Ace Combat 2

"Fly the unfriendly skies one again..."

It's time to fly the unfriendly skies once again as you strap in to Namco's follow up of the previous hit, Air Combat. I love this type of game (non-simulator shooter), so I was excited when I learned of the sequel's impending release. In fact, I ended up ordering the Japanese import rather than wait an extra six months for a domestic release. Was it everything I expected? Read on to find out.

Much like the original Ace Combat (Air Combat to those of us who live west of the gaming capital known as Japan) the story revolves around a pilot-for-hire group and you assume the role of its leader. You decided which missions you take, what planes you fly, and whether you want to pay for support from fellow wing mates. Again, the thrust of the game deals with a well-organized global terrorist group who is threatening the very fundamentals of freedom. Its up to you (with well-lined pocket 'o green) to eliminate this group.

Graphically, Ace Combat 2 is a huge step forward from Air Combat. Large, detailed landscapes, incredible special effects, smooth animation...the whole game has a finished, polished feel about it. The only gripe I have is when you crash; all that remains is a smoldering scorched earth. Its like your plane disintegrated upon impact. Oh, and some of the textures don't look all that wonderful up close. However, since the goal of the game somewhat involves you keeping you plane away from the unforgiving grip of the land, you shouldn't be seeing those textures all that often.

Sound is also a step forward from the original, but not as nearly big of a step as the graphics got. The quality of music has improved, sounding a bit more like Ridge Racer tracks. While its still nothing to get your heart pumping, it's a lot more tolerable. The sound effects also got an overhaul, sounding far more realistic this time around. Radio chatter is much more realistic and less repetitive, giving you clues as to where to expect to find battle and such.

The controls are almost identical to Air Combat, which was the one thing that needed the most improvement. They are much cleaner and tighter than before, but lack the simplicity of basic aerial direction. While it is something easily adjusted to, it is still a nuisance that should have been fixed before anything else was enhanced.

Continuing their reputation for great design, Namco improves on the original theme yet again. More choices and mission paths are presented to you through the course of the game (rather than just at the end as in the original game). The levels are well thought out, with plenty to see and do in each mission besides blowing stuff up. The selection of planes has also improved, allowing for much more diversity as the situation calls for it. All in all, a very impressive package.

Aside from the multiple-mission path that will lead you to one of a couple different endings, you also have the bonus of more planes once you beat the game. Some of the new planes offer little variety to what is already present, but its still cool to have more than twenty planes to choose from.

As per the original Air Combat, if you are any kind of fan of Namco, you probably already have this game in your library. If not, you might want to check into it as it can now be found for about twenty bucks. Also, it wouldn't hurt to brush up on your skills so you're prepared for Ace Combat 3...

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 11/01/99, Updated 07/05/02