Better than Sega Ages 2500: After Burner 2
Yo buddy, you still alive?
My favorite from PS2. It scales back a lot of the problems I had with AC5 being a smaller but more concisive game. The plot didn't reach the heights of AC4 but it is the better game and I really enjoyed the last twist and final boss. The cutscenes are somewhat of a highlight too, many of them pretty memorable and the styles are a pretty nice addition.
It just feels better to have only one team partner to equip too.
It just feels better to have only one team partner to equip too.
The incredibly tight and well-constructed EP to AC5’s bloated double album, Ace Combat Zero is a surprising accomplishment, perhaps the best game developed by a b-team I have ever played. It does feel like they configured Zero to avoid many of 5’s gameplay issues; ammo is no longer an issue, infinitely respawning enemies are essentially gone, the return line from AC04 returns, and the unlock system (though not perfect, even after 3 full runs in the 3 styles up to Ace, I wasn’t able to buy every plane), is much closer to 04’s less grindy mission unlock system than 5’s experience based version.
Gameplay-wise, it’s absolutely an improvement over the last game. Boresight is a good addition to the game, allowing you to cycle through targets more easily, and your wingman’s AI has been buffed, especially once set to use special weapons and disperse. Of the four games I’ve played they were the most aggressive and willing to finish off targets, and there were multiple times where I saw them steal my kills. While the flight model is more responsive and less of an interesting challenge than 4, it’s made up for by its enemies, which are far more dangerous and fun to fight than in the previous game. While its missions are closer to 04’s standard score attack missions, in comparison to 5 there are no outright gimmicky stinkers, while still not being afraid to mix it up.
What it lacks in campaign length (a full playthrough can easily be done in a cool 2-3 hours), it more than makes up for with the replayability of its fascinating Ace Style system. I think what makes this system even more interesting is that it’s less of an outright “morality system” and more a deconstruction of how wars are fought. Whether you choose to fight the game like a chivalrous knight or as a destructive demon salting Belka’s earth, ultimately, the terrible events of the game still occur all the same; war is still horrific regardless of how “clean” its combatants fight it.
It honestly shocks me that they were able to license out these planes from the MIC, given some of the messaging here, did they just uncritically give out the rights to their planes without looking at the actual story? The game in part feels inspired by the brutal Yugoslav wars of the 1990s, including the controversial involvement of foreign forces, and there’s a mission that’s a direct parallel to the firebombing of Dresden/Tokyo in WW2 committed by your allies, which has an impact on your wingmen. Multiple characters speak out about how these conflicts are dictated by unaffected politicians who aren’t putting their lives on the line and who are only interested in redrawing the borders of their countries to their favor, no matter how destructive the war becomes. These pilots at times come into conflict with more naïve pilots like PJ, convinced that they’re “pursuing peace” through war. This dichotomy almost feels like a counter to AC5’s protagonistic Razgriz Squadron who simultaneously dislike dogfighting and “are fighting for peace” while raining hell from above, which is a viewpoint that never goes challenged in 5. Generally, the war gets far grayer as you turn the tides in your favor and it stretches further and further, despite promises that the war will be over soon. It becomes a shift from an initial defense against an invading army (led by a newly elected authoritarian Belka, whose conditions were in part caused by the allied Osea’s efforts to destabilize their economy) to something far more imperialistic and “vengeful” as it were, long after you’ve liberated Ustio.
The biggest thing Ace Style impacts is the kinds of ace squadrons you fight, many of whom are a reflection of your fighting style which in turn influences how they view you. The documentary-styled presentation and its interviews with your former enemy aces boost the game’s campaign, though some of the ADR can be a bit funky. It’s interesting to see how these former foes respect and fear your power, seeing how the war and their encounters with you affected their outlooks and lives. This game is one of the better uses of a silent protagonist I’ve seen, portraying your ace as a then-undocumented, but critical part of the war whose legacy among those he downed is influenced by how fair you fight in your playthroughs. The music is also my favorite of the 4 AC games I’ve played, accentuated by its unique flamenco motifs, which match up extremely well with the dance-like dogfights you have with your enemies. The parallels to Arthurian legend are also very nice and help the game's unique atmosphere.
I was hesitant on giving this a perfect score given its length and some of its less consistent elements (some more characterization among your wingmen would’ve benefitted the game’s story more), but I realized it compares on par to all my 5s, especially in gameplay and thus I couldn’t justify not giving it one. There’s something so thrilling in lining up your speed, angle, and timing to nail a target. It’s a shame it didn’t receive the accolades it likely deserved when it released given it was overlooked due to most people seeing it as glorified DLC to 5, despite in my opinion being better in every aspect.
For the first time (at least for me), it feels like an Ace Combat game has finally hit its trifecta of story/thematics, presentation, and gameplay immaculately. Playing the final boss sequence with its intense atmosphere and portrayal, the iconic “Zero” scoring it, and really the whole game in general with my brother watching was one of the most enjoyable experiences I’ve ever had playing a game.
Gameplay-wise, it’s absolutely an improvement over the last game. Boresight is a good addition to the game, allowing you to cycle through targets more easily, and your wingman’s AI has been buffed, especially once set to use special weapons and disperse. Of the four games I’ve played they were the most aggressive and willing to finish off targets, and there were multiple times where I saw them steal my kills. While the flight model is more responsive and less of an interesting challenge than 4, it’s made up for by its enemies, which are far more dangerous and fun to fight than in the previous game. While its missions are closer to 04’s standard score attack missions, in comparison to 5 there are no outright gimmicky stinkers, while still not being afraid to mix it up.
What it lacks in campaign length (a full playthrough can easily be done in a cool 2-3 hours), it more than makes up for with the replayability of its fascinating Ace Style system. I think what makes this system even more interesting is that it’s less of an outright “morality system” and more a deconstruction of how wars are fought. Whether you choose to fight the game like a chivalrous knight or as a destructive demon salting Belka’s earth, ultimately, the terrible events of the game still occur all the same; war is still horrific regardless of how “clean” its combatants fight it.
It honestly shocks me that they were able to license out these planes from the MIC, given some of the messaging here, did they just uncritically give out the rights to their planes without looking at the actual story? The game in part feels inspired by the brutal Yugoslav wars of the 1990s, including the controversial involvement of foreign forces, and there’s a mission that’s a direct parallel to the firebombing of Dresden/Tokyo in WW2 committed by your allies, which has an impact on your wingmen. Multiple characters speak out about how these conflicts are dictated by unaffected politicians who aren’t putting their lives on the line and who are only interested in redrawing the borders of their countries to their favor, no matter how destructive the war becomes. These pilots at times come into conflict with more naïve pilots like PJ, convinced that they’re “pursuing peace” through war. This dichotomy almost feels like a counter to AC5’s protagonistic Razgriz Squadron who simultaneously dislike dogfighting and “are fighting for peace” while raining hell from above, which is a viewpoint that never goes challenged in 5. Generally, the war gets far grayer as you turn the tides in your favor and it stretches further and further, despite promises that the war will be over soon. It becomes a shift from an initial defense against an invading army (led by a newly elected authoritarian Belka, whose conditions were in part caused by the allied Osea’s efforts to destabilize their economy) to something far more imperialistic and “vengeful” as it were, long after you’ve liberated Ustio.
The biggest thing Ace Style impacts is the kinds of ace squadrons you fight, many of whom are a reflection of your fighting style which in turn influences how they view you. The documentary-styled presentation and its interviews with your former enemy aces boost the game’s campaign, though some of the ADR can be a bit funky. It’s interesting to see how these former foes respect and fear your power, seeing how the war and their encounters with you affected their outlooks and lives. This game is one of the better uses of a silent protagonist I’ve seen, portraying your ace as a then-undocumented, but critical part of the war whose legacy among those he downed is influenced by how fair you fight in your playthroughs. The music is also my favorite of the 4 AC games I’ve played, accentuated by its unique flamenco motifs, which match up extremely well with the dance-like dogfights you have with your enemies. The parallels to Arthurian legend are also very nice and help the game's unique atmosphere.
I was hesitant on giving this a perfect score given its length and some of its less consistent elements (some more characterization among your wingmen would’ve benefitted the game’s story more), but I realized it compares on par to all my 5s, especially in gameplay and thus I couldn’t justify not giving it one. There’s something so thrilling in lining up your speed, angle, and timing to nail a target. It’s a shame it didn’t receive the accolades it likely deserved when it released given it was overlooked due to most people seeing it as glorified DLC to 5, despite in my opinion being better in every aspect.
For the first time (at least for me), it feels like an Ace Combat game has finally hit its trifecta of story/thematics, presentation, and gameplay immaculately. Playing the final boss sequence with its intense atmosphere and portrayal, the iconic “Zero” scoring it, and really the whole game in general with my brother watching was one of the most enjoyable experiences I’ve ever had playing a game.
I like the new mechanics but game felt too short and underwhelming compared to 4 and 5.
executes well on its back to basics structure but man i miss 4.
THIS IS WHAT V2 IS FOR
part of the trinity whats more to say? great game, a must play if you enjoy the ac series or flight sims in general
Mission 18, the events after and The music in that mission raised this game by a star
i have never been more aggravated in my life then i have playing Mission 17 but the final boss fight went hard so it makes up for it
This review contains spoilers
This Review is entirely biased by a very personal impact that I have been meaning to put into words, so this review more then anything, is a love letter to this game.
Its 2021, and I am down on my luck, college drop out, father passed away, and fired from work. I am on the edge of falling back in to bad habits, and dropping any of my wishes to move out of my at the time shitty home.
I am spending Christmas alone again, my father died a few years back, who I used to spend it with, and I never really got along with family besides the old man. As a kid, each night before I went to sleep, he told me the stories of King Arthur, a story I somewhat misguidedly looked up to, wanting to be like the king, not understanding the ramifications of it.
Either way, I follow that ideal; being a leader, building a community, and not really thinking about the deep responsibility of being a figure people need to be able to rely on or that people will come to hate you for being such a person.
Anyway; I am spending Christmas alone, I buy ace combat 7 to kill time; fell in love in an instant, and ended up getting the rest of the games. After playing through 4 and 5, I finally got to Zero; and I never expected the game to change me the way it did. I was now at the same point in life, but my ''friends'' of the time had left me cause they had their own issues. My whole leadership fantasy had fallen apart, and I failed to see the value in the people who were still around me.
And in comes a game about a pilot who falls into the role of King Arthur, the figure I had been chasing to be like for the years since my father died, thinking it would fix me; that it would fulfill and replace the grief I had, the anger I had for my shitty childhood, and more.
I didn't really have a idea as to why I was here, why I survived living on the streets, why I survived abuse, why I even fought; I was lost. But Ace Combat was for a good while something that just, kept my mind of it all; and then finally, with my heart at ease, Ace Combat Zero directly confronted the destructive path I found myself on.
I time and time again did actions, based on others their dreams and ideals, but never my own; Cipher does the same. Cipher just follows the needs of the allied forces; aimlessly, a weapon pointed at others, with no one really caring for who they are, what their dreams or ideals are. Besides Pixy, but even then; you continue your path of violence. No matter what you tell yourself; you're just a merc, a soldier, or doing this for the cause as a knight; the point stands, you arent fighting for yourself. You never stop to ask what world you are protecting.
And then your buddy leaves you for those actions; he lost faith in you, and the world as a whole, and begrudgingly leaves you in the dust. Ace Combat Zero from here on, after Pixy leaves, takes on a new tone; the reason you are doing things becomes less and less clear, as the enemy has already given up, and now you're fighting the faction your friend went of to; cause you just cant end this cycle of following whatever order you're given.
But the comfort of just following orders, putting down enemy after enemy whilst being praised for it is now twisted on you. You're seen as a monster, one of you're own making. And you're confronted with doubt.
And then there is the final confrontation.
Pixy, you former ally; asks, ''found your reason to fight yet?'' and it all dawned on me then and there; I hadn't. I had never thought for a second what *I* wanted, stuck in just this idea of surviving, and scrapping by. And now, the game asks me to defend the world; and for what? Pixy himself asks you what this world even has to offer besides pain. But there I began thinking, why would I want to stop v2? Why do I want to refuse the idea of being on the same coin as Pixy? And it all dawned on me that I didn't want to be a hero, or some big leader who was going to amount to something larger then life.
I just wanted to live; that, was my reason to fight. I had come this far, and I did not want my life to end in the shitty situation I was in, and neither did I want that for Cipher, a silent protagonist who I had found myself projecting on a little too much.
So I defeat Pixy, I am now looking over a peaceful horizon; but I didn't really know at that second what I wanted to do; how I was going to fix it. But then Pixy talked about trust. "The world won't change unless we trust people. Trust is vital for a peaceful world-- I may not find what I'm looking for, but I still wanna try."
And it all clicked. I hadn't found my ability yet to trust people again, or to dare to go into the unknown to try look for a better life. I was scared to improve, thinking I would lose myself.
And then in the end, Pixy asked ''Still alive?'' as I am already crying, and I realised how far I had come; how strong I really was for the things I went through and still was able to stand and talk about them. In the end, Cipher vanishes from history. And a year later, I did the same.
I went to the other side of the country, and began living life on my own terms. I have never been happier; I am finally forming into the person I wanted to be. Not a false dream, but for once just living in the real world. I survived. And perhaps that is my answer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2atlpj7AGXU&ab_channel=AceCombatFan
Its 2021, and I am down on my luck, college drop out, father passed away, and fired from work. I am on the edge of falling back in to bad habits, and dropping any of my wishes to move out of my at the time shitty home.
I am spending Christmas alone again, my father died a few years back, who I used to spend it with, and I never really got along with family besides the old man. As a kid, each night before I went to sleep, he told me the stories of King Arthur, a story I somewhat misguidedly looked up to, wanting to be like the king, not understanding the ramifications of it.
Either way, I follow that ideal; being a leader, building a community, and not really thinking about the deep responsibility of being a figure people need to be able to rely on or that people will come to hate you for being such a person.
Anyway; I am spending Christmas alone, I buy ace combat 7 to kill time; fell in love in an instant, and ended up getting the rest of the games. After playing through 4 and 5, I finally got to Zero; and I never expected the game to change me the way it did. I was now at the same point in life, but my ''friends'' of the time had left me cause they had their own issues. My whole leadership fantasy had fallen apart, and I failed to see the value in the people who were still around me.
And in comes a game about a pilot who falls into the role of King Arthur, the figure I had been chasing to be like for the years since my father died, thinking it would fix me; that it would fulfill and replace the grief I had, the anger I had for my shitty childhood, and more.
I didn't really have a idea as to why I was here, why I survived living on the streets, why I survived abuse, why I even fought; I was lost. But Ace Combat was for a good while something that just, kept my mind of it all; and then finally, with my heart at ease, Ace Combat Zero directly confronted the destructive path I found myself on.
I time and time again did actions, based on others their dreams and ideals, but never my own; Cipher does the same. Cipher just follows the needs of the allied forces; aimlessly, a weapon pointed at others, with no one really caring for who they are, what their dreams or ideals are. Besides Pixy, but even then; you continue your path of violence. No matter what you tell yourself; you're just a merc, a soldier, or doing this for the cause as a knight; the point stands, you arent fighting for yourself. You never stop to ask what world you are protecting.
And then your buddy leaves you for those actions; he lost faith in you, and the world as a whole, and begrudgingly leaves you in the dust. Ace Combat Zero from here on, after Pixy leaves, takes on a new tone; the reason you are doing things becomes less and less clear, as the enemy has already given up, and now you're fighting the faction your friend went of to; cause you just cant end this cycle of following whatever order you're given.
But the comfort of just following orders, putting down enemy after enemy whilst being praised for it is now twisted on you. You're seen as a monster, one of you're own making. And you're confronted with doubt.
And then there is the final confrontation.
Pixy, you former ally; asks, ''found your reason to fight yet?'' and it all dawned on me then and there; I hadn't. I had never thought for a second what *I* wanted, stuck in just this idea of surviving, and scrapping by. And now, the game asks me to defend the world; and for what? Pixy himself asks you what this world even has to offer besides pain. But there I began thinking, why would I want to stop v2? Why do I want to refuse the idea of being on the same coin as Pixy? And it all dawned on me that I didn't want to be a hero, or some big leader who was going to amount to something larger then life.
I just wanted to live; that, was my reason to fight. I had come this far, and I did not want my life to end in the shitty situation I was in, and neither did I want that for Cipher, a silent protagonist who I had found myself projecting on a little too much.
So I defeat Pixy, I am now looking over a peaceful horizon; but I didn't really know at that second what I wanted to do; how I was going to fix it. But then Pixy talked about trust. "The world won't change unless we trust people. Trust is vital for a peaceful world-- I may not find what I'm looking for, but I still wanna try."
And it all clicked. I hadn't found my ability yet to trust people again, or to dare to go into the unknown to try look for a better life. I was scared to improve, thinking I would lose myself.
And then in the end, Pixy asked ''Still alive?'' as I am already crying, and I realised how far I had come; how strong I really was for the things I went through and still was able to stand and talk about them. In the end, Cipher vanishes from history. And a year later, I did the same.
I went to the other side of the country, and began living life on my own terms. I have never been happier; I am finally forming into the person I wanted to be. Not a false dream, but for once just living in the real world. I survived. And perhaps that is my answer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2atlpj7AGXU&ab_channel=AceCombatFan
Loved the documentary style for the cutscenes, music, and especially the last couple of missions. The final level along with the credits (yep that's right I stuck along with the credits) were done so beautifully. Truly shows the art of war. I also think the progression was done a bit better than the previous game, like it gets straight to the point. This entry was simply awesome, I think it makes AC5 more special because of how AC5 keeps reminding us of this war, so in a way it makes that game more sense.
Play style: Mercenary, because I like money.
Play style: Mercenary, because I like money.
Man, fuck that final boss
I hate one-time finishers, beat the damn game at least three times
This game is actually such an amazing experience! The thematic storytelling and unique aesthetic paired with several small improvements from 4 made this such a good time, and one I definitely see myself thinking of in the future.
While I still felt some missions went on too long, and the final few were just…a bit annoying…it was still one I’d greatly recommend after 4.
While I still felt some missions went on too long, and the final few were just…a bit annoying…it was still one I’d greatly recommend after 4.
The best balance of story and gameplay within the series, easy. A true epic, the anti-war sentiment feels very strong here, especially playing as a merc. Great missions and characters, Pixy is standout and one of the best in the whole series, and the flight model & plane selection is great. Also complimented by the Ace Meter, giving you different cutscenes and squad engagements depending on how virtuous you are, sparing or killing enemy fighters, or doing a mix of both. Gives great replay value because of this. It's all that's good about Ace Combat as a series, thought-provoking messages mixed with sublime jet combat. A PS2 must-play.
holy shiiiiiit
My love for Zero has only gotten stronger over the years. Gameplay wise it's AC5 but with all of the fat cut out between superfluous planes and crappy mission design. It's a war story that just presents itself as a bloody grey. This is best embodied by Cipher shooting down every Ace but by your war crime meter he can be lauded as a hero, someone who wants their paycheck or a demon that wrecks everything in his path from the interviews. After all your "Cipher" is how you personally chose to decode the war. The eponymous "Zero" is a finale to remember and reflect on.
the so called demon lord when he throws 20 missiles but the ace squadrons still call me good.
That is the most intense 1v1 final fight i've ever played
This has been an easy game to replay over the last year or so- it’s like two hours long, there’s a ton of variation thanks to the combination of the different Ace styles and the flexible approach to missions, it’s thematically and narratively dense- and yet I can’t seem to write anything cogent on it, even after multiple playthroughs. So, forgive me if this is scattershot; wanted to get something (anything!) down that might help me make sense of this.
—
I don’t know if anything that’s got this many weapons manufacturers in the intro can be considered truly anti-war, but I like the way the game’s philosophy comes out in the scoring system, Metal Gear style. You’re given a subtle nudge to engage in dogfights thanks to fact that enemy pilots are worth far more than some defenseless blip on the map- especially apparent in the few score attack missions where you can hit the threshold far more quickly by engaging enemy formations than picking apart a hapless armored column. Also keenly felt in the few times where you can select which operation to participate in- select an Air-to-ground mission has the Belkan forces betrayed by their own CO’s and making last stands with aging equipment, but take on the air-to-air missions and fights become much more evenly-matched, your opponents still able put up an intense fight- and sometimes they’re even able to walk away. In a game so critical of the bureaucratic and corrupt intentions of warmongering nations, I think it sees a lot of truth in these showdowns; philosophies and worldviews tested, but in ways that don't threaten to consume the rest of the world. (obvious exception being the threat of nuclear annihilation in the finale) And, more broadly, the emphasis on dogfighting is one more example of the strange harmony between the Arthurian imagery and the world of air warfare- cutting through the sky to seek out other Knights to ransom off.
There’s some more mundane structural stuff I’m also really keen on; with so many games centered on player choice I find I just end up making the same choices on each playthrough- committed to a particular alignment from minute one, but there are a lot of decisions to make regardless of your chosen style, with the usual array of open-ended maps and planes to customize, alongside the previously mentioned operations that have you tackling entirely different objectives. For as much as Zero is tackling narratively, it never shies away from the legacy of its arcade roots, and that might be part of the reason the game moves along with such an expert pace.
If there is one issue with it, it’s that the different Ace styles feel somewhat disconnected from their intent when actually playing; I gravitate towards the Knight style, but that’s partially because the act of sparing neutral targets demands so little from you. In practice it feels like it embodies the sort of pragmatism that the Soldier style is meant represent, and playing as a “Soldier” seems positively sociopathic as you have to keep a mental check of how many neutral targets you’ve killed and how many you need to spare- but maybe that’s the nature of stepping into a worldview that seems far outside my own.
Anyway, I could keep going, still feel like there’s so much here; give it another playthrough or two I’ll find something totally different to hone in on. In the meantime, I can’t recommend it enough.
—
I was never able to find out what kind of a person he really was. But whenever they talked about him, they always had a slight smile on their faces.
That, perhaps, may be my answer.
—
I don’t know if anything that’s got this many weapons manufacturers in the intro can be considered truly anti-war, but I like the way the game’s philosophy comes out in the scoring system, Metal Gear style. You’re given a subtle nudge to engage in dogfights thanks to fact that enemy pilots are worth far more than some defenseless blip on the map- especially apparent in the few score attack missions where you can hit the threshold far more quickly by engaging enemy formations than picking apart a hapless armored column. Also keenly felt in the few times where you can select which operation to participate in- select an Air-to-ground mission has the Belkan forces betrayed by their own CO’s and making last stands with aging equipment, but take on the air-to-air missions and fights become much more evenly-matched, your opponents still able put up an intense fight- and sometimes they’re even able to walk away. In a game so critical of the bureaucratic and corrupt intentions of warmongering nations, I think it sees a lot of truth in these showdowns; philosophies and worldviews tested, but in ways that don't threaten to consume the rest of the world. (obvious exception being the threat of nuclear annihilation in the finale) And, more broadly, the emphasis on dogfighting is one more example of the strange harmony between the Arthurian imagery and the world of air warfare- cutting through the sky to seek out other Knights to ransom off.
There’s some more mundane structural stuff I’m also really keen on; with so many games centered on player choice I find I just end up making the same choices on each playthrough- committed to a particular alignment from minute one, but there are a lot of decisions to make regardless of your chosen style, with the usual array of open-ended maps and planes to customize, alongside the previously mentioned operations that have you tackling entirely different objectives. For as much as Zero is tackling narratively, it never shies away from the legacy of its arcade roots, and that might be part of the reason the game moves along with such an expert pace.
If there is one issue with it, it’s that the different Ace styles feel somewhat disconnected from their intent when actually playing; I gravitate towards the Knight style, but that’s partially because the act of sparing neutral targets demands so little from you. In practice it feels like it embodies the sort of pragmatism that the Soldier style is meant represent, and playing as a “Soldier” seems positively sociopathic as you have to keep a mental check of how many neutral targets you’ve killed and how many you need to spare- but maybe that’s the nature of stepping into a worldview that seems far outside my own.
Anyway, I could keep going, still feel like there’s so much here; give it another playthrough or two I’ll find something totally different to hone in on. In the meantime, I can’t recommend it enough.
—
I was never able to find out what kind of a person he really was. But whenever they talked about him, they always had a slight smile on their faces.
That, perhaps, may be my answer.
"It's pretty ironic, Buddy.A couple of dogs like us fightin' the last battle.
It's not over, Buddy. This is where it all starts.You know what I'm talkin' about, right?
There's only one way, Buddy. You've gotta fight for what you believe in."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80XAJKqRU9k
It's not over, Buddy. This is where it all starts.You know what I'm talkin' about, right?
There's only one way, Buddy. You've gotta fight for what you believe in."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80XAJKqRU9k
Plane games aren't much my speed, but Ace Combat Zero is quite a blast. Killer music, fluid controls, phenomenal sound, just a great audio-visual package that feels smooth and responsive to play. The amount of customization on offer as well as the different modes makes this a massive value package I would highly recommend to fans of the genre, and a good starting point for those like me who aren't well acclimated.
Lo que Ace Combat 5 no pudo ser + Españita.
Mi favorito de los que llevo jugados sin duda; con una jugabilidad que es una delicia y la ost en modo fuego el juego es una autentica maravilla de principio a fin, cortito y super disfrutable
This game is the fan favorite of the ace combat series, and I can see why. The story isn't as nutty as ace combat 5 yet it does go to some weird ass places. Moreover, without spoiling it, this game is particularly known for having the greatest boss battle in the entire series with its final boss. The OST also goes incredibly hard with a sound style you wouldn't really associate with dogfighting, yet it works really really well. It doesn't hurt that a full playthrough would only take you around 3-4 hours too, which makes this game very replayable. Absolutely worth a play.
Not very good.
My first experience with any game in this series, it went far above my expectations, there was a learning curve getting used to the controls of a more realistic flight game, but once I had it figured out it felt amazing to play.
The presentation and story were great, they went above expectations with this too, I was not expecting so much world building and background for the fictional setting and the acting was mostly good.
What stood out to me was the variety of play-styles and morality system that leads to having many different strategies to play the game.
I quickly realized I like using Air-to-ground and flying as low as possible while taking out targets with just the standard gun, it was thrilling breaking away at the last moment or flying through cluttered environments while dodging missiles. Looks amazing for a PS2 game.
The air combat was good to, the ai had variety between enemies, the bosses were all interesting and had to be taken on in different ways.
I have one complaint, it takes awhile to get into missions, you have to usually fly into the map for a minute and wait for all the pilot banter, and if you lose you have to wait through it all again, I got tired of certain lines that get repeated very time I had to start over.
I enjoyed this the whole way through, and I will definitely play through again to try harder difficulties and different routes and ships, this is a new favorite and I plan on trying a few others in this series. Highly recommended for a flight-combat type game.
The presentation and story were great, they went above expectations with this too, I was not expecting so much world building and background for the fictional setting and the acting was mostly good.
What stood out to me was the variety of play-styles and morality system that leads to having many different strategies to play the game.
I quickly realized I like using Air-to-ground and flying as low as possible while taking out targets with just the standard gun, it was thrilling breaking away at the last moment or flying through cluttered environments while dodging missiles. Looks amazing for a PS2 game.
The air combat was good to, the ai had variety between enemies, the bosses were all interesting and had to be taken on in different ways.
I have one complaint, it takes awhile to get into missions, you have to usually fly into the map for a minute and wait for all the pilot banter, and if you lose you have to wait through it all again, I got tired of certain lines that get repeated very time I had to start over.
I enjoyed this the whole way through, and I will definitely play through again to try harder difficulties and different routes and ships, this is a new favorite and I plan on trying a few others in this series. Highly recommended for a flight-combat type game.
Pretty disappointing as an AC fan
This review contains spoilers
Captain packeeeett