Sky Diving review

Gamestyle would be intrigued to know the origins of Sky Diving, as it strikes us as being originally a fully fledged title before being zipped into something much smaller. In saying that however it remains one of the largest downloads available via the PlayStation Store Network, clocking in at around 350MB. This begs the question why wasn't an instruction manual actually included, as otherwise you need to be connected online to view the document? When you've overcome this basic flaw and got to grips with the overly sensitive control system, then you're ready to jump, out of the nearest window.The concept is divided into two sections with the first being formation diving. Here you are expected to twist and turn your on screen character to fit the specified position amidst a formation. Success then prompts another formation and so on. The aim is to achieve as many as possible before you reach the danger zone and have to activate your parachute. Extra points are awarded for time taken to reach the correction position and waiting until the last possible moment before reaching for that parachute chord. The other mode is a solitary experience and ditches your three twister team mates and demands precision landing on a target for maximum points. Initially you have the opportunity for some freestyle twists and turns in the pursuit of bonuses before worrying about lining up the landing target, which you must hit as there is little room for error. Landing in Sky Diving is extremely harsh and the lacks a realistic area of safety outside of the bulls eye itself and if you fail, its back up in the plane for another shot. Whichever mode you select it is clearly obvious that the controller just cannot match the requirements demanded by the game design. Quite often you'll spin hopelessly out of control and scream in frustration as you try to regain influence. This often occurs when your character only needs to slightly adjust their body position but any movement prompts an endless spin and the need to start again. With the clock and altitude ticking away with each second its an experience that seems based mainly on luck rather than skill. Practice does improve matters but the underlying cause remains and is only one jolt or slip away from in effect ruining the whole dive.Sky Diving is a half hearted enterprise as even the customisation options for your character are very disappointing, as are the level variables. Really, this title puts the original Sega Rally in a whole new light when it comes to offering the player a wide range of selections. Also on offer is a online mode that replicates the limitations of the offline game. At least the visuals maintain a faint upscaled PlayStation 2 feel and the colourful nature confirms what is exactly in the huge download. The draw distance is impressive alongside the steady frame rate, but the replays fail to show off the scale and finesse of what is actually going on. Meantime the whole event is played out to a disappointing bland rock track that has you scrambling for mute button.More depth and some playability, magically matched to a worthwhile control system is what is required here. Without such a remedy Sky Diving might as well chuck you out of the plane, strapped to an armchair as this is the extent of the control you have over your descent or any formation flying.