If you are fan of the Xbox 360 and have been waiting patiently for a game in the flight genre, then the wait is over – Blazing Angels 2: Secret Missions of WWII has arrived. While Blazing Angels 2 doesn’t necessarily satisfy my personal desires for a game in the genre (you can count me in as a Crimson Skies fan) it’s a steady improvement from the first installment.

To begin, Blazing Angels 2 immediately slaps historians in the face with a fictional take on “secret missions” that happened throughout World War II. Putting together the back-story of Operation Wildcard, Ubisoft has created a whole new direction for the Blazing Angels franchise. What is Operation Wildcard? First off, they are your stereotypical “elite pilots” that enter the battle before anyone else even dares to. Second off, Operation Wildcard pilots engage in strange missions where new weapons and technology are being used on their planes to combat the Axis pilots. In the long run, they aren’t any different than your average macho pilots that take to the sky in such movies as Top Gun and Stealth. And yeah, I just went there – I mentioned Stealth!

Does the storyline work? The answer to that question is a two-part answer: yes and no. Yes, it does provide a new outlook at where the franchise could go with a fictional outline. No, due to the fact that many WWII buffs will call shenanigans on Ubisoft for changing the series plot from fact-based to an odd-world domination fictional plot on behalf of the Nazis that never occurred. The storyline itself moves at a quick pace and is hands down more interesting than the first title in the series. The question remains is if WWII buffs will allow a change from historically accurate to fiction.

While the storyline was a stab in the dark by Ubisoft, the gameplay, on the other hand, is hands down better than the previous installment. The concept is basic: destroy everything set before you with the tools at your disposal. Missions ask for players to protect allies, straight up dogfight enemies, and even take down a few boss battles just for good measure. While the missions are somewhat varied, I once again became bored halfway through the campaign. Throughout the missions, players earn points for completed objectives – these points allow for players to upgrade their planes with better weapons, armor, and maneuvering. Regarding the locations of the missions, players will be able to fly the skies of Rome, Cairo, and other exotic locations.

The game controls have been touched up. It handles a lot better than I ever remember – for example, locking on is a cinch. With the press of the A Button, players can lock onto a target and begin the onslaught. Players are also able to command their squadron with ease through the touch of the D-pad. There are four wingmen available to rush forward to attack, fall back to defend, taunt enemies and repair your aircraft. Players don’t have to take advantage of the squadron to be successful, but if they do opt to use them to their full abilities, players will find the game extraordinarily easy. To use the special attacks of the other pilots, players have to wait until their icons are lighted up.

The planes the players are allowed to pilot come equipped with self-guided rockets, EMP charges, and many other unique weapons that aren’t native to the 1940’s era. This change in the arsenal is a welcome addition that permits for a different style of combat. Having arcade-friendly controls, the new weapons fit well, especially since it’ll attract a whole new crowd of gamers to pick up and play the game. Catered towards casual gamers, Blazing Angels 2 is easy enough to breeze through the game and jump into the online portion of the game right away.

The online modes include: cooperative play, solo matches, and squadron (team) matches. There are the typical gametypes such as capture-the-flag and a form of Halo 3’s VIP mode, so there is a lot here to pick and choose from. The problem with the online is that no one is playing the game to fully enjoy the multiplayer. I suggest convincing a friend or two to pick up the game to play cooperatively – I guarantee that Blazing Angels 2 will be a lot more interesting with a friend tagging along.

On the technical side of the game, the graphics of Blazing Angels 2: Secret Missions of WWII aren’t too far behind the competition. The planes are modeled exquisitely, the weapons’ effects are great and the developers did a lot better with the art direction. What is disappointing is the audio portion – it never escalates the tension to make it feel like you are dogfighting enemies. Being limited, the soundtrack becomes repetitive and it shows when the main theme is played several times throughout the missions. Lastly, the voice-acting hasn’t improved with horrible voices for the Axis. You’ll want to cover your ears when they show up to trash talk.

Gameplay: 7.2
A lot more intriguing than the first, I don’t think players will struggle to get at least 10 hours of replay value out of Blazing Angels 2.

Graphics: 8.0
While they aren’t the most beautiful graphics players will come across on the Xbox 360, they get the job done.

Sound: 6.3
Yikes, the developers really dropped the ball with audio. They need to concentrate on delivering an authentic feel with the soundtrack and voice-acting next time around.

Difficulty: Easy
Shooting down enemy jets has never been easier.

Concept: 7.1
If WWII isn’t your thing, then maybe sitting this one out is the best option with Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation right around the corner.

Multiplayer: 7.3
Good luck finding online competition. In addition, there’s a heavy amount of lag.

Overall: 7.5
Ubisoft has changed the formula and from my standpoint, it worked. It definitely held my interest a lot longer than the first Blazing Angels ever did. I don’t recommend buying this without playing the demo or renting it first.