Ace Combat: Assault Horizon is the latest chapter in a series that has for years ferried dogfight on the console, offering a decidedly arcade flight model and free of all those peculiar characteristics which, however, belonged to the pompous simulator for PC. Developed by Project Aces and published by Namco Bandai, remains true to its nature as an action game, but this time slightly deviates from the classic formula that has marked up the previous episode, Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation, released exclusively Xbox 360 on November 23, back in 2007.
The first thing that catches one's eye of those who enjoyed the previous chapters is the fact that the plot revolves more around a fictional parallel world nations, much like Earth. This time, the locations are real and you fly and fight in the skies of Dubai, Miami, as well as in East Africa and in many other places known, gradually revealed by a plot of the author.
The story of Ace Combat: Assault Horizon is the work of Jim De Felice, author of spy novels to military background for the New York Times. The period represented is the next 2015 and provides plots of political fiction as a backdrop to the appearance of a mysterious weapon called Trinity, which allows to obtain the power of a nuclear fingered with the standard dimensions of a missile.
The realism of the narrative (which strangely is struggling to take off slightly, but then wins with sudden and unexpected twist) form a compendium made with painstaking care scenarios starting with satellite imagery. A practice certainly not unusual, but the level of detail of objects on the ground, this time, has been further refined, in virtue of some substantial changes to the gameplay that will take you to fly at low altitude and very often not only on airplanes reaction.
Compared to the past has been quashed the possibility of issuing direct orders to your wingman, which, moreover, was somewhat pointless considering the power of fire that was always unlikely given the player in the series. Even Ace Combat: Assault Horizon makes no difference in this respect, providing an arsenal monstrous (more than 200 missiles, infinite ammunition for the machine gun and a good dose of special weapons), but this time the developers have decided to make it far less easy killing distance of the aircraft opponents, if not impossible in some cases!
And here gives way to a spectacular addition to a system of close-range assault, called the MD, or Dogfight mode, which allows lockare an opponent and get in its wake, creating incredible style pursuits in Top Gun (Tony Scott, 1986) . A very choreographed, but also conceals some strategic element, since it becomes necessary when you must take down a squad leader.
This way, initially, may seem like a panacea, pushing you to abuse it, but going forward in the game you will realize that it is always advisable to turn it on and sometimes will even need to leave the target, perhaps using the flare a budget, to avoid the impact with some missile or even a contromanovra offensive opponent.
The control system has been revisited by virtue of this new offering from the outset a less realistic flight modes, called Optimal, but more appropriate to follow the rapid movements required the activation of the MD and that does not provide roll maneuvers around the longitudinal axis of the aircraft, but only assisted turns. For veterans of the virtual skies of Ace Combat is always the possibility of mode type of control, free from any constraint on the yoke and allows complete control of the planes wing and tail, just like in real life.
Overall, it is evident a general simplification of the action, especially with regard to the impacts with the ground which, this time, rarely lead to certain death. The damage decreases gradually with the passage of time and if you were to be just as iron attracted by a magnet to the ground, you can just turn assisted in the flight options. A dynamic system of checkpoints allows you to proceed with the mission without having to start from scratch each time in case of failure.
As mentioned previously, however, the protagonists of Ace Combat: Assault Horizon are no longer just the fighter planes, helicopters and more powerful but also flying fortresses, equipped with 120 mm guns, as the mighty AC-130. From fighter pilots will find yourself thrown in front of the cockpit of the Apache helicopter gunships, artillery, or in the role of multi-role aircrafts on board as the MH-60 Black Hawk.
The variety and the constant alternation of sessions aboard a different aircraft with different roles, moreover, is a welcome change of single-player campaign ... although, in hindsight, the sessions as a gunner are nothing more than the equivalent of mini-game style shooter on rails. Far more challenging missions as a helicopter pilot, which will require a completely different approach to fighting, suggesting that recall clearly the dynamic FPS-person.
For those who want to experiment, pad in hand, some 'of the sweeping action of Ace Combat: Assault Horizon, remember it is a demo available on PlayStation Network and Xbox Live, which offers the first and the third mission of the game, respectively, of F -22A Raptor, the skies of Miami, and AH-64D Apache Longbow, in Africa.
If you are not satisfied that the scope of the substantial campaign mode has to offer, know that there are also online gameplay modes, cooperative and competitive, providing 2 to 16 players, or squadrons from 8 to 8. The variants are proposed: Conquest of the capital, Domination, Death Match and cooperative mission. Not to mention the possibility of once again directly face the missions already played in the Country, to score points to unlock new skills useful, useful to customize the performance of your aircraft, both online and offline.
Graphically Ace Combat: Assault Horizon is very good looking and wins the attention of the director always treated with the shots. The trajectories followed during dogfights are scriptate to art and cutscenes, sometimes also called into action by fast and basic quick time event, enrich and enhance the gaming experience of a cinematic style that has always existed in the episodes of the series Ace Combat, but this time even more pronounced and noticeable.
The soundtrack, too, is a true source of adrenaline during the missions to be more inspired and listened carefully to the mark claimed, perhaps taking advantage of a good system for Dolby also enjoy the excellent positional audio. The impeccable Italian dubbing complete a framework of absolute sonic excellence.
With all these irons in the fire is clearly the intention of transforming Namco Bandai Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Air in alternative to the current FPS. In part, the attempt was unsuccessful, because the title is Project Aces digs a niche all its own in the current landscape of consoles, offering a gameplay well established, although revised and enriched, and a high degree of showmanship. What is not entirely convincing is the pace of the game in single player, sometimes tight, sometimes extremely diluted by too long and repetitive missions.
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