It’s fast, fun, silly, it looks good and, yes, it’s shallow and repetitive. It’s an arcade rail shooter, not Baldur’s Gate III.
From Wikipedia :
Featuring a number of planes including the default F-14D Super Tomcat, it is best remembered for its semi-official connection to Sega’s earlier hit After Burner. Although never billed as a sequel, its overt similarities to the 1987 classic were nonetheless referenced in official promotional materials and recognized by the media.