The Ace Combat Thread (NSF56k)

Synthesis

So, to show I'm reasonable, I rented this. Off redbox. For 2.50.

Played the first two missions thusfar (up to the first Apache mission, which I know I will hate, courtesy of the demo). It's not quite as CoD bad as I anticipated (then again, Markov hasn't been introduced yet), but it makes up for that with cringe worth dialog.

For example, there's one scene where Major Illych jokes about how "There's not enough vodka in the world for you," when he promises to congratulate his American comrades for their success--I'm fairly convinced this is not bad voice acting making Illych sound very insincere when he is, but instead, Illych simply giving you the business by playing into American stereotypes about Russians. It improves the scene substantially--plus, that guy is so dead. No way he survives the game

I'll see how much I get through before I have to return it tomorrow. Very pretty though.

manwiththemachinegun

It gets better as it goes along. The banter between Jan and Guts amusing. I laughed at any rate.

PunkBoy

Yeah the dialogue in the cutscenes are well done. The chatter in the missions are classic Ace Combat awesome cheesiness.

"Get off the frequency, asshole!"

ArcticLancer

I had no idea that Assault Horizon was going to have the large multiplayer component that it does, so now I'm here wondering who else is playing that I might trade Gamertags with. Send an invite to ArcticBoogie to spread the love.

As far as the dialogue goes, I've played up to mission ... 5 I think? There's some excellent conversations, but it's definitely not the 'super-cereal' ones. The banter is where it's at.

Synthesis

My rental was enough to convince me the game wasn't for me personally. The novelty of DFM wasn't enough to overcome my disappointment with other aspects of the game, in a time period where I really need to play more Lock On and other games. Maybe some other time.

Momento Mori

So my gamertag is Chippaz for anyone who wants a wingman. Fairwarning though as my favorite fighter is the MiG-21bis, cause nothing says QAAM what like sweet hot death straight from 1959. Also Pancake is your gamer tag PANCAKES because if so nice flying you multikilled me at least twice last week.

ArcticLancer

It's probably a good call, Synth. After finishing the campaign all I can think over and over is that this just wasn't as good as Ace Combat 6.
Every mission is totally linear, DFM is TOO critical to the game, and I honestly hate it. The majority of the campaign revolves around spawning guys right on top of you, as well as having an entire ... I think 2 missions that flew attack craft.
I went through the AC6 campaign at least 7 times. I'd be very hard pressed to fly through this one a second time ... Which makes me pretty sad, because I love going through the missions and trying out different planes. Multiplayer is alright so far. Latency is quite the bitch there though.

*shrug*
We'll see how I hold out with it.

DaMoonRulz

If you do the coop missions and achieve an A rank on them you can unlock some pretty handy skills

tastydonuts

How helpful are they in A-Ranking the main missions?

HyperAquaBlast

So I just got Ace Combat 3DS. Its pretty much classic AC with a branding of the new style on the box and a gimmicky "maneuver" button. Also I think the best show case for 3D I have seen on the system and have all the major titles.

I recommend it!

Synthesis

ArcticLancer wrote:

It's probably a good call, Synth. After finishing the campaign all I can think over and over is that this just wasn't as good as Ace Combat 6.
Every mission is totally linear, DFM is TOO critical to the game, and I honestly hate it. The majority of the campaign revolves around spawning guys right on top of you, as well as having an entire ... I think 2 missions that flew attack craft.
I went through the AC6 campaign at least 7 times. I'd be very hard pressed to fly through this one a second time ... Which makes me pretty sad, because I love going through the missions and trying out different planes. Multiplayer is alright so far. Latency is quite the bitch there though.

*shrug*
We'll see how I hold out with it.

Redbox: the way to go.

What I played of DFM I actually liked--bear with me: I've long complained that the game degrades way too quickly into "chase down x numbers of identical, indistinguishable planes, kill them", thanks to Namco's bullshit reasoning that the only way to put the Ace in Ace Combat is to have the player shoot down dozens of aircraft in certain missions. Because, you know, five or six good, well-thought out fights would be for wimps.

I'd take anything to break up that monotonous bullshit. Including DFM.

Unfortunately, it's not enough to make up for the other things about the game--the boring setting, the boring story, the acceptable by AC/Namco standards but still otherwise boring characters, and those flat-out bad helicopter missions (Apache Assault basically ruined that sort of shallow, arcade loop-de-loop game aspect for me, I guess).

On the other hand, it was very pretty. If a game had to actually make aircraft bleed while you shot at them, that's the way to do it.

manwiththemachinegun

I still think it's a perfectly servicable Ace Combat game. Complaints of linearity seem a tad petty considering the best games in the series are totally linear. The missions are also a good deal longer too, no more three minute sorties.

ArcticLancer

When I spoke of linearity I meant that AC:AH has you playing checkpoints in order. It's the standard 'player walks along corridor and cut-scenes occur'. AC:6 had multiple mission objectives in most levels, and it was up to you which ones you wanted to complete. That's not at all linear, and if you're proposing that AC:6 wasn't among the series best then we're clearly going to have to agree to disagree, as I'll think you're crazy.

Johnny Chopsocky

ArcticLancer wrote:

When I spoke of linearity I meant that AC:AH has you playing checkpoints in order. It's the standard 'player walks along corridor and cut-scenes occur'. AC:6 had multiple mission objectives in most levels, and it was up to you which ones you wanted to complete. That's not at all linear, and if you're proposing that AC:6 wasn't among the series best then we're clearly going to have to agree to disagree, as I'll think you're crazy.

Ace Combat 6 bored me to tears on multiple occasions by feeling less like a sequel and more like a Greatest Hits compilation of the previous 3. Also, the fucking drone boss fight. Fuck that fight so much. Also, the lackluster soundtrack (of which there was only one song I ever feel like listening to again. And finally, "DANCE WITH THE ANGELS".

AC6 disappointed me so much after 4, 5 and Zero. AC:AH isn't as good as 5 and Zero, but it's better than AC6.

ArcticLancer

That's interesting, but I have no idea how 'fly from A to B and DFM anything on the way' is somehow more entertaining. I want to be clear I'm explicitly talking about the playing of the game, not the story or anything else (although I would similarly disagree about the soundtrack being dull, but it is a matter of pure taste).
I haven't played AC:AH in over a month, and I can tell you this: The only specific moments I remember are the Apache offensive and the B-2 carpet bombing. Everything else was absolutely forgettable.

Synthesis

Compared to an actual helicopter game, the Apache sections are awful. "Look me at me do a barrel roll! And again! And again!"

The DFM was novel, at least, but I could see it getting very tiring, very fast. At least it looks nice.

Of course, both these complaints could be leveled at a more "traditional" AC game if they had the mechanics.

manwiththemachinegun

ArcticLancer wrote:

That's interesting, but I have no idea how 'fly from A to B and DFM anything on the way' is somehow more entertaining. I want to be clear I'm explicitly talking about the playing of the game, not the story or anything else (although I would similarly disagree about the soundtrack being dull, but it is a matter of pure taste).
I haven't played AC:AH in over a month, and I can tell you this: The only specific moments I remember are the Apache offensive and the B-2 carpet bombing. Everything else was absolutely forgettable.

The Dubai level is one of my favorite pure 'dogfight' levels in the sereis. The vertical heigth of the city means you can do all sorts of awesome low level dogfighting and moves.

Also, for those having trouble with bombers. You can quickly shoot them down if you machine gun their engines.

ArcticLancer

Synthesis wrote:

Compared to an actual helicopter game, the Apache sections are awful. "Look me at me do a barrel roll! And again! And again!"

The DFM was novel, at least, but I could see it getting very tiring, very fast. At least it looks nice.

Of course, both these complaints could be leveled at a more "traditional" AC game if they had the mechanics.

Heh, I just said I remembered one of the Apache levels. I said nothing about it being good. More of my point was that I remember absolutely nothing about the actual fighter combat. Most of the stand-out moments happened near the ground.

manwiththemachinegun wrote:

The Dubai level is one of my favorite pure 'dogfight' levels in the sereis. The vertical heigth of the city means you can do all sorts of awesome low level dogfighting and moves.

I'll take your word on this. I don't remember it, but it could be decent. I think my complaints would still mostly be leveled at DFM. I just got so tired of flying by rails.

manwiththemachinegun

If you don't like it, it's honestly faster to take down 80% of the enemies on a level to just stick with special weapons and spam from a distance. Just like always. Even bombers go down fast outside of DFM. Only target leads require DFM.

As for characters, I found Guts infinately more likable with his limited screentime than 'blowhard Chopper'. Jan was under utilized, but I liked the Apache pilot too. "Com'on you jackasses, I can keep this up all day!"

tastydonuts

manwiththemachinegun wrote:

ArcticLancer wrote:

That's interesting, but I have no idea how 'fly from A to B and DFM anything on the way' is somehow more entertaining. I want to be clear I'm explicitly talking about the playing of the game, not the story or anything else (although I would similarly disagree about the soundtrack being dull, but it is a matter of pure taste).
I haven't played AC:AH in over a month, and I can tell you this: The only specific moments I remember are the Apache offensive and the B-2 carpet bombing. Everything else was absolutely forgettable.

The Dubai level is one of my favorite pure 'dogfight' levels in the sereis. The vertical heigth of the city means you can do all sorts of awesome low level dogfighting and moves.

Also, for those having trouble with bombers. You can quickly shoot them down if you machine gun their engines.

doesn't the game tell you to do that? And AC:AH wasn't perfect, but neither was AC "Go dance with the angels MISTER!" 6.

I know the only thing I remember about ANY of the prior AC titles prior to AC:AH are the soundtracks.

but it's all different folks and such, I guess.

edit: and as machinegun pointed out, you only really HAVE to go DFM against the lead pilots and/or major ground targets.

Synthesis

manwiththemachinegun wrote:

If you don't like it, it's honestly faster to take down 80% of the enemies on a level to just stick with special weapons and spam from a distance. Just like always. Even bombers go down fast outside of DFM. Only target leads require DFM.

As for characters, I found Guts infinately more likable with his limited screentime than 'blowhard Chopper'. Jan was under utilized, but I liked the Apache pilot too. "Com'on you jackasses, I can keep this up all day!"

Now I remember why I the new cast sucked. God, the magic character combination of Namco suck with CoD suck.

ArcticLancer

manwiththemachinegun wrote:

If you don't like it, it's honestly faster to take down 80% of the enemies on a level to just stick with special weapons and spam from a distance. Just like always. Even bombers go down fast outside of DFM. Only target leads require DFM.

As for characters, I found Guts infinately more likable with his limited screentime than 'blowhard Chopper'. Jan was under utilized, but I liked the Apache pilot too. "Com'on you jackasses, I can keep this up all day!"

This was the problem - over half the enemies you faced in the game were leads. I DID just missile the other guys regularly. >_<

The characters I agree 100%.

HyperAquaBlast

You huys should forget about Assault Horizon and get to playing Assault Horizon Legacy. Its sooo good.

Shitty part is you have to get a 3DS to play it which I don't think is a must own device at all.

cj iwakura

That's what I've heard. It's an amazing game, supposedly, a true return to form.

Synthesis

I don't have my 3DS anymore--returned it for a full refund after about 3 months. :S

Then again, you can't rent 3DS games anywhere that I know of, and with no demo downloads (last I checked), fuck that shit, Nintendo, and your handicapped online.

manwiththemachinegun

Excuse me while I nerd all over the floor...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-15SE_Silent_Eagle

MAKE IT HAPPEN NAMCO.

ArcticLancer wrote:

manwiththemachinegun wrote:

If you don't like it, it's honestly faster to take down 80% of the enemies on a level to just stick with special weapons and spam from a distance. Just like always. Even bombers go down fast outside of DFM. Only target leads require DFM.

As for characters, I found Guts infinately more likable with his limited screentime than 'blowhard Chopper'. Jan was under utilized, but I liked the Apache pilot too. "Com'on you jackasses, I can keep this up all day!"

This was the problem - over half the enemies you faced in the game were leads. I DID just missile the other guys regularly. >_<

The characters I agree 100%.

Heres the thing, upon recently playing the game again, I'm not sure how many of the later TGT LEAD are invincible beyond the first few levels, Markov, and Miami. On D.C. where upon DFM'ing a lead is supposed to lead you on a chase which ends in a kamikaze run on the Anzio, I shot down 2 out of 3 without DFM. The first time really surprised me I admit, but a cluster of 4 missiles took one out head on, and the other I ran to ground and peppered with missiles till it blew.

Zoku Gojira

Synthesis wrote:

Compared to an actual helicopter game, the Apache sections are awful. "Look me at me do a barrel roll! And again! And again!"

Even if the jet sections are mind-blowing, which doesn't appear to be the case from reviews, there isn't enough fighter-jet-porn in the world to make plowing through that shitty helicopter mission in the demo worthwhile, let alone the several others just like it that presumably infect the retail disc.

Nobody asked for the equivalent of a franchise reboot, just cut all the dancing with the angels shit from 6 and get it back to a fictional world where the end boss can be a giant dirigible with a railgun that has one weak point conveniently located at the end of a trench run through the exhaust system, and we'll call it AC7 and pretend AH never happened.\

Edit: that stealth F-15 is an interesting idea. Maybe an attempt by McDonnellBoeing to push a palatable alternative to their F-22 minus all the derpy avionics and oxygen supply system that doesn't.

manwiththemachinegun

I really don't agree with reviews that call the game shallow at any rate. AC4 is shallow when you get right down to it. The first quarter of the game can be finished in less than an hour. The setting is what counts to me.

AC:AH for all its flaws has many, many good dog-fighting missions with several good gimmick levels. There are four or so levels that aren't amazing, but the rest make up for it in spades.

Fuckawesome levels:

Dubai
Pipeline
Seige
Hostile Fleet
Moscow (both)

Hurricane

Good levels:

Miami
Canal
Blue on Blue
Missile base

Bad levels:

Red Moon
Spooky
Tutorial

Nah, there are only two heli-missions in the game. The first one is rather boring I agree, but Moscow is great fun. Lots of buildings to hide behind and pop out doing terrible terrible damage to everything.

Did the YF-23 DLC release yet?

cj iwakura

Warning: God-Tier DLC approaches!


http://andriasang.com/con09s/ace_combat_x_idolmaster/