AlphaSnake
...and that, kids, was the first time I sucked a dick for crack
So I got a copy of the game today. Tossed it in and started it playing it immediately. I'll break the review down by categories:
Visuals: 8.9
Clean. Unsung War is definitely better looking than the 4th. The level of detail on the planes is really a sight to see. Though, I think despite the nice lighting effects in the background and the smooth details around the planes, the visuals really shine because of two very critical things: the framerate and convincing the gamer that you're actually flying. Ace Combat 5 really creates that feeling...the more you play, the more you get into it. I find myself cringing when I get a little too close to the water or ground and just barely pull myself out.
Still it should be noted that the ground textures are really, really poor. With the exception of some fully polygonal structures popping out of an otherwise flat terrain, AC5 continues to feature drab textures for the grounds. The water looks awesome from a distance, on the other hand...though not so hot too close. And lastly, the game's replays are awesome and have a pretty engrossing aspect to them, much like Gran Turismo.
Gameplay: 9.4
I rarely get too excited when I play a game, but Ace Combat 5 really gets me going. I destroy a target and I'll scream "fuck yeah!" If I have a missile approaching me I'll start panicking and saying things like "shiiiitt" or "no no no no no" as I'm making a really sharp cut in order to avoid getting hit. And what happens when I do get hit? A howling "fuck!" comes out of my mouth. AC5 is exciting...almost a little too exciting, but that's the best part. The action is awesome. There are planes and targets all around you. There's no feeling like taking down three, or even four, targets in a row. I've always loved double tapping in Ace Combat games and watching the missiles connect with the enemy, what a great feeling. Oh, and I love taking off and landing the planes; I never skip those.
The story's decent, I guess. I don't think AC games have had very good stories and AC5 isn't really much different. That is not to say that the story is bad in any way...just doesn't seem very inspired. None of the characters really have any strong development, but hey...if you expect a game like AC to have a good story, you're playing the wrong game. The story doesn't really matter to me, it doesn't detract from the experience at all. I'm always just waiting for the next mission to start so I can kick some more ass.
Controls: 9.5
Same old control setup all of us have become very accustomed to. If it ain't broke, don't fix it, right?
Sound/Audio: 9.5
Hehe...uhh, hearing Puddle of Mudd in the game really threw me off. I thought it was one of those advertisements with audio that loaded itself on the PC, but then I realized it was coming from the game's cut-scene. Weird. Anyways, the actual soundtrack (during combat) is sweet. Heart pounding stuff, and it sounds especially better when you've got a nice audio system turned up. The sound effects compliment the BGM very well -- nice sounding gun fire and explosions, mmmm...Oh and the voice acting isn't bad; definitely better than most.
Replay: 9
The lack of an online mode kinda' sucks. But the game's still fairly long with 30 missions in the story mode alone. Then there's the arcade mode where you can play each mission individually. There's a wholesome amount of airplanes to choose from later on in the game and a good number of unlockable features that only add to the replay factor. Coupled with the fact that even if extras didn't exist in AC5, it'd still be a highly replayable game if only because of its addictive nature.
Overall: 9.3
=)
Visuals: 8.9
Clean. Unsung War is definitely better looking than the 4th. The level of detail on the planes is really a sight to see. Though, I think despite the nice lighting effects in the background and the smooth details around the planes, the visuals really shine because of two very critical things: the framerate and convincing the gamer that you're actually flying. Ace Combat 5 really creates that feeling...the more you play, the more you get into it. I find myself cringing when I get a little too close to the water or ground and just barely pull myself out.
Still it should be noted that the ground textures are really, really poor. With the exception of some fully polygonal structures popping out of an otherwise flat terrain, AC5 continues to feature drab textures for the grounds. The water looks awesome from a distance, on the other hand...though not so hot too close. And lastly, the game's replays are awesome and have a pretty engrossing aspect to them, much like Gran Turismo.
Gameplay: 9.4
I rarely get too excited when I play a game, but Ace Combat 5 really gets me going. I destroy a target and I'll scream "fuck yeah!" If I have a missile approaching me I'll start panicking and saying things like "shiiiitt" or "no no no no no" as I'm making a really sharp cut in order to avoid getting hit. And what happens when I do get hit? A howling "fuck!" comes out of my mouth. AC5 is exciting...almost a little too exciting, but that's the best part. The action is awesome. There are planes and targets all around you. There's no feeling like taking down three, or even four, targets in a row. I've always loved double tapping in Ace Combat games and watching the missiles connect with the enemy, what a great feeling. Oh, and I love taking off and landing the planes; I never skip those.
The story's decent, I guess. I don't think AC games have had very good stories and AC5 isn't really much different. That is not to say that the story is bad in any way...just doesn't seem very inspired. None of the characters really have any strong development, but hey...if you expect a game like AC to have a good story, you're playing the wrong game. The story doesn't really matter to me, it doesn't detract from the experience at all. I'm always just waiting for the next mission to start so I can kick some more ass.
Controls: 9.5
Same old control setup all of us have become very accustomed to. If it ain't broke, don't fix it, right?
Sound/Audio: 9.5
Hehe...uhh, hearing Puddle of Mudd in the game really threw me off. I thought it was one of those advertisements with audio that loaded itself on the PC, but then I realized it was coming from the game's cut-scene. Weird. Anyways, the actual soundtrack (during combat) is sweet. Heart pounding stuff, and it sounds especially better when you've got a nice audio system turned up. The sound effects compliment the BGM very well -- nice sounding gun fire and explosions, mmmm...Oh and the voice acting isn't bad; definitely better than most.
Replay: 9
The lack of an online mode kinda' sucks. But the game's still fairly long with 30 missions in the story mode alone. Then there's the arcade mode where you can play each mission individually. There's a wholesome amount of airplanes to choose from later on in the game and a good number of unlockable features that only add to the replay factor. Coupled with the fact that even if extras didn't exist in AC5, it'd still be a highly replayable game if only because of its addictive nature.
Overall: 9.3
=)
