Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies

"Aim and fire....simple as that. Well...maybe not as simple as that....but it still sounded good!"

Ace Combat 4 is a game that takes the tradition from the original Play Station and sends it screaming across the screen on the Play Station 2. Featuring some of the best air-combat that you can find on the Play Station 2 and surpassing even that of Top Gun, this is one flight simulation game that has the missions, the extras and the overall fun that you might be looking for. Truly, the depth that you find within this title is worthy of not only taking notice of, but should be the standard of future flight simulation games for all systems!

There isn’t much of a story for this game, and that may throw some flight combat purists off the beaten track, simply because all good games in this genre {well, most anyway} have a story attached to it. However, you may find that there is nothing wrong with that, simply because you don’t want to run the action with some sappy story that doesn’t end up making much of a difference anyway. When you get into the game however, you’ll find that there are several different aircraft that you can choose from and a ton of options in the missions that you can partake in.

The game play is not limited to just shooting down air targets, but also different ground targets as well. Through your flying missions, you’ll find that the game offers you different in-game bonus missions that range from taking out as many targets as you can on both the ground and in the air to simple, timed, point gaining missions. One of the more impressive features that the game has to offer is a the strategy with the different fighter jets that you have to work with. Although there really isn’t much of a noticeable different in the way that the game is played, you will find that the different fighters have different attributes that help with different missions.

Another feature that the game has to offer is that you can play through the game and work with a buy and sell system in order to upgrade your fighter. Through successful missions and the like, you can earn different planes, beef them up and then fly into the next mission with something that is more powerful than the last. This swapping that you come across helps in the long run because in the later missions, you’ll need a powerful fighter with some extra skills. With all of these smaller features, it takes a little getting used to the different fighters, but in the end it is well worth it and helps to extend the game play further than what you originally start with!

Control is something that you also have to get used to, especially considering that the game is played by using the analog sticks instead of just the directional pad. As with an actual fighter, you’ll have to use the left stick to move up and down and the right in order to change your directions. Something that is a bonus for the control interface is with the way that the game allows you to change the pitch and yaw of the fighter through the main menu. Weapons selection and firing is done simply and the only thing that you’ll have to learn to work with is the targeting reticule that will light up when you have a missile lock or a gun lock on your target opponent!

Visually, Ace Combat 4 is something that you literally have to see to believe. For the most part, the detailing on the planes is so realistic as are the explosions that ensue, that you may think you’re actually there instead of simply sitting on the couch! Different explosions and otherwise light up the skies and everything down to the way that smoke clears a trail when you launch it from the underside of your fighter is placed in the game with realism in mind. Realistic locations only come in with the ground below you, but you’ll find that the game is something worthy of looking at. One of the coolest points in the visuals has to be with the first person view and the way that the sunlight glints off of your visor, giving you that real to life feel.

Audio wise, Ace Combat 4 offers up enough action based music to keep you flowing through the game without a stop. Although it isn’t the type of music that you would expect out of a flight simulation and it really doesn’t have that Top Gun feel, it will keep the theme and pace at full tilt. The sound effects make up a big part of what you hear, and with enough of the voice effects that come through on a good stereo hook up, it’ll be hard to really differentiate fantasy from reality. However, you may have a little bit of a problem with the surround sound that you hear, simply because the game tends to have some less than impressive effects that sound slightly blurred as you progress through the various missions.

Ace Combat 4 takes the original idea that the previous games had to offer and multiplies them by about ten. Although there really isn’t much of a reason to go through the game a second or third time, most gamers will be able to complete most of the missions with no problem. Considering the different planes and otherwise that you’ll run into with this title, if there is any replay at all, it will come with trying to get the most out of each fighter and be successful at the same time. If you like a good flight simulation game and you’re into the Ace Combat series, then you are going to love this game. However, if you like constant action with set patterns, then you need to stick to Gradius and Silpheed, leaving this one alone!

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 01/30/02, Updated 01/30/02