Ace Combat 3: Electrosphere

Ace Combat 3: Electrosphere, a combat flight simulation game for the PlayStation, was released by Namco in Japan on May 27, 1999, and internationally the following year. It is the third title in the Ace Combat series. Directors Takuya Iwasaki and Atsushi Shiozawa built the game on the foundation of *Ace Combat 2*, aiming for a look that stood out from other flight simulators. The story was made a central feature, directly influencing how the game plays. Unlike the modern-day settings of earlier entries, this one takes place in a futuristic, science-fiction world.

The Japanese version sold around 300,000–400,000 units in Japan, despite a small marketing push. It received positive reviews and was seen as ambitious. International releases were met with more mixed reactions, with critics confused by the reduced content and bland gameplay. Over time, the Japanese release has been re-evaluated, with critics praising its ambition, overarching narrative, and new gameplay ideas.

The game presents combat flight in an arcade style, but with a greater emphasis on realistic energy management than most series entries. Players must avoid sharp turns and steep climbs to prevent stalling, which is harder to recover from than in later games. The Japanese release offers 52 missions across four factions, with branching paths that lead to five possible endings based on player choices at key "Turning Points." The international release cuts this to 36 missions, limited to the UPEO faction. Missions involve destroying enemy squadrons or defending bases, with performance graded A through D. New features include a high-altitude mission near a space elevator, instant replays, a 360-degree camera, and an automatic search engine for in-game information. Fully-voiced, animated video messages are accessible via a fictional mailbox. In the Japanese version, radio chatter from both sides includes character avatars; the international version only has chatter from the player's faction. Unlocking all five endings in the Japanese release opens a "Mission Simulator" mode to replay any mission with any unlocked aircraft and weapon.

The game is set in the fictional world of Strangereal, specifically a cyberpunk near-future version where multinational megacorporations have replaced governments.