[game 150]
Ace Combat 3: Electrosphere
Simulation
Playstation
Namco (2000)
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What happened? AC1: cool. AC2: better. AC3: a bit of a letdown!
This is the Ace Combat game that I played but remember the least. The last of the PS1 versions, it was a bit of a letdown in North America (apparently the Japanese version is way better, but I haven't played it). I played Air Combat and Ace Combat 2 for the blazing guitar soundtrack, the incredible voiceover characters, and the pretty good gameplay. Ace Combat 3 is has one of these three features. The only voice over is the exclamations during combat when you hit a target. The music has changed to boring ol' techno instead of searing guitar jams. Of the three PS1 versions, I'd say 2 is the best.
The gameplay, however has taken another step up. The graphics are the best of the PS1 era with more detailed terrain textures, interesting cloud effects and other visual enhancements like smoother rocket trails and cool lens flares, and a futuristic (if a bit busy) HUD system. The feel of the planes is smoother and more responsive, the guns and rockets are somehow more fun to use, and just flying around is even a joy. The pre-mission briefings are definitely upgraded graphics-wise but the post-mission debrief feels a little lackluster. In general, though, playing the game is enjoyable even though I'd probably swap the old music and voices into this version if possible.
In the end, it's a fine entry but could have been so much more.
This is the Ace Combat game that I played but remember the least. The last of the PS1 versions, it was a bit of a letdown in North America (apparently the Japanese version is way better, but I haven't played it). I played Air Combat and Ace Combat 2 for the blazing guitar soundtrack, the incredible voiceover characters, and the pretty good gameplay. Ace Combat 3 is has one of these three features. The only voice over is the exclamations during combat when you hit a target. The music has changed to boring ol' techno instead of searing guitar jams. Of the three PS1 versions, I'd say 2 is the best.
The gameplay, however has taken another step up. The graphics are the best of the PS1 era with more detailed terrain textures, interesting cloud effects and other visual enhancements like smoother rocket trails and cool lens flares, and a futuristic (if a bit busy) HUD system. The feel of the planes is smoother and more responsive, the guns and rockets are somehow more fun to use, and just flying around is even a joy. The pre-mission briefings are definitely upgraded graphics-wise but the post-mission debrief feels a little lackluster. In general, though, playing the game is enjoyable even though I'd probably swap the old music and voices into this version if possible.
In the end, it's a fine entry but could have been so much more.