Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War

"Realism and Fun Never Blended Together So Well"

Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War

This game is probably the most realistic flight simulation game on the console market to date. The landscapes are breathtaking and the graphics superb. There, i said it. That aside, the game does have a few problems, but all in all it's a great game and a worthwhile buy.

Storyline: 9/10

Let's start with the basics. The story, which was never as present before AC:04 hit the market, is bigger and bolder, with twists and turns, and most notably, deeper characters; characters that you can connect to. Set in the same area as AC:04 but in a different time era, the game depicts the war between the Osea and Yuketobanian countries. You're Blaze, a nugget gone ace as you fight the good fight and invade the Yuke's homeland or defend your own. The game's characters make the biggest impression, and a twist halfway through the game will most likely make you hateful toward the Yukes. And that's something Namco has done well; made the story interesting and emotionally involving.

Graphics/Realism: 9/10

Let's face it; few console games, if any, can come close to the wonderful landscapes brought to us by the very talented art department over at Namco. The landscapes very from scorching deserts to thick jungles and a frozen tundra of ice. The game's cut-scenes, with fully rendered characters instead of hand-drawn ones, really help move the story along and once again put the art department high up there. The planes are also very well transfered into the game, the models very similar to their real life counterparts. However, once again, it's not believable having 70 missiles inside one tiny jet, though it has to be done to make the game even remotely fun or interesting.

Gameplay: 8/10

The dogfights are, how can I say it? wonderful! Intense, and much more realistic (you can now crash into allies as well as bad guys) dogfights, with advanced AI make the fights very interesting and challenging. The Normal mode can leave people frustrated with it's difficulty, as it tok me, a pretty good Ace Combat player, about 10 to 20 tries for a few missions that weren't as clear as you'd have liked them to be; or as easy! Still, the game's diverse missions and challenging objectives help make this a game to remember.

Sound: 10/10

The music helps illustrate the mood, I say. The sounds are top notch, with realistic whistling/whooshing from passing jets. The game's audio chatter is what make this game stand apart from others, though. The chatter really helps define the game's critical moments, gives yu a ton of needed information about missions, and adds a depth and realism to the game that's unimaginable.

Replayability: 6/10

While good, the game's long length and few rewards (extra paint jobs???) make the replayability suffer. Although it's fun to see if you can unlock everything, the small rewards, such as alternate paint jobs instead of maybe concept art can be discouraging.

Overall: 8/10

A great and solid air combat simulator that just needs a bit of tweaking to become the defining series in the genre.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 11/15/04