawn a few feet back from where you wrecked.
25	* DeflectorShields: The Shield PowerUp protects you from [[EverythingTryingToKillYou bullets, rockets, shockwaves, mines and even scraping up against environmental objects.]] [[TooDumbToLive It can't save you from a head-on crash, though.]]
26	* DownloadableContent: Two: One adds Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch and an assortment of arenas to online play, and the other adds three new planes: The heavily-armored, maneuverable but slow Vanguard, the [[FragileSpeedster high-speed, low-everything-else Sparrow X1,]] and the slow but maneuverable and [[NitroBoost boost-crazy]] Triwing Vintage.
27	* FragileSpeedster: The twin-engine, push-prop [[MeaningfulName Speedster Pro 2]] has excellent top speed and acceleration, but very little armor. The triple-engine, jet-assisted Stallion Turbo is even faster and better armored, but has far worse acceleration.
28	* HomingProjectile: The Rocket PowerUp. You get two from a single pickup, four if you get a second one. You can fire one at at time or [[ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill all at once.]]
29	* ImprobablePilotingSkills: Thanks to the game's [[RuleOfFun loose physics,]] players can execute some tricky maneuvers fairly easily. In no plane is this easier then the Panther 3, seen above in the foreground. While no faster then the Cooper Evo, it boasts insane maneuverability and can literally fly circles around other planes. [[FragileSpeedster Watch out for it's low armor, though.]]
30	* JackOfAllStats: The Cooper Evo, an unassuming single-engine, straight-wing craft. Surprisingly effective in the right hands. The Skyline [=MkII=] also falls here, with lower boost power and maneuverability then the Cooper but greater top speed and armor.
31	%%* MercyInvincibility
32	* MightyGlacier: The [[MeaningfulName aptly-named]] twin-engine Titan boasts the highest armor of any plane. It's also slow and turns like a semi, though it possesses very strong boost. The PV Warbird is a lesser example, having slightly less armor but much greater maneuverability.
33	* NitroBoost: Every plane is equipped with a boost meter that is filled by performing stunts, "burning" [[PowerUp Power Ups]] or damaging other planes. Planes with low top speed often have high boost power to compensate, like the Spark and Triwing Vintage.
34	* MoreDakka: The Cannon PowerUp. Against long range targets, it's actually more effective then the homing rockets, which can be fooled into hitting walls rather easily. ''And'' it can't be intercepted by shockwaves.
35	* PowerUp: Pickups include [[MoreDakka Cannon,]] [[HomingProjectile Rockets,]] [[DeflectorShields Shields,]] [[StuffBlowingUp Mines,]] [[ShockwaveStomp Shockwaves,]] and [[HealThySelf Repairs.]] Each can be upgraded by grabbing another of the same type. You can have two different ones at once, and can "burn" them to generate boost instead of using them.
36	* SceneryPorn: All over the place. [[WordOfGod A stated goal of the developers]] was to create striking real-world environments for the tracks.
37	* ShockwaveStomp: Well, not a stomp really. The Shockwave PowerUp lets out an {{EMP}} blast that damages and slows nearby planes, and can destroy mines and incoming rockets.
38	* StuffBlowingUp: The planes explode rather spectacularly when destroyed or crashed, and certain objects in the environment explode and fall on the racers when it would be dramatically appropriate- like on the last lap.

Context VideoGame / SkyDrift