Year in and year out, the Ace Combat series shoots down any other games challenging its arcade/flight sim top gun status. The franchise continues its relentless assault with a brand new journey to the danger zone -- this time on the PSP. Is that a plane in your pocket or are you just happy to see Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception?

The Takeoff

Anyone familiar with this series will instantly be comfortable in the cockpit of Ace Combat X. It looks, feels, and handles like its console predecessors, while at the same time feeling new enough to avoid airsickness. Planes control like real-life aircraft, with the ability to maneuver in the blink of an eye. At the same time, they're susceptible to stalling out if you try something physically impossible -- like spending too much time upside down, or trying to figure out why Maverick chose Kelly McGillis over Meg Ryan. The PSP's analog nub actually soars here as the main flight stick, with the d-pad handling fine-tuned directions. Mapping acceleration and deceleration to the shoulder buttons is also ideal.

Both the friendly and hostile skies look beautiful here: environments, explosions, and the aircraft themselves are sights to behold. Ace Combat's trademark replays let you relive your glory or defeat. At times screen glare can hinder your ability to judge depth, but that's your tanning bed's fault, not the game's. Character chatter constantly bombards your ears. It's a good idea to pay attention, as it's often relaying information pertinent to the mission at hand. The AI's flight prowess ramps up steadily as you progress, while levels are a nice mix between air-to-surface battles and dogfights. While it's nothing you haven't played before, it's still a dogfighting good time.

Turbulence

Skies of Deception's original storyline is typical Ace Combat as well -- which is to say it's cheesy and kind of boring. However, the ability to choose your path adds a nice dose of strategy to the plot. Do you defend the ground you already control, or risk it all by assaulting the enemy base? So what if you don't really care about the nations themselves or the reporter sent to cover the war.

Multiplayer of course throws plot devices to the wind in a list of match types that include the survival-esque air superiority and capture-the-flag-style beacon battle. Everything is customizable, and gives you a detailed post-match rundown. Unfortunately though not surprising, you can only go at it over ad-hoc, as no online play is supported. Why does the PSP even have wi-fi if nobody's going to utilize it?

Debriefing

Aside from the snub for online, Ace Combat X definitely makes the most of the PSP. It's mercifully not a port but does justice to its roots, and has enough G-forces to make you crap your pants. For flight fans with a taste for portable top-gunnery, Ace Combat X is the plane choice.

Article by: Justin Leeper
Video produced by: Michael Leffler