Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War

"Great Addition to a Wonderful Series"

I am not a big fan of the jet fighter genre of games, such as Microsoft's line of flight simulation games or other brands, but ever since I tried out Ace Combat 4 for PS2, I have been a fan of Namco's series. So, it was to no surprise that I would be anticipatory of the newest addition to the series Ace Combat 5. While it's not the most anticipated game of the season, it is a very good game and should please any fan of the genre, or anyone who loves action.

The game tells the story of two nation that have been allies for 15 years, since they fought against the Belkan nation, a nation that tried on many times to conquer the world. They continually lost, and to keep from being taken by the enemy, nuked their own land. Since then, peace has reigned. The game begins when your allied nation, Yuktobania, suddenly and without apparent reason attacks your nation of Ocenia. War soon errupts, and you are thrown into the conflict.

While it may not seem that the story is all that great, if you have played AC4, then you know that the story is one of the better parts of the game. Unlike AC4, however, the story here is much more dramatic. While AC4's story focused on the personal struggle of a single person trying to cope with a war-torn town, this story focuses much more on the ones fighting the war. It's a well produced story shown through both cgi cutscenes and has enough plot points to keep you interested. What is especially nice is that the game is much more cinematic than its predecessor.

As far as the actual game goes, it's not terribly different. The graphics engine is the same and gameplay hasn't changed. This is a good thing of course, but there are a few minor additions that make the game nice. The AI is much better and this leads to the primary new gameplay addition: ordering commands. Now, through use of the d-pad you can issue a limited set of cammands for up to three wingmen. Issuing one of three commands: disperse, attack, or cover will give your AI-wingmen something to do, and the AI is pretty intelligent about following that order. They will give you cover fire, attack your most immediate targets, or attack their own targets. And they are actually helpful, as they will often times actually destroy enemy targets. This gives you a better feeling of being part of an army instead of just the lone ace who seems to be the only one capable of detroying anything. There is also an abundance of real-life liscenced jets to choose from, all of which are suitable for use.

The game sounds great as well, with the music once again adding to the overall cinematic effect. It is truly a great soundtrack. The missions themselves are often times unique, and though some can get repetitive, there is enough variation in objectives, and often times the objectives themselves are quite intense, that you will probably not be very bored. Though the game is about 30 missions long, it moves fast and the events are exciting, so it doesn't feel like 30 missions.

Even with all these great features and a great production, the game doesn't add much to the series. Some of the missions feel a it repetitive and the narration and story seem to get simplified or silly. In fact, one of the things that doesn't change in the game is the script. It remains cheesy and overacted. Despite these though, the game is great fun and a definate improvement on an already great formula. If you're in the mood for intense action and a great, low key gaming experience, pick this one up. It's a real gem.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 11/29/04