Getting into Ace Combat games

[DeathAdder]

I played the first PS one and didn't like it. Decided to give it another chance on PSP, didn't like that either, so I gave up on the series.

But browsing the PS Store last night I came across a free (if limited in the missions you can do) Ace Combat game. And I rather liked the dogfighting around Tokyo Tower.

Can you recommend an Ace Combat game? On PS3 or PS3. Easy to get into, not sim-heavy. Preferably where you can see real landmarks as you fly.

Thanks in advance.

[nakamura]

On PS2?

4 and 5, both are superb. 4 is shorter with a superb arty style with the cut scenes. Has some great fighting missions. 5 is more Top Gun cheese and looks amazing. More missions with multiple paths too. Also some epic moments involving space weapons.

[QualityChimp]

How about Assault Horizon for 360, PS3 or PS3?

There's a Tokyo Map Pack you can buy, but there's loads of stuff in the main game.


It's got some great reviews and most people say it's all about having fun.

http://www.gamesradar.com/ace-combat-assault-horizon-review

Ace Combat Assault Horizon is like a love letter to the idea of fun.

The delivery method for said letter is to fold it into the shape of a paper F-22 Raptor, attach jet engines, machine guns, and missiles, and then run up a hill while making ?neeeeeroouuuu? airplane noises before hurling that sucker into the sunny blue sky. We frame it this way because Assault Horizon is unabashedly an arcade flight game, with fancy camera tricks, regenerating plane health, and helicopters that can do barrel rolls (from a complete standstill no less).

There is nothing dry and realistic here, nothing to scare away people who loved Top Gun but cringe at the word ?sim.? This also means that Ace Combat fans may not be happy with what their beloved franchise has become.

The Angry Joe review is pretty funny...

[dvdx2]

2 and 4 are the best - bin the rest!

[fishbowlhead]

Never got into the ace combat games until 4 on ps2, then it just hit me, superb game and still love it to this day, probably ploughed 200 hours into it.

[Pulstar]

All the countries in AC are fictional (except Assault Horizon). H.A.W.K. 2 on consoles is also good if you can find it cheap.

[DeathAdder]

Thanks for the replies - going bargain hunting for a cheap copy.

[kryss]

Skycrawlers on the Wii was made by the same group I believe, and once you realise how to make proper use of the tactical manoeuvres, it becomes better.

[Darwock]

4, 5, Zero, then Infinity. Infinity recycles many of the highlight missions from those earlier PS2 games. We have a whole first play thread on Infinity by the way.

Assault Horizon is not considered much of an Ace Combat game by fans of the series. They should have dropped 'Ace Combat' from the title. Sadly its the only one other than Infinity which features real world locations.

[Sketcz]

What about "Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation" for 360?

Always been tempted to pick it up for cheap... Not many reviews on Youtube, oddly.

[Darwock]

It's the lost entry of the series, always overlooked due to Namco's decision to make it exclusive to the platform that the majority of the AC fanbase didn't have.

[Sketcz]

Pity the EU version is region locked. Will have to import the NTSC one. >_<

EDIT:
Just bought the Japanese version of 6. According to Play-Asia it's in English?

http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-00-3-xbox360_compatibility_guide-49-en.html

Hope so. It was a couple of quid on eBay, versus ?12 from America. Bloody eBay with its bloody Global Shipping program. It triples the price of everything!! FFS!!

[nakamura]

And isn't it right that you still might get a customs charge?

[Sketcz]

And isn't it right that you still might get a customs charge?

Yes, a few on here have had that problem. They pay the extra dollars (sometimes as high as $20 or more depending on the price of the item), and them BAM! British customs screws them twice.

It's utter balls, the whole thing. eBay does it to gouge more money.