SkyDrift Infinity

When I first reviewed SkyDrift back in 2011, I lamented that there weren't a lot of aerial racing games. One could point to Diddy Kong Racing or maybe Bravo Air Race, but I think we can all agree that airplanes lag far behind cars, motorcycles and even boats. Sadly, things have not changed much in the last decade. While games like Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed and even Grand Theft Auto Online have allowed players to take to the sky, our choices are still extremely limited if all you want to do is race airplanes. That's why I was so excited to see developer Digital Reality announce SkyDrift Infinity. I loved the original game and am always up for a good air race, so sign me up for more of that. But just how much more content are we actually getting? The answer to that question may surprise you.

SkyDrift Infinity is an arcade-style, weapons-based racing game that sees eight pilots flying above exotic locations in hopes of coming in first. It's a lot like Sony's wipEout series, only instead of using futuristic hovercrafts, we speed through the sky using airplanes. It's fast-paced and forgiving, always prioritizing fun and excitement over realism. In other words, if you're looking for a deep and realistic flying experience, then you're better off sticking with Microsoft's newest Flight Simulator.

It's also worth mentioning that this is not a game about aerial dog fights. Yes, we're shooting bullets and firing missiles at the opponents, but it's in the framework of a traditional racing game. There's always a course to race through, complete with invisible walls to keep you on the track. The good news is that it's easy to see where you're supposed to be going, even when you're feeling that very specific need for speed. This is smart, because there's always eye-catching events going down in the levels. No matter if you're screaming through canyons, into tunnels or between a destroy boat, there are usually a lot of markers keeping you focused on the track.

As a single-player game, SkyDrift Infinity is split into seven different levels, each with six increasingly difficult events to complete. There are three types of races in all, none of which will come as a surprise. There's a standard power race, where you race through two or three laps in order to come in first; a speed race, where you fly through hoops to gain speed; and survivor mode, where a timer counts down and eliminates whoever is in last place until there's only one pilot flying. You've seen all of these modes in countless other games, though rarely are you able to barrel roll your way through a tight gap next to an erupting volcano.

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The reason this works so well is because piloting the airplane is a breeze. Instead of overcomplicating things, Digital Reality has kept SkyDrift Infinity as simple as possible. You hold the right trigger to accelerate and use the right analog stick to bank around especially tight corners. There's also a turbo gauge that will fill up by performing daring stunts, such as flying close to the ground or speeding through a small opening in the rocks.

In most of the game modes there will be power-ups and weapons lining the course. Picking up these various items is the only way to attack your enemies, though players can choose to ditch the item for a small speed boost. The items are fairly standard for a kart racer, including missiles, electric blasts, shields, mines and so on so forth. Players have the ability to double up on each weapon, as well as hold two different items at the same time. Learning how to properly use these power-ups will mean the difference between winning and losing, especially in the later levels.

Among the many things that I loved about the original 2011 release, the various racing locations were always my favorite. From the snowy mountains to the tropical islands, these courses are often bright, vibrant and bursting with small, eye-catching details. In the Dam stage you'll have to fly around man-made buildings, while in other stages the only thing you have to worry about is nature. Sometimes the level will fight back, such as a building falling or a bridge collapsing above you. These changes to the level are fairly subdued, so don't expect anything along the lines of Split/Second.

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The only real problem with the locations is that there aren't enough of them. This was also a problem with the original release of SkyDrift, which was often criticized for quickly becoming repetitive. Things are no different in this re-release, which is easily the most disappointing aspect of SkyDrift Infinity. This would have been the perfect time to boost the number of courses from six to ten or maybe even twelve. But alas, this is not that kind of re-release, so you're stuck playing through each of the stages multiple times, both forwards and backwards.

And that brings me to the bigger problem with SkyDrift Infinity. As far as I'm concerned, the name wildly oversells what you're getting in this package. This is the original SkyDrift with some technical enhancements and minor additions, nothing more. Don't get me wrong, bumping up the resolution and improving the frame-rate are important enhancements that definitely make this game better, but let's be clear about what this is -- it's a remastered port. Anybody hoping for a wealth of new content to combat the original game's repetition will likely be disappointed by Infinity.

But if you can get over the letdown that this isn't a brand-new sequel, you'll still find a lot of good reasons to play SkyDrift. For example, there are a couple new aircrafts that have been taken from publisher THQ's catalog of titles, such as Darksiders. You'll also find big improvements to the multiplayer modes, especially when it comes to the local splitscreen action that has been designed for up to four players. There's also an improved (but still barebones) online multiplayer mode, allowing us to race against the rest of the world. Best of all, this new version will be the first time PlayStation 4 or 5 owners will have a chance to experience the fun of SkyDrift. That's really cool, but I still would have preferred a sequel.