"Simply Stunning"

Ace Combat 4 was a ground-breaking new title for me, and along with GTAIII it was my newest, and most played game in my collection. Now the day I've been waiting for has passed, and I had my share of flight time on AC5. Namco changed an already great game in to a superb game with stunning features, gameplay, and graphics. Between the radio chatter, and the extremly intruging missions you get lost in a world of adrenaline and dogfights. This is not your average console flight sim or ace combat, and "Nothing else comes close."

Gameplay:9/10
It's hard to find batter gameplay than in Ace Combat. Although not completly a hardcore flight sim it's less of an arcade style game than AC4 was. For once you can get shot down on normal, or easy even. The gameplay has been put through many improvises, and came out 10x better. So lets begin...

First of all, the new squad you have is one of the best if not the best new feature. Now you'll be able to issue commands to your wingmen using your directional pad button. There pretty basic, but they get the job done. Besides what they already have is nice and simply to use. Depending on your command your squad may break and reform flight formations, and respond hastly to the commands. They can hold thier own, and get the job done so you don't have to baby sit them. In fact they can come in handy in a tight situation whether it be low ammo or your damaged. This is prehaps the most useful, fun to use, and most improved part of the game.

The AI is better in this game, and think for themselves( Both the enemy and your wingmen). It's no longer lock-on and shoot in this game, you'll have to work for your shot to hit. Enemy planes will weave, and roll to avoid you missles. The firendly planes react logicly as well. They will also do as much as they can to avoid missles, and occasionally ask for help even. All the improvememnts in the AI add up to a nice improvement in the seris.

There are 2x as many missions in Ace Combat 5, and many of them last much longer then the inferior AC4 missions. Most of the time you aren't surpised to see that "Mission Update" warning, or run out of time if you get caught up in the heat of battle. The missions themselves hardly even include sraight out shooting now. Remember the mission where you had to support the beach landings at Operation Bunker Shot in AC4? Well now theres a mission where you not only support the landings, but actually give air support on thier way inland. Other missions also take a less straight out battle in the sky. Wether it be looking for a downed pilot or trying to take off in the middle of a surprise attack the missions are interesting and diverse. All 30 of them. Sometimes you may even get to refuel via tanker plane, or land.

Story:10/10
One of the strongest points about this game is the story, and no more still frames from AC4 (Although they were nice). The story is about 2 countries Yuktabania, and Ocesa that got themseleves in to a war. You take the role of a hot-shot pilot who witnesses the war from the first unofficaly and covered up attacks of the war to the last battle, in the eyes of an Ocesan and a fight pilot on the front lines. I won't get too much in to the story as that unfolds during the game, but iassure you it is very good.

Graphics:10/10
Graphics like this for a flight sim are amazing. Trees on the ground, windows on buildings they are the ultimate flight sim graphics. The cut-scenes are terrific also. The explosions are no longer 2D, and the smoke trails from missles speeding trhough the sky. The graphics improved from the last game which they should of anyway. The graphics are great.

Sound:8/10
Radio chatter is a bit repetitive sometimes, but you do get to participate in it from time to time each mission. That's a gameplay thing I suppose though. The music is good in this game, and the voice overs are very nicely done.

Overall:9/10
a definate buy if your a flight sim fan or AC fan. Only a rent if you dislike flight sims, ok? The new improvements in this game make it the perfect contestant for AC:4's successor, and crown.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 11/29/04