|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
| PLATFORM: PLAYSTATION 2 |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
| CRUISING SPEED |
|
|
|
|
 f you’ve played the previous Ace Combat games, and you rank their quality highly, there’s absolutely no reason why Ace Combat Zero shouldn’t be right up your alley. It’s a game that excels at offering more of exactly what we’ve seen before, and almost completely defying the push to innovate in a new direction. Sure, there are some new features, like rival aces and multiplayer combat. However, when all is said and done, this feels like an expansion to a great game. And you know what? That’s just fine.
Not every game needs to make giant leaps forward with every incarnation, especially when they’ve gotten so much right already. I love how the simple control scheme manages to relay such a genuine sense of participating in a nail-biting dogfight. Finally honing in and taking out an enemy jet has a special satisfaction to it. The varied areas of land you fly over go a long way to keeping things interesting, especially during the frequent air-to-surface missions that have you skimming the earth. Overheard communications connect you to both the ally and enemy pilots, as well as the conflict playing out on the ground below. Plus, like every other Ace Combat, the game exhibits a steamy love affair with modern military aircraft, allowing players to buy, paint, equip, and examine any number of different designs, as well as watch combat play out in the phenomenal replays that follow each mission.
The new rival aces certainly make for some challenging battles, but I’m not sure I’d label it the next big thing in flight combat games. There’s also a new morality system that encourages a small degree of choice in the ethics of your pilot. Meanwhile, the new two-player competitive matches have only limited appeal, but are certainly a fun addition. These offer a mix of challenges from straight up deathmatches to squadron-based combat and even jet racing.
With all that said, I’d probably direct new gamers interested in trying the series to the last version before this one. Ace Combat 5 had a greater sense of drama about it, and I remember enjoying the mission structure more, but only marginally so. Ace Combat Zero fills in some gaps in the fictional universe it is set in, and the gameplay continues to have the visceral edge that has characterized all the recent entries. The seemingly complicated flight sim-like elements scared me away from this game for a long time, but once you give it a shot, you’d be surprised how accessible and fun it can be.
|
|
|
The visceral aerial battles that unfold in Ace Combat games have always been black and white. It’s you against the enemy. Little else matters. In this entry, players are now being introduced to the color yellow. This color directly ties into the player’s morality. Across the battlefield you’ll see targets that are painted yellow. These targets are believed to be hostile, but could very well be civilian. Fighters that have been disabled in battle are also represented in this color. Will you let them retreat? Or will take them out? This enhancement may seem minor, but it effectively toys with your mind and affects how the remainder of the game unfolds. With this said, the series continues to improve in the missions that are delivered. The implementation of rival aces is another brilliant addition. They can turn a simple mission into a dance of death in no time flat. You’ll even get the chance to read bios of these skilled fighters. Ace Combat has ruled the console skies since its inception. This entry doesn’t soar any higher, but rather continues to bombard you with excitement. |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
8.5 |
|
|
| CONCEPT: |
| Fly the unfriendly skies again in this clever mix of realistic and arcade flight combat – now with added multiplayer! |
|
|
| GRAPHICS: |
| No big changes this time around, but that’s not a bad thing |
|
|
| SOUND: |
| Intercom communication isn’t as exciting as in the last entry, but sound effects are great and music is just as rocking and cheesy as ever |
|
|
| PLAYABILITY: |
| Great controls simplify flight down to its core ideas, and a steady ramp of difficulty continues throughout the game |
|
|
| ENTERTAINMENT: |
| Not much new material, but the core gameplay is still lots of fun |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
| Copyright
1991 -
2008
:: Game Informer Magazine
|
|
|