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Review By Jacob Hegarty
| Developer: Chuhai Labs, Vitei Backroom Inc. | Publisher: Balor Games |
| Reviewed on: PC – AMD 9800X3D, Radeon 9070XT, 64GB DDR5 RAM/ Custom Steam Machine – AMD 5800X, Radeon 9060XT, 64GB DDR4 RAM/Steam Deck |
Also Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X|S |
| Release Date: 14/08/2026 | Credits: Hero Liao (Animation Director), Kyeoms (VFX Artist), Zach Alkman (Lead Programmer), Daniel Walker (Principal 2D Artist), Simon Contreas (3D Character Artist), Johnothan Scott (Voice of Bowie)
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Wild Blue Skies offers a modern twist on classic on-rails flight games from the late 90s. With a new threat looming, it is up to the Blue Bomber Squadron to unite and defeat the evil Grimclaw and his minions.
The story begins with the return of Grimclaw, a villainous enemy who was believed to have been stripped of his power years ago. Now, he returns stronger than ever, fuelled by hatred in his heart, as he sets out to conquer the universe for himself.
The Blue Bombers must defeat the villain once and for all. This elite squadron of four battles their way through numerous enemies and locations to reach Grimclaw’s villainous lair. Along the way, the Blue Bombers engage in various missions and dogfights, overcoming foes in a series of stunning landscapes.
The landscapes in this game vary greatly, depending on the path chosen by previous missions. Players can explore beautiful islands, raging volcanoes, and monumental icebergs, among other stunning environments, all depicted in an anime-style aesthetic.
Wild Blue Skies focuses on repetition; the overall objective is to achieve high scores while navigating through multiple levels, each offering various paths to reach the end goal. Learning each level and mastering how to complete it is crucial. In my initial attempts, I faced early setbacks, as a few stray projectiles took me out of the game. With limited lives and little experience, I was quickly defeated. However, after playing for a while, I improved my ability to predict enemy movements and effectively utilised the dodge feature, increasing my chances of success.
Over time, I gained a better understanding of each stage and successfully reached the final level without losing a life. I even began earning golden accolades on some levels where I had previously struggled. With increased experience, I became more adept at predicting the challenges of each level and discovered hidden items like extra lives, bombs, and healing resources.
Throughout each stage, there are various types of enemies, ranging from basic foes to more aggressive flyers as well as specialised bomber squadrons that appear in the dogfight arenas. At the end of each stage, there is a cinematic boss fight. These boss battles can be challenging; however, once you recognise their attack patterns, they become much easier to handle. By skilfully utilising all available weapons, most bosses can be defeated in a relatively short amount of time.
In the game, players can choose from three distinct weapon types, each offering unique capabilities.
Laser Gun: This versatile weapon fires short bursts of energy, making it ideal for quick, effective strikes against enemies. Additionally, it can be shot in rapid bursts, provided reflexes are sharp enough. Additionally, it can be upgraded by finding the upgrade tokens in the level that enhance the laser gun’s power and effectiveness.
Missiles: These powerful projectiles are designed to lock onto targets, delivering impressive damage. However, players must be patient, as acquiring a target can take some time, requiring a strategic approach to timing and positioning.
Bombs: These devastating weapons cause substantial damage upon detonation, making them an asset in intense combat situations. However, they are scarce throughout the game, necessitating careful planning and strategic usage to maximise their impact.
In addition to its array of attack weapons, the game incorporates sophisticated dodge, boost and flight mechanics. The dodge function empowers Bowie to swiftly evade incoming missiles and bullets, either by deflecting them or gracefully swooping past their trajectories. This agility not only keeps him out of harm’s way but also grants him the freedom to retaliate, allowing Bowie to fire back at enemies without the constant threat of being struck.
The overall experience of the game harkens back to the beloved on-rails shooters of the nineties, characterised by a forced third-person perspective and thrilling dogfight arenas. Fans of classic titles like Star Fox will likely find themselves immersed in this nostalgic yet fresh adventure, evoking a sense of familiarity while introducing new challenges and gameplay dynamics.
The game boasts a rich array of full voice acting, showcasing an impressive and diverse cast of talented voice artists who breathe life into each character. As players embark on thrilling missions, the Blue Bombers engage in dynamic interactions, with the surviving members checking in at the end of each battle to show which team members have emerged unscathed. This engaging dialogue, paired with a beautifully composed soundtrack, creates an immersive atmosphere that elevates the gameplay. The combination of vivid character interactions and enchanting music transforms the repetitiveness of the missions into a shared journey, making every encounter feel meaningful and memorable.
The game is fully compatible with both the Steam Deck and PC. It also performed exceptionally well in 4K on my Steam Machine, making it one of the best ways to experience it, especially on the OLED screen where the visuals really stood out. I primarily played it while travelling on the Steam Deck, and it was also an excellent way to enjoy the game.
Overall, Wild Blue Skies draws heavily from the on-rails flying shooters of the nineties while making the genre its own with stunning scenery, excellent voice acting, and engaging flight mechanics. The storyline is both fun and thrilling, serving as a great motivation to replay the game to explore different pathways. The game features a wide variety of enemies and routes, as well as unique challenges for those willing to invest the effort. The Blue Bombers make for a fantastic squadron, and I can’t wait to suit up and fly with my new comrades again soon.
(Review code provided to Explosion Network.
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