Ace Combat 4: Shattered Skies for PlayStation 2
- ESRB Descriptor: Violence Mild Language
- ESRB Rating: E - (Everyone)
- Publisher: Namco
- Genre: Shooter / FPS
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"When the stars fell from the skies...."
Pros
Realistic Graphics, Realistic Sound, Realistic Background, Epic Story line. EVERYTHING!
Cons
Planes don't look beat up when they take damage...
Recommended it?
Yes
The Bottom Line:
A must have. Great graphics, great sound, great combat, great fun, and a great story line (thats right, there is a fantastic story here).
Ace Combat 4 is the best combat flight game I have ever played. When playing, you will notice right away that every aspect of the game was paid attention to in excruciating detail. One thing that may stand out is the fact that there is actually a very beautiful and epic story! Some people wonder about why the game takes place in the future, yet they are using present day planes, such as the F-117, SU-37, F-15, F-16, etc.... The best explanation I can come up with actually fits the story line. According to the story, the war was started when a machine created to destroy an asteroid headed for Earth was transformed into a weapon.
It makes sense to me that if everyone was busy building a machine to shoot down asteroids and save the world, that inventing new airplanes was at the bottom of the scientist-to-do-list. This makes sense, and completely reasons why current planes are used, and not fictional futuristic planes.
Graphics: 9
The planes look fantastic. The highly detailed planes look just like their real life counterparts. The planes even have a nice heat effect behind them when after-burners are on. The backgrounds are realistic, and flourish with dynamic terrain features. The terrain is very diversified between missions. Some missions have you flying over coasts, deserts, mountainous regions, and even cities. The enemy planes, missiles, and even ground targets are highly detailed. The only complaint I have is that the explosions don't really feel that thrilling. They look nice, but they probably could have been a little more spectacular. Also, one would think that if you hit a plane with a missile, and it doesn't go down, it should atleast trail smoke and flames until your second shot can bring it down, but sadly there are no battle-damage effects, the planes are either alive, or burning. When a plane is shot down, it does trail smoke and burn.
Sound: 10
It's all there.... Engine real engine sounds for each plane.
The voices, both in game and story, are acted out well and sounded like they really meant it. Your wing-men frantically tell you to watch out for missiles and inform you of mission objectives. There is even the occasional taunt, "Nothing but air... heads up!!!" when you miss. The music in game is diversified between fast paced action music, and epic opera/symphony type music for the intense life or death type missions. The music in the FMV sequences fits the location of the narration, the occupied city of San Salvacion (I'm pretty sure all these places are fictional BTW) since the music resembles that of a traditional folk song. In one mission, there is a national anthem type song played at the end which definately lifts your pride for the fictional continent. Also, before the last mission, while in the plane select screen before you fly your mission, a man will give a moving speech that is worth giving a listen to.
Control: 10
Good button lay-out, and responsive controls.
Basically, R1 = speed up, R2 = turn rudder right, L1 = brake, L2 = turn rudder left, Left Analog = moves your plane, Right Analog = look around, R3 (pressing Right Analog) = look behind, D-pad up = autopilot, down = change view (just HUD, behind plane, and cockpit), X = machine guns, square = toggle map, triangle = change target (hold down to zoom or look in enemies direction), O = fire selected weapon (hold for camera to follow missile or bomb), Select button = toggle between weapons. This configuration works well, and after a few minutes of experience, you will be able to fly your plane with skill.
Mission Diversity: 10
There are 18 missions, and each are different. The objectives include destroying enemy facilities, shooting down bombers before they reach ally airfields, liberating a city, bombing enemy airfields before they can take off, shooting down cruise missiles, and more...
AI: 10
The enemies are smart. One of the most noticeable examples is when an enemy squadron, the "Yellow Squadron", performs the real life Cobra Maneuver in their fancy SU-37's to prevent you from getting behind them, and get behind you.
Planes: 10
Each plane is designed for different types of use. Some are better for bombing, some are better for fighting, and so-forth. You start out with 1 plane, and as you complete missions, you will earn money to but new planes and new weapons. The weapons system works like this...
A plane comes with Standard missiles, and then a few secondary weapons. Secondary weapons include weapons such as air to ground bombs, guided bombs, multi-hit bombs, air to air multi-hit missiles, etc.... But you can only take 1 secondary weapon, so you must choose the right weapon for the mission. You don't want to enter a mission that requires alot of bombing without bombs. When you buy a plane, it comes with a secondary weapon, and in order to use different secondary weapons with that plane, you must earn money to buy that weapons. You do NOT buy ammo, you pay once to be able to use that weapon, and then it is yours. Each plane can only carry certain weapons, this keeps the uniqueness of each plane intact. You most likely will not be able to buy all the planes and weapons first time around. You may have to beat the game several times. I have done so and enjoy playing the game each time. There are always a few things to try that you have not been able to do before, like shooting down certain ace enemies.
Story: 10
A very deep story. First, your character. We never really learn much about your character. But that doesn't matter... What matters is the narrator of the cut-scenes between missions. The narrator tells the story of when he was a boy and what happened in his city during the war. I don't want to ruin this beautiful story, so you will have to hear it for yourself when you play the game, but trust me, you will be deeply immersed in his tale. His soothing voice even gives it that grandpa war story type feel to it.
Multiplayer: Yep, there are multiplayer modes. You modes where you battle each other, compete to shoot down the most planes, and stuff like that. I can't comment too much on that since I don't really have anyone to play with. All my little brother likes doing is landing the planes. But you should know that you can't play the normal game with multiplayer. That would have been a cool feature, but I guess companies still arn't implementing 2 player co-op missions in many games.
Unlock: 8
So far I know that beating the game gets you new modes such as time attack, free mission, new plane paint-jobs, and the ability to play the game with the planes you bought first time around so you can keep buying new planes. I don't know what else might be hidden in Ace Combat 4.
Overall: 10
This was the best gaming experience I have had in a long time. A great combination of air combat and story line. Namco has managed to merge the two wonderfully!
This game is a must have, especially for anyone who is a fan of air combat games.
It makes sense to me that if everyone was busy building a machine to shoot down asteroids and save the world, that inventing new airplanes was at the bottom of the scientist-to-do-list. This makes sense, and completely reasons why current planes are used, and not fictional futuristic planes.
Graphics: 9
The planes look fantastic. The highly detailed planes look just like their real life counterparts. The planes even have a nice heat effect behind them when after-burners are on. The backgrounds are realistic, and flourish with dynamic terrain features. The terrain is very diversified between missions. Some missions have you flying over coasts, deserts, mountainous regions, and even cities. The enemy planes, missiles, and even ground targets are highly detailed. The only complaint I have is that the explosions don't really feel that thrilling. They look nice, but they probably could have been a little more spectacular. Also, one would think that if you hit a plane with a missile, and it doesn't go down, it should atleast trail smoke and flames until your second shot can bring it down, but sadly there are no battle-damage effects, the planes are either alive, or burning. When a plane is shot down, it does trail smoke and burn.
Sound: 10
It's all there.... Engine real engine sounds for each plane.
The voices, both in game and story, are acted out well and sounded like they really meant it. Your wing-men frantically tell you to watch out for missiles and inform you of mission objectives. There is even the occasional taunt, "Nothing but air... heads up!!!" when you miss. The music in game is diversified between fast paced action music, and epic opera/symphony type music for the intense life or death type missions. The music in the FMV sequences fits the location of the narration, the occupied city of San Salvacion (I'm pretty sure all these places are fictional BTW) since the music resembles that of a traditional folk song. In one mission, there is a national anthem type song played at the end which definately lifts your pride for the fictional continent. Also, before the last mission, while in the plane select screen before you fly your mission, a man will give a moving speech that is worth giving a listen to.
Control: 10
Good button lay-out, and responsive controls.
Basically, R1 = speed up, R2 = turn rudder right, L1 = brake, L2 = turn rudder left, Left Analog = moves your plane, Right Analog = look around, R3 (pressing Right Analog) = look behind, D-pad up = autopilot, down = change view (just HUD, behind plane, and cockpit), X = machine guns, square = toggle map, triangle = change target (hold down to zoom or look in enemies direction), O = fire selected weapon (hold for camera to follow missile or bomb), Select button = toggle between weapons. This configuration works well, and after a few minutes of experience, you will be able to fly your plane with skill.
Mission Diversity: 10
There are 18 missions, and each are different. The objectives include destroying enemy facilities, shooting down bombers before they reach ally airfields, liberating a city, bombing enemy airfields before they can take off, shooting down cruise missiles, and more...
AI: 10
The enemies are smart. One of the most noticeable examples is when an enemy squadron, the "Yellow Squadron", performs the real life Cobra Maneuver in their fancy SU-37's to prevent you from getting behind them, and get behind you.
Planes: 10
Each plane is designed for different types of use. Some are better for bombing, some are better for fighting, and so-forth. You start out with 1 plane, and as you complete missions, you will earn money to but new planes and new weapons. The weapons system works like this...
A plane comes with Standard missiles, and then a few secondary weapons. Secondary weapons include weapons such as air to ground bombs, guided bombs, multi-hit bombs, air to air multi-hit missiles, etc.... But you can only take 1 secondary weapon, so you must choose the right weapon for the mission. You don't want to enter a mission that requires alot of bombing without bombs. When you buy a plane, it comes with a secondary weapon, and in order to use different secondary weapons with that plane, you must earn money to buy that weapons. You do NOT buy ammo, you pay once to be able to use that weapon, and then it is yours. Each plane can only carry certain weapons, this keeps the uniqueness of each plane intact. You most likely will not be able to buy all the planes and weapons first time around. You may have to beat the game several times. I have done so and enjoy playing the game each time. There are always a few things to try that you have not been able to do before, like shooting down certain ace enemies.
Story: 10
A very deep story. First, your character. We never really learn much about your character. But that doesn't matter... What matters is the narrator of the cut-scenes between missions. The narrator tells the story of when he was a boy and what happened in his city during the war. I don't want to ruin this beautiful story, so you will have to hear it for yourself when you play the game, but trust me, you will be deeply immersed in his tale. His soothing voice even gives it that grandpa war story type feel to it.
Multiplayer: Yep, there are multiplayer modes. You modes where you battle each other, compete to shoot down the most planes, and stuff like that. I can't comment too much on that since I don't really have anyone to play with. All my little brother likes doing is landing the planes. But you should know that you can't play the normal game with multiplayer. That would have been a cool feature, but I guess companies still arn't implementing 2 player co-op missions in many games.
Unlock: 8
So far I know that beating the game gets you new modes such as time attack, free mission, new plane paint-jobs, and the ability to play the game with the planes you bought first time around so you can keep buying new planes. I don't know what else might be hidden in Ace Combat 4.
Overall: 10
This was the best gaming experience I have had in a long time. A great combination of air combat and story line. Namco has managed to merge the two wonderfully!
This game is a must have, especially for anyone who is a fan of air combat games.
