It's not for everyone, but don't write it off just yet.
Graphics, contrary to what some reviewers think, are actually quite good in most cases, although I, too, was not happy with how ground targets and landscape textures looked below 1,000 feet. Apart from that, planes, clouds, and ground detail (from altitude) are very good, and the horizon stretches for an extremely long distance (a nice step-up from PS2-style graphics). Also of interesting graphical note, not only does the HUD provide you with most of the information that you need at any time, but as a cool diversion you can also check out all the working gauges in the cockpit, which respond to whatever you are doing with the plane.
Audio is appropriate for the planes you are in, especially in the cockpit view. It may not offer a lot of “Wow!”-factor, but the sounds are quite accurate, and they add to the immersive feeling that a simulator is supposed to provide. If you have ever seen and heard cockpit video from inside a real jet fighter, you will know what I am talking about.
Enemy A.I. is decent at times, and it can give you a good run for the money, especially when you are in a big “furball” of a dogfight (i.e. when there are lots of bogeys and bandits). Your wingman A.I. is, unfortunately, about as useful as most other flight games to date, which is to say that it’s pretty dense. It would be nice in the future to see developers make real use of those processors in the 360, and give us something that is really like having another person there with you. In the meantime, I suggest that you go online and try your hand against real human opponents. Do be careful, though, because this game has been out in Japan for quite some time now, which means that there are several aces out there already.
On the “Beginner” setting, most of the missions are admittedly not all that difficult, although it would be incorrect to say that the enemy can’t dodge your missiles – they most certainly can, and do! The cockpit view is totally functional when looking for those enemies, too, and no, it does not cut off too much of the screen to be of any use. If someone thinks that while playing Over G, then he/she must not have played Ace Combat, either. When in “cockpit view,” use the right stick to move the camera (i.e. “your head”) so you can see what’s going on. Gee, it’s just like being in a real plane. Imagine that! I never have problems being able to see the enemy, and if I can’t see them straight ahead, I move the camera and/or the plane to look around, just as a real pilot would. Frankly, I found it easier to use the cockpit view effectively in Over G much more so than in Ace Combat, but that’s just my opinion.
What several reviewers are missing is that Over G is supposed to be more of a simulator, and not an arcade-style shoot-em-up like Ace Combat, or worse, Crimson Skies. Similar to Ace Combat, however, is the fact that you will often be taking out enemies from a distance, and unfortunately, when you get tagged by the enemy, it can also be from a distance, so learning how to use chaff, flares, and evasion maneuvers is important. (That buzzing noise in your ear and flashing red HUD isn’t your alarm clock, buddy, it’s a missile launch warning!!!)
As for the sluggishness with the planes, again I will remind you that this is a simulator, so don’t expect the same plane movement as in some other air combat games. If you’ve ever been in a plane, you never feel like you are going very fast (apart from takeoffs and landings), because you don’t have any reference points at altitude. You don’t here, either, hence the lack of a distinct feeling of speed. As for the plane not being able to maneuver well, since this is not an arcade-style flyer, you have to actually use physics to your advantage. In other words, if you have less than 100 knots of airspeed, and you couple that with barely 100 feet of altitude and an attempted 3+ G turn banked over on your side, then that equals a “CRASH!!!” You will drop out of the sky like a stone, plain and simple. Instead, hit the afterburners, go into a slight dive (from altitude, dummy), then crank the plane on its side while pulling the stick back, and you will find yourself starting to black out from the G’s you're pulling. You may even exceed the G-limit for the plane you are in. (The warning, by the way, is announced by the plane’s computer as “Over G! Over G!” and I think that’s where the game’s name comes from, by gosh!)
Is this game an “8”? No. But I would say that it ranks higher than the 5.9 that Gamespot gave it, even if it is probably only about 6.8 to just about 7-ish. What brings the game down are the cheesy menus and presentation, as well as the bad music. (Oh my gosh, Xbox 360 games support user-customizable soundtracks. Did you know that? You can also just turn the music off, should you so desire.) And in my opinion, the replays could really benefit from more camera angles and camera control (similar to PGR3), as well as the ability to toggle between aircraft (both friendly and enemy), so you can learn from your mistakes. As far as I am concerned, the replays are the most important thing to fix, since in a game like this, you can use it as a learning tool and not just for entertainment. Although the soundtrack and presentation can be annoying, I think they are last things you would care about with any game. I mean, what else? You didn’t like the box art? Well that’s a reason not to try the game, isn’t it?
People who are most apt to like Over G are plane buffs, flight simulator fans, and people who like air combat games such as Ace Combat. If you like realistic jet air combat, then you should definitely check out this game. I can happily say that this game does have challenge, and for once, I can have air combat without the ridiculous, deathstar-like super-weapons that, in my mind, plague the Ace Combat series and games like it.