Ace Combat debuts on a non-Sony system! Surprisingly an Xbox 360 exclusive, Namco Bandai’s latest in the venerable jet combat fighter is an impressive move to the next generation. Mixing equal parts thrilling aerial combat and great looking melodramatic cinematic sequences, Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation should entice fans and newcomers.

Space Ace!

Ace Combat 6 opens up with a surprisingly dramatic wartime setting. The peaceful country of Emmerian suddenly finds itself until brutal attack by the Estovakian nation. Without knowing why, the Emmerians immediately launch an aerial counterattack to save their nation, but are driven out and left to devise a tactical plan to take back their homeland.

As usual for war games from Japan, the setting is fictitious, yet certainly close enough to a theoretical cold war battle to make it all feel familiar. The use of real-world aircraft helps players to identify with the saga as well. The most surprising part of the narration is the cinematic sequences the game uses to set the tone of the war.

Narrating Drama

The tales of characters who have nothing directly to do with the actual gameplay is a dramatic attempt to give players some sense of the drama (and trauma) that war creates. The main focus is on a mother, who may have lost her entire family, and an Estovakian military man. These sequences look and feel as if they would be more at home in a Final Fantasy adventure. While the melodrama is poured on a bit too heavily, these segues add an interesting dynamic to the narrative flow.

Of course, cinematic scenes are hardly an issue during actual gameplay. Thankfully, the rest of the game’s presentation is up to spec. The audio work is noticeably impressive. There’s plenty of chatter on the radios—your wingmen and other fliers, commanding officers, missile warnings, and other sound bites that add to the overall level of immersion. The voice acting is solid overall, the soundtrack suitably action-oriented, and the sound effects are topnotch.

To match the great audio, the look of the game is exceptional. Although the landscapes look a bit lackluster close-up, the sheer scope of the battlefields and the superb details of the planes make Ace Combat 6 a visual treat.

Dog Eat Dog

Presentation aside, the gameplay is everything fans have come to expect from the series. A mix of long-range missile combat and even some up close and personal machine gun dog fights make up the missions.  You’ll tackle an incredible array of land, sea, and air-based enemies. The game starts out slightly slow, but soon things get crowded and intense, and the action keeps ramping up throughout the game. In no time, you’ll find the skies filled with planes, weapons fire, and smoke.

If you opt to pay the extra bucks for the flight stick version, Ace Combat 6 will certainly feel more authentic (for an arcade-style flyer, anyway…), but rest assured the standard controller is more than up to task. The controls are responsive and intuitive and just flying around at mach speeds is a lot of fun.

Beyond the next gen graphics, the biggest enhancement Ace Combat 6 brings to the series is the addition of online play. Although the single-player campaign isn’t actually as lengthy as past Ace Combat games, the inclusion of co-op missions, team-based siege battles, and free-for-all dog fights with up to 16 players is a huge improvement.

To the Skies!

If you’re a 360 owner pining for more aerial action than Blazing Angels, Ace Combat 6 is definitely your ticket. The game looks and sounds fantastic, and offers an impressive level of control and combat refinement that fans have come to expect from the series. The multiplayer aspects are the icing on the cake, however, and give the overall game plenty of longevity long after you’ve conquered the intense single-player campaign.

Review by: Jason D'Aprile
Video Produced by: Matt Keil