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[Matlock]

http://www.gaming-age.com/cgi-bin/p...genum=1&title=Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War

Namco Hometek Inc. today released 90 new screenshots from their upcoming flight combat game, “Ace Combat(TM) Zero: The Belkan War.” The next installment in the legendary Ace Combat series, the game lets players once again take to the skies in authentic, cutting edge aircraft and dogfight, bomb and pilot their way through battle zones with their loyal wingmen. “Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War” will be available for the PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system in 2006.

Taking place 15 years before the events of “Ace Combat(TM) 5,” “Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War” thrusts players in the middle of an all-out war between world power Belka and Ustio, a small neighboring country. As a mercenary hired to fight for Ustio, players will fly more than 30 authentic aircraft as they take on different missions to overcome the Belkan threat. Virtual pilots are never alone in the unfriendly skies, as they are accompanied in battle by computer-controlled wingmen that can be given detailed orders on how to approach each battle. A new addition to the series, “Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War” introduces Rival Pilots – high-powered enemies that will pursue players throughout the game with their own wingmen and advanced artificial intelligence routines, adding even more tension to the game’s intense military storyline.

It's pretty sexy looking so far.

 

[DarienA]

Namco I love you!

 

[Rocket9]

Are they gonna re-use a lot of map like this one?

 

[DarienA]

Are they gonna re-use a lot of map like this one?

Well considering the subtitle I believe is the Belkan War.... short answer... yup.

 

[..pakbeka..]

oh dear god, when is the relesed date for this?

 

[Musashi Wins!]

I wish this was a PSP game.

 

[Satter]

I hope they dropped those damn wingmen.

 

[Matlock]

oh dear god, when is the relesed date for this?

Two zero zero sixer.

I hope they dropped those damn wingmen.

Doesn't seem like they have.

 

[..pakbeka..]

I hope they dropped those damn wingmen.

I hope the charater you play as has a face this time

 

[Tiktaalik]

PS2: Still bringing kickass exclusives to the table.

 

[imastalker co.]

man, what's gonna happen when this game his PS3 (maybe even Revolution).

can't wait to see what kind of graphics they bust out.

 

[Sinn Fein]

That's Steir Castle I think. It's actually in Belka so it makes sense it might make an appearance in AC0. I don't recall too many other forays in Belka (or North Osea) is Ac5 so there probably won't be too many other recognizable places, but maybe a few. Seems pretty cool to me.

 

[EGM92]

Oh man this game is MINE! PS2 isn't dead yet next gen can wait! The shot Matlock has in his post likes AMAZING!

 

[acklame]

hot, is it coming in early 2006?

 

[eshwaaz]

Looking great. I really hope the explosions aren't still weak.

 

[Doom_Bringer]

Rival Pilots – high-powered enemies that will pursue players throughout the game with their own wingmen and advanced artificial intelligence routines, adding even more tension to the game’s intense military storyline.

Sounds awesome! I loved the Yellow squadron from AC4, those bitches were tough to kill

 

[Amir0x]

Oh God YES! Ace Combat is one of my all time favorite series, so so hyped for this. Can't wait to see the next-gen version too.

PS2 hits = never end

 

[blindrocket]

I've NEVER played an Ace Combat game. Do I get the latest and greatest or hold out on Zero? It's not like I don't have a lot of other games I should be playing either.

 

[Johnas]

Those screens are unbelievably hot.

Travesty, I know, but I have never played an AC game. These screens really make Zero look like a must-have.

 

[EGM92]

I've NEVER played an Ace Combat game. Do I get the latest and greatest or hold out on Zero? It's not like I don't have a lot of other games I should be playing either.

I suggest starting off with AC4 I liked it much better then AC5. By no means am I saying AC5 is bad, but the story in 4 was just told really well IMO, I think a lot of people would agree that AC4 was better in some aspects. AC5 is a lot of fun too great story but horrible voice acting in some parts.

I say GET ALL OF THEM!

 

[lunlunqq]

Yes, I agree with EGM92, AC4 is truly a masterpiece.

 

[ElyrionX]

While I love the Ace Combat series a lot, I hope that AC0 offers a fresh experience. While AC5 was undoubtably a very good game, a lot of it felt like the same old thing.

 

[ram]

While I love the Ace Combat series a lot, I hope that AC0 offers a fresh experience. While AC5 was undoubtably a very good game, a lot of it felt like the same old thing.

i thought ac5 was a big step up from the "more of the same" experiance, that ace combat 4 was. the level and missiondesign was way better imo. remeber the flight with the little jet through the island, where you being chased by enemy fighters? there was never such a mission in any ac game before. or, the mission, where you had to find the crashed female pilot in the northern lands -> really cool stuff imo.

 

[Kiriku]

i thought ac5 was a big step up from the "more of the same" experiance, that ace combat 4 was. the level and missiondesign was way better imo. remeber the flight with the little jet through the island, where you being chased by enemy fighters? there was never such a mission in any ac game before. or, the mission, where you had to find the crashed female pilot in the northern lands -> really cool stuff imo.

I fucking HATED the mission where you had to fly over the island! That was one of the worst missions in the game. It was boring enough to slowly have to follow a specific route, but it was made even worse by the fact that the mission was so damn long. I remember playing it over and over again, often crashing in that tunnel towards the end. I almost gave up on the game at that point. Please, no more of that crap.

 

[ram]

huh? that was the easiest mission of all. and i liked it very much, because it was no war mission. it was something that generates atmosphere.

 

[Kiriku]

huh? that was the easiest mission of all. and i liked it very much, because it was no war mission. it was something that generates atmosphere.

I had next to no trouble with any mission except for this one. Maybe 'cause my motivation dropped to an all-time low in the game? And I think the atmosphere in Ace Combat shouldn't be generated by flying above an island along a very restricted path with no action whatsoever, for...how long was it...10-15 mins? That's not Ace Combat, that's your average (boring) flight simulator.
They could've at least made it so that you had to fly through a valley or something, the way the whole mission was set up just felt cheap to me.

 

[ElyrionX]

I had next to no trouble with any mission except for this one. Maybe 'cause my motivation dropped to an all-time low in the game? And I think the atmosphere in Ace Combat shouldn't be generated by flying above an island along a very restricted path with no action whatsoever, for...how long was it...10-15 mins? That's not Ace Combat, that's your average (boring) flight simulator.
They could've at least made it so that you had to fly through a valley or something, the way the whole mission was set up just felt cheap to me.

I got to agree it was a fresh experience though it was kind of frustrating for me as well.

But making another "valley" mission? Those missions were around since AC2 and they've gotten a bit stale for me. The one in AC5 was pretty cool though a bit frustrating too since it was awfully hard shooting down the Ace pilots.

 

[Doom_Bringer]

AC5 sucks, start with AC4 which is awesome! Play the PSX AC's too, they are all good

 

[..pakbeka..]

gameplay-wise
AC5>AC4

 

[Kiriku]

I got to agree it was a fresh experience though it was kind of frustrating for me as well.

But making another "valley" mission? Those missions were around since AC2 and they've gotten a bit stale for me. The one in AC5 was pretty cool though a bit frustrating too since it was awfully hard shooting down the Ace pilots.

Well, I prefer having physical barriers rather than "invisible" ones.

 

[Doom_Bringer]

gameplay-wise
AC5>AC4

sorry but the occasional slowdown and shoddy voice acting hamper gameplay. AC4 is better gameplay wise, it has better missions and they are more fun.

 

[ziran]

this looks excellent!

 

[..pakbeka..]

sorry but the occasional slowdown and shoddy voice acting hamper gameplay. AC4 is better gameplay wise, it has better missions and they are more fun.

the control was better in AC5 and most of the missions in AC4 were simply about collecting points, AC5 had more variety, not to mention much more jets

Slowdown? where?

 

[DarienA]

AC5 sucks, start with AC4 which is awesome! Play the PSX AC's too, they are all good

Ignore Doom he seems to have issues with AC5 that most folks don't... personally I suggest you play ALL of the AC's... EXCEPT the US version of AC3... get a FAQ and play the import version. The US version has all of the kickass story pulled out of it.

 

[Lo-Volt]

All the goodness of the Ace Combat franchise on the dominant force of this generation launching in 2006, and rival pilots to sweeten the deal? Taito can give up now: World Airforce is already owned, and 2006 isn't even here yet.

 

[Raiden]

Hole shite next gen am-cry

 

[Gibbo]

sorry but the occasional slowdown and shoddy voice acting hamper gameplay. AC4 is better gameplay wise, it has better missions and they are more fun.

I think the slowdown only happens on aging ps2s. I played the game on my set and it was totally fine. When I tried it on my friend's set however..there were moments where the graphics sorta became 'blurry' and there was quite abit of slowdown

 

[ram]

ace combat 5 was smooth at hell on my ps2 -> got one from spring 2002 and played ~ 200 games on it.

 

[EGM92]

I think the slowdown only happens on aging ps2s. I played the game on my set and it was totally fine. When I tried it on my friend's set however..there were moments where the graphics sorta became 'blurry' and there was quite abit of slowdown

I played AC5 on my v1 console, from Launch, I experience no slowdowns at all, but I do experience the shotty voice acting in some places... but that's due to the actors overacting. The blurry graphics are on lasers that are either dying or need to be recalibrated. I suggest you google a tutorial on how to manually recalibrate your laser, it solved massive slowdowns in DMC3.