M.A.C.H. (Modified Air Combat Heroes)

There was a time when most major genres (and most major game franchises) were in danger of being turned into a racing game. It just couldn’t be escaped. Racers are popular, mainstream-approved games that are easy to make. Their development only becomes difficult when studios care about making them fun.

Flight/combat is one of the few genres that should have made the transition to racing. Think about it: take four or five of the fastest jets in the world, equip them with the latest high-tech weaponry, and require them to fly low in a dangerous, obstacle-filled environment. The intensity created by this type of race would be unparalleled. It would draw massive crowds and thousands of aspiring participants. And according to an article in Popular Science, it could have a future in the real world (minus the weapons and obstacles!).

This ideal [fantasy?] racing scenario is completed with M.A.C.H.s – Modified Air Combat Heroes. M.A.C.H.s are pilots who race outside the law and evade police with ease. They’re the stars of a game that’s named after their high-flying status. But don’t think that this is another one of those boring, story-infused racers that’ll put you to sleep. Unlike most PSP games, M.A.C.H. is a racer that barely gives you the chance to blink.

Four Aces

M.A.C.H. is best described as Ace Combat meets Burnout. It contains a cool dogfight mode, but most levels have you flying through caves, over and around large mountains, in between man-made structures, and in and out of tiny crevices. The sharp turns and constant weaving add to the intensity, which is high from the start.

Levels are a blend of organic scenery that’s been given a futuristic touch. Rows of lights hover over certain areas of each course, while arrows indicate where to turn. These slight additions are actually believable. One would imagine that, if an aerial race were to occur, there would be a visual to guide participants.

The controls are excellent, combining superb steering with top-notch maneuverability. This game involves more than the usual left and right functionality. Given that you are in control of a fighter jet, there is no limit to where you can go. Likewise, there is no limit to how many surprises the developers will throw your way.

Like any good racer, M.A.C.H. offers a speed accelerant. It can be charged in two different ways: (1) collect a special power-up or (2) fly as low to the ground as possible without crashing. The former choice may be the safest route, but it’s hardly the most convenient. Thus, if you want to go far in this game, you’ll be flying low regularly.

At first glance, M.A.C.H. is likely to come across as another Wipeout. But unlike that series, which contain hovercrafts that are more or less nailed to the track, M.A.C.H.’s aircrafts can fly anywhere on screen. This creates one of the coolest and most outrageous racing experiences developed in a long time.

Blast Off

When the speed accelerant meter reaches a certain point (indicated by an arrow), players can start using its functionality. The main purpose is to increase your jet’s speed, but its secondary function lets you perform a missile-evading spin move. This is the part Burnout fans will go crazy for.

Now picture this scenario: just as the speed accelerant becomes available, a warning appears to alert you of an oncoming missile. Most of the time you’ll have two to four seconds to perform an evasive maneuver. At the best of times you’ll be flying through tight corridors and dodge the missile without even trying. Missiles can’t travel everywhere and occasionally miss their target. At the worst times you’ll only have one second to react and face destruction.

If you act quickly, your jet will perform one fast spin. It’s a very exciting maneuver – the entire screen spins with your jet, leading to both enthrallment and disorientation at the exact same time! When the spin ends, there might be a mountain, a wall, or some other barrier that needs to be avoided in order to survive. Until you know what’s ahead, which isn’t possible until you’ve been through the course, the chances of success are not great.

This might’ve come off as being cheap or disruptive in another racing game. But in M.A.C.H. it only serves as one of the many pieces necessary to complete the puzzle – a puzzle you don’t solve as much as you live through (or at least try to live through). I wasn’t frustrated by my inability to overcome an obstacle; I was engrossed in the experience and wanted to fight harder the next time around. There are a lot of great racing games for PSP, but it’s not everyday that we get one that’s great and different. The first may have only just now been released, but I am already craving a sequel.

S.H.O.R.T. (But) S.W.E.E.T.

M.A.C.H. doesn’t fail where most games fail. It’s a thoroughly satisfying experience that, despite coming up short in one area, is still pretty fulfilling. The problem is, no matter how much you love this game, it won’t take most gamers more than a couple of days to finish the single-player campaign(s). Over 20 race and dogfight stages are included, but only five courses are available. That means you’ll race the same environment more than once. M.A.C.H.’s replay value is high, so I wouldn’t let this deter you from experiencing one of the PSP’s best racing games. But don’t count on it to get you through more than one car trip.

Gameplay: 7.6
Excellent, off-the-ground racing with great controls, intense maneuvers, and satisfying world design. Why a rating of 7.6, then? This game is very short. There are only a handful of courses to race, and only a few dogfight environments to explore. Tracks typically come in two forms: long and short. They are also reversed to add an extra option, but that doesn’t alleviate the game’s shortcomings.

Graphics: 8.0
Very well done. There aren’t a ton of effects presented, but the jets, environments, explosions, and super-fast gameplay are extremely impressive.

Sound: 6.9
Generic. You’ll hear techno-style music and explosions, but nothing that stands out.

Difficulty: Easy/Medium
M.A.C.H. doesn’t become challenging until the final tier is unlocked. The rest is pretty easy. That’s good for the pick-up-and-play aspect, but bad for its longevity.

Concept: 8.0
It’s been thought of, hinted at, and executed in some forms. Regardless, M.A.C.H. is the first aerial racing game that doesn’t come across as Mario Kart without gravity. M.A.C.H. is its own unique title – a terrific racing experience that’ll impress fans of Wipeout and Burnout, as well as Ace Combat.

Multiplayer: 7.5
Only one UMD is required to enjoy M.A.C.H.’s multiplayer options. Up to eight can battle simultaneously.

Overall: 7.5
For the initial thrills, high replay value, and outstanding time-kill factor, M.A.C.H. is a great game to have spinning in your PSP. But if a sequel is to be made, here’s hoping for a lengthier single-player campaign. The current title, though complete as far as gameplay and controls are concerned, does not have nearly enough courses.