Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies

"The Definition Of Flight Simulator"

Ace Combat is probably the most popular series in the flight-sim genre for any console, and maybe one of the best series in the flight-sim genre. Ace Combat 01, 02, and 03 were all on the original PlayStation and a lot of gamers picked it up. It was inevitable that another installment would be made in the series and now we have Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies, otherwise known as the undisputed king of flight-sim games and one of the best action games this generation.

The controls are rather easy to get used to. You have a button to accelerate, decelerate, change the view (first person, first person with cockpit, third person), move, shoot machine guns, shoot your main weapon, and change between main weapons. The controls are very responsive and are set-up very well. Overall, the controls are great and perfect for the type of game.

Ace Combat 04 actually surprised me when I saw it had a story, and a pretty damned good one at that. Normally, you wouldn't see a game like this with a story. In the game, you are code-named Mobious 1 and are a part of an Army's Air Force. When you were younger, an invading Army took over your country. When ''Mobious 1'' was riding his bike, he saw two jets having a dog fight and one shot the other down. The downed jet happened to land on his family's cove and killed his parents instantly. You are out to get revenge on the guy that shot down the other plane and the story pretty much develops from there. The story unravels in cut-scenes between missions that are in still paintings. The drawing is really good, too. Overall, the story is pretty good, and the presentation is very good.

Ace Combat 04 is a flight-sim where you basically go around and blow crap up, whether it be an enemy's base, an enemy's fleet of ships, or an enemy's fleet or planes. When you start the game, I suggest you go through the tutorial. While it may be pretty boring, it is very informative and will teach you how to effectively use some of your weapons and pilot your plane.

Piloting your plane is so fun that it is unreal. The point of the game is to kill your enemy and complete your goal. The actual combat in the game will get your adrenaline pumping very quickly and you won't want to put the game down. Sometimes, you might have to go against a fleet of ships or maybe a few fighter jets that are trying to shoot you down. It all depends from level to level.

There are lots of planes in the game. They all look like random US Army jets and they are all very awesome. There are around 18 planes and they all have different stats and weapons that you can get for them. To get new planes, you have to complete missions to make money and then buy the planes that you have unlocked by completing certain missions. Each plane can get a few different weapons that you have to buy and you will have to beat levels to get money to unlock them, too. This just adds to the replay value more and more.

After that, you get started in the story mode, which spans a fantastic 18 levels, and all of them just plain old kick ass. The level designs are fantastic. Some levels might take place in a ship harbor by a big city while another takes place right outside of a remote island or in the mountains. There is a good deal of diversity in them.

The replayability is pretty good. You can beat the main game, which is 18 levels, for the first time in around 7 or 8 hours, while there are time trials, new difficulties, new color schemes for the planes, and a lot more. If you love to play fast-paced action games, this game will last you a very long time. Overall, the replayability is great and the gameplay is absolutely spectacular.

The graphics in the game are fantastic. Everything looks so nice and so real. The lighting effects are some of the best I've ever seen in any video game on any console, and the planes all look fantastic. The ground (or water) below you always looks great. When the story is unfolding, the shots look awesome that they show. They are drawings and stuff like I mentioned in the third paragraph. The explosions are the only thing that doesn't look too good. They look like something out of a comic book or something. Other than that, everything is fantastic.

The sound is great. Most of the planes all sound different and the guns and explosions sound absolutely amazing. Seriously, it feels as if you are actually in the game with the spectacular graphics and top-notch sound. Overall, great sound and graphics.

To buy or to rent, you ask? If you like action games or flight-sims, this is a definite buy. It is only $20 and you will love it. Go out and buy it. Now!

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 07/23/03, Updated 07/23/03