Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies

"Tag-team review by an AC fan and an AC non-fan..."

Well, while most PS2 owners have been waiting with giddy anticipation for Gran Turismo 3, Metal Gear Solid 2, or Devil May Cry, *I* have been waiting on pins-and-needles for Ace Combat 4. I've always been a huge fan of the series, and what little hype I'd been able to find on the game made me drool with impatience.

I recognized, though, that I was a real fan of this series, so I enlisted a less biased opinion from my friend, hard-core gamer, and GameFAQs newbie YerDaddyB. Daddy is a serious gamer, but fighters, shooters, and platforms are his speed. He doesn't have the patience for RPG's or games that aren't instant gratification, so this should be interesting. ;) After several hours of playtesting, here's the scoop.

GRAPHICS: 10/10
What can I say? They're perfect. The terrain below is photo-realistic. Just don't get too close. ;) The airplanes resemble their real-life counterparts where applicable to the finest detail. Missile contrails stream out, slipstreams are clearly visible, and the explosions are good if not stellar. There's even lens-flare in the first-person view. Very very well done.

YerDaddyB sez: I gotta agree on this one. The graphics are flawless. I'm not as up-to-speed as mi amigo is on what the planes should look like, but they look darn good. I'd rate this with GT3 or MGS2 for graphics. I give it a 10 out of 10. GT3 might be better, but then, what game is GT3 for graphical perfection?

STORY: 9/10
Hey I'm happy there *is* a storyline. AC3 didn't have one at all, giving the game a very disjointed feeling to me. AC4 hearkens back to AC2 on its story. Cut-scenes between missions, in still-image format (very artfully done) tell the story. Just the fact that a plot EXISTS is worth 3 points out of 10 to me.

YerDaddyB sez: Well, there's a story, but I won't say it's a very GOOD one. Call me finicky but I like a bit more character involvement. The average fighting game has a better storyline for the main character, but the artwork IS cool, so...I give it a 7 out of 10.

SOUND/MUSIC: 10/10
I'm really picky about the SFX. And these don't disappoint. Explosions have good timbre, albeit seem a little too loud given that there's a cockpit and several hundred miles of airspeed in between me and my exploding victims. The airplane engines all have distinct pitch, and as an Air Force brat that used to watch the jets take off I can tell you they're very well-done. The A-10 sounds very different, as it should, from the F-16. The radio chatter is a very nice touch. I hated the old ''Bingo'' from AC3. My father, a former USAF pilot, even commented that most of the radio chatter was accurate to the real thing (''fox 2,'' etc. being the real terminology). The music is good but very low-key, as I think it should be.

YerDaddyB sez: Nothing much for me to add except I thought the music was pretty good, better than 'hand did. I'll give it a 10 outta 10.

GAMEPLAY: 10/10
This is what it's all about eh?

Controls are smooth and easy-to-master, though 'pipping' the target with some of the bombs and such takes practice. The game moves very smoothly, even when you have multiple targets/allies on the screen, and there's no hang-up or weird visuals to interfere with the play. The planes all have unique characteristics, and you can really tell the difference. I LOVE the variety of planes. Flying an A-10 over the nap of the earth is great, and the air-to-air fighters are all distinct enough that you're sure to find one or two you love. The game's a challenge but that's great, and you can adjust the difficulty level. To me the gameplay is as good/better than the other aspects. Carrier landings are a nice touch...oh, and learn to use the right-analog to look around. You'd be amazed how it helps (plus it's a cool feature).

YerDaddyB sez: Damn, this is a hard game. At least for me. CH is a lot better than me (we gotta play some DOA2 or something, this is getting embarassing). The pace is too slow for my liking. If you're a wing-nut like he is, this game is heaven. If you have a short attention-span like I do, it's still OK, but not a religious experience. The game plods at times as you enter/exit combat zones, and sometimes all the maneuvering following the little ''target arrow'' thingie gets boring. Even so, you really feel like you're in a plane, and making a kill IS pretty exhilirating, so I'll give it a 7 outta 10.

MULTIPLAYER: 8/10
To be honest, this is just a bonus, to me. Just it being there is *really* nice. Gameplay is very similar to 1-player mode, with no slowdown noticeable. There are several modes, but the only one I find really worth playing is the 1-on-1 dogfight.

YerDaddyB sez: Just don't play against someone that lives-and-breathes flight-sim games. I'm tired of getting shot down. I say 10 of 10, my suckage at it notwithstanding.

REPLAY VALUE: 10/10
Well, we haven't beaten it YET, so I don't know what all secrets are available. I've heard there are some kinda nifty ones, so that's a benny. But playing the missions with different fighters really changes the levels. With all the game offers outside of this, to even have value once you've beaten it is icing on the cake. Beautiful.

YerDaddyB sez: Ditto that...this game has the replay value of a GT3. There's a lot of variety. The missions might be the same but changing planes and tactics makes them totally different. 10 of 10.

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So there you have it, my/our first review. If you're a fan of this genre or of the AC series, run, don't walk, run and buy it. If you AREN'T, it's worth the rental to see if you need to buy it, for sure. At worst you won't regret the $6 or so it cost to find out.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 10/28/01, Updated 10/28/01