Air Combat

Did You Know?

• The arcade game ran on Namco System 21 hardware.
• A version for Japanese mobile phones was released on August 25, 2005, for the EZweb content provider.
• The game was re-released in Japan under Sony's The Best budget title range on August 9, 1996.

Gameplay

Air Combat is a combat flight simulation game presented in an arcade-like format. The player controls one of sixteen aircraft, including the F-4 Phantom, Su-27 Flanker, and Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk, and must complete each of the game's seventeen levels. Missions range from destroying enemy squadrons to protecting an allied base or destroying a battleship. Completing missions awards money used to purchase new aircraft; extra money can be earned by destroying optional enemies. From the fourth mission onward, a wingman can be employed, and additional wingmen can be hired. The game includes a split-screen multiplayer deathmatch mode and allows switching between first-person and third-person camera views.

Development and release

Air Combat was created by designer Masanori Kato and producer Kazumi Mizuno, who were commissioned to port the 1993 arcade game to the PlayStation. Problems arose when staff believed the PlayStation's hardware could not properly render the arcade version's gameplay. The team chose to scrap a straightforward port and create a new game based on the arcade game's core mechanics, believing console-exclusive features would give consumers more incentive to buy it. Project planner Asahi Higashiyama thought the PlayStation's hardware allowed for more potential. The game was released in Japan on June 30, 1995, as Ace Combat, in North America on September 9 as a launch title, and in Europe on October 13. A Japanese mobile phone version was released on August 25, 2005.

Reception

Air Combat was a commercial success, selling over 246,000 copies in its first week in Japan and nearly 600,000 overall; by 2008 it had shipped 2.23 million copies, making it the second best-selling game in the franchise. Electronic Gaming Monthly awarded it Best Flight Sim of 1995. Critics praised the addictive, arcade-like gameplay; GameFan's Nick Rox called it easily the ultimate flight simulator. IGN compared it favorably to Warhawk and praised its action, as did AllGame's Michael House and a Coming Soon reviewer. Famitsu's four reviewers found it fun with much variety but thought it could have used additional levels. Some noted a slow start that improved with patience. Next Generation in 1997 said it did not hold up well compared to other games. Controls were praised as realistic by Coming Soon and Famitsu. The cinematic cutscenes, realistic sound effects, and unlockables were also praised. Graphics and presentation were seen as below-average by several critics, including IGN and GamePro's Air Hendrix, who called them bland. GameFan and Coming Soon praised the graphics for realism and detail. Famitsu stated the arcade predecessor Air Combat 22 had better visuals. Critics liked the mission variety in later levels, with AllGame citing replay value. The soundtrack received praise, with House listing it among the game's best features.