The Ace Combat series of games are arcade-style flight sims made by Namco.

Air Combat , Ace Combat 2 , and were released on the Sony PlayStation, whilst Ace Combat 04 and Ace Combat 5 are PlayStation 2 games.

Air Combat (Ace Combat) is one of the original six games on the PlayStation platinum range. The series in Japan began with the release of this game, Ace Combat, on the PlayStation. However, this game is more commonly known as Air Combat in North America and Europe. The name was changed back to Ace Combat for the sequels and reissues of the game.

Ace Combat 2 is seen by many as the best of the Ace Combat games on the PlayStation. This game also presents the world setting that would be used in the subsequent games in the series. It is a direct prequel to the PlayStation 2 games of the series.

Ace Combat 3: Electrosphere is set in a more futuristic setting than the other games in the series, and the futuristic planes was not well recieved by some. The game seems to be set in the same world as AC2, 04, and 5. The Japanese version of this game is very story-driven, featuring 52 missions, multiple endings, and anime-style characters. However, in the North American and European versions, this story was mostly cut out, reducing it to 36 missions and a more linear storyline. Consequently, this game was generally well received in Japan, but met much criticism elsewhere.

Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies (Ace Combat: Distant Thunder), being the first PS2 release in the series, was a huge step forward from the previous three games due to its use of the console's improved processing power and its ability to render more detailed graphics. It was well recieved by many primarily for its gameplay, well-told narrative, and its beautifully rendered graphics.

Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War (Ace Combat: Squadron Leader) did not improve in graphics and gameplay over Ace Combat 04 in the same way AC04 improved over the original three games. Despite this, the game allowed for longer gameplay compared to the 18-mission AC04, offering almost 30 missions along with an arcade mode (which was a direct sequel to the story of AC04) though in practice most of these missions were shorter than the multi staged missions of AC04. Ace Combat 5's other major addition was simple wingman command system where you could give orders to other members of your squadron, tied in with this was also the higher level of characterisation in the story of the game then in its prequels and the fact that you had to buy planes for your squad as well as yourself.

Title differences

The Japanese Ace Combat was renamed Air Combat in the North American and European releases.

In NTSC territories, the fourth installment of the game is known as Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies, while in PAL territories the game is known as Ace Combat: Distant Thunder.

In NTSC territories, the fifth installment of the game is known as Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War, while the European release was renamed Ace Combat: Squadron Leader in an attempt to cash in on the good sales of .

List of games

• Air Combat (Ace Combat)
• Ace Combat 2
• Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies (Ace Combat: Distant Thunder)
• Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War (Ace Combat: Squadron Leader)

External links

• Japanese Ace Combat 5 Site
• North American Ace Combat 5 Site
• European Ace Combat 5 Site
• Japanese Ace Combat 04 Site (available in english)
• North American Ace Combat 04 Site
• European Ace Combat 04 Site
• Japanese Ace Combat 3 Site
• European Ace Combat 3 Site