Combat flight games have always had their appeal in the various interpretations found on the different PC and console system as well as the declining arcades across the land. It’s almost an intense rush to strap yourself in a fighter jet in equip yourself to do battle against all kinds of elements.
I remember an arcade sim game in particular called Afterburner with a moveable environment. This is the exact game from the movie T2 that John plays right before the confrontation of the T-1000. This quick intense action of Afterburner always appealed to me as you laid down a spread of bullets and missiles while trying to avoid ending up in a ball of flames.
Console interpretations of combat flight games haven’t really appealed and interested me that much and some have completely passed by my radar. Ace Combat 4 is just one of those series that I have been surprisingly unaware of that’s made a home on the Playstation for the past three games. Ace Combat 4 is the fourth addition to the series that makes that showcases the brilliant graphics with photo quality detail of the PS2. This latest release provides a variety of missions that make for one of the best combat flight games your going to encounter.
Ace Combat 4 takes place on the continent of Eugea and its plot progresses through the eyes of a young boy living in the occupied town of San Salvacion. The entire story is narrated by this same boy through various sequences after every completed mission. This narrative of hand-drawn colored storyboards tells the tale of the occupying force's ace pilot, Yellow 13. Throughout the game you play a fighter pilot that only goes by the code name of Mobius One and his identity remains a mystery. Most of the game revolves around the details of the boy’s life and the success of each of your mission affects him personally in different ways. This involving story is a surprising quality that you wouldn’t expect in a combat game but is a refreshing bonus that was completely satisfying.
The game is structured from 20 individual missions that vary in difficulty and objectives. These missions require passing each stage from every type of terrain and environments that can be possible imagined. Each mission contains a squadron of four of five planes that always includes Mobius One, in which you will stay in constant contact through the use of the radio. Ace combat provides the player with many different types of fighter jets to choose from. Each has their own strengths and weakness and some are best suited for certain situations than others. Different planes are acquired through the use of a point based system that enables you to buy weapons and aircraft that are earned on how well the mission is completed.
The missions are setup in the form of briefings as the objectives are described in detail and the locations of the target are shown through the use of a 3D hologram map that you can move around using the right analog stick. Most of the missions are pretty much straight forward with some requiring you to destroy several targets in two different locations as well as running escort duty across enemy airspace.
The setup is structured very simply and is easily played right out of the case without having to learn any complex internal systems of each plane and memorizing the manual. Once briefed you can modify you plane and can be equipped with two or four secondary weapons, each having there own given functions.
The handling and control of each plane is very responsive to the touch and a quick look at the setup shows a simple layout that is really easy to use. This helps you concentrate on the objectives without being tied down with cumbersome controls. Ace Combat 4 also gives you the ability to move your plane by either using the D-pad or the left analog control stick, this is great because it gives you the choice without restricting you with one specific setup. The action buttons are use primarily by the shoulder pads which are used to control the acceleration and banking. The firing and radar map, however, is controlled through the use of the face buttons.
Using the right analog stick gives you the ability to control the camera to look around in the cockpit in all directions. This is especially useful if an enemy is on your tail. Speaking of camera angles, AC4 gives you three different camera angles to choose from; all which can be adjusted in-game without having to pause the game. The cockpit view gives you the perspective from inside the plane, HUD gives the view of the radar display without anything else and the third person view gives you the view from behind your plane. My personal favorite view that encompasses all of the great elements of the environments and textures would have to be the third person view. I find the cockpit view very restrictive as it blocks most of the view needed to engage other planes and ground targets.
The visual element is one of the more noticeable and strongest qualities that AC4 brings to the table. The sheer realistic quality of the environments isn’t fully appreciated until you’ve strapped yourself in at about five thousand feet above the ground. This makes for a totally absorbing experience. The third person view also allows you to admire the high level of detail that went into the texture maps, planes and terrain; which ranges from snow covered mountain tops, green plains and deep rock canyons to numerous building structures. The particle effects of weapons fire and missile smoke trails as they explode on target are shown with so much clarity that you actually believe you’re seeing realistic footage.
The main display and menus are shown on the main screen in a green radar interface that contains all of the important information regarding your plane. The non-intrusive display truly adds depth and continuity in the visuals as well as the gameplay.
Audio is another area that plays a huge role in keeping the realism within combat flight games. Ace Combat 4 avoids the high octane rock soundtrack found in other games in the same genre yet focuses on realism giving it more of a dramatic flare. The sound of the gunfire and the explosions all sound very authentic and it almost feels as though you are actually tucked away inside the cockpit.
Another important feature that ties into audio; is the wide variety of dialogue used for radio broadcasts and by your squadron to communicate when there in trouble or have wiped out a enemy target. This concept seems to be lacking in most games because they tend to have dialogue that doesn’t make sense and far too often became repetitive, urging you to hit the mute button. Ace combat has a wide variety of dialogue and commentary that is unique for each individual mission and makes for a different and unique experience every time you play.
You’re going to have to whip out a microscope to find anything wrong because there’s little the surface that I really have an issue with. However, when you do go through the motions of the missions they tend to go by quickly depending upon how many tries it takes you to complete each mission. But with only 20 missions, the game does come up fairly short. Regardless of the brevity it still doesn’t completely take away from the game because each of the missions are engaging and a blast to play.
For the most part the difficulty levels of the game are watered down slightly. This doesn’t mean that the missions aren’t challenging, but it does take away from the overall impact of the game. The only other issue that could have made the game more stunning is the use of more details to the ground structures and objects in the certain cities. It’s not a problem when you’re up in the air, but when you buzz by at low levels you tend to notice the lower quality blocky buildings and the things that seem out of place.
Ace combat 4 contains all of the qualities a good air combat game should have, as well an intriguing storyline that no other combat flight game has ever produced. The extensive missions and the battle sequences definitely keep you interested and provides you with countless hours of replay value.
This is probably as close as a game is going to get to realistically portray what it’s like to get behind the helm of a fighter jet and waging battle in the air. Even though the game is over a year old and at a measly $20.00, Ace Combat 4 is a must have for the Playstation 2.
