• ALL-TIME CLASSIC.
• GREAT FOR ALL AGES.
• SONY PLAYSATION VIDEO GAME VERSION.
• SUPER HIGH REPLAY VALUE.
• SEVERAL HOURS OF FUN.

Product description ------------------- Includes game disc or discs, manual and original case. Game disc is in great condition. If there are any scratches they are only minor and have no effect on game play. All of our games are fully tested prior to being placed in our inventory. .com ---- The critically accled Ace Combat series has long been known as the best way to get your flying kicks on the PlayStation, so it is no surprise that Ace Combat 3 takes things to new heights in terms of terrific visuals and overall gameplay. The standard mission design of previous games in the series remains intact, giving players complete control over their aircraft as they zip around in a fully 3-D environment. There are plenty of fun planes to fly this time around, from agile superfighters to lumbering bombers. Their maneuverability has been toned down from previous games in the series, which makes lining up targets more of a challenge, but it becomes second nature with a little practice. Don't be intimidated by some of the fancy moves available to thrill-seeking flyers here. After all, what's the worst that can happen when you decide to risk a daring loop and roll? The truth is that Ace Combat 3 is ultimately more about pyrotechnics and fast action than about realistic flight physics. Ace Combat 3 isn't the leap in technology over its predecessor that we expected, but it's still a great way to satisfy your urges to fly the unfriendly skies. --T. Byrl Baker Pros: * Much-improved graphics * Plenty of planes and missions to fly Cons:* Linear gameplay isn't quite as compelling or replayable as that in Ace Combat 2 P.when('A').execute(function(A) { A.on('a:expander:toggle_description:toggle:collapse', function(data) { window.scroll(0, data.expander.$expander[0].offsetTop-100); }); }); Review ------ Namco's Ace Combat has a reputation for quality that is practically unassailable. The first game was a flawed but functional arcade-style shooter (which is Namco's forte, after all), but the second episode was such a substantial leap in quality (comparable to the leap from Ridge Racer Revolution to Rage Racer) that everyone sat up and took notice. Ace Combat 2 was extremely playable: It had a multitude of missions, branching paths, and a wide array of planes to earn depending on the paths you took and your level of success, for which you were given a score at the end of each level. Seeing as how Ridge Racer Type 4 was the expected logical step forward in terms of playability and graphic expertise, surely then, so too must Ace Combat 3 be. Yes, the game reeks of high production values, this much is true. Two discs are filled to capacity with high-quality animation, as evidenced by the (as always) stunning opening cinema, an expertly crafted amalgamation of hand-drawn cels and CG animation. The same animation is featured throughout the game with cutscenes and mission briefings outlined in glorious detail between each successful sortie. The graphics too, have taken an incremental step forward, with lush light sourcing, cleverly hidden horizon draw-in, sexy aircraft designs (once you've the better ships of course), and nice environmental effects. Due to the wide-open nature of the game, the graphical upgrade has less of an impact than that of watching the Ridge Racer series mature, but the game is pretty, there's no doubt about that. The sad thing is how predictable the game turned out, despite having a cast of characters, which presumably are meant to immerse gamers more deeply in the game by giving off the sensation that they have more invested in the game world - care for the characters and care for the game. Unfortunately, despite the efforts made to create the complete Ace Combat experience, the game suffers in spite of them. Here's why. Anyone who has had the pleasure of playing Ace Combat 2 will be disappointed with the modifications to the control scheme. Bizarrely, the controls have taken a step toward being more sim-like, defaulting to the same setup found on Ace Combat 2's expert control setting. Setting AC3's control to easy mode won't help restore that arcade-like control, either. In both modes, the R2 and L2 buttons controlling left and right banking, along with the D-pad or analog pad, naturally. The L1 and R1 buttons control the thrust. If using the Dual-Shock pad, you use the left analog to control steering (although it might seem fairly sensitive to some), while the right analog controls the exterior view. By pressing the right analog stick, you can view your ship from virtually any exterior angle you want, in a full 360 degrees. The usefulness of this feature is suspect, however, since the purported reason for being able to check bogies on your tail looks better on paper than it does in practice. Anyone with a decent understanding of their radar screen will outmaneuver any nents in a dogfight anyway. This feature actually becomes a detriment when you're in hot pursuit or being pursued. While thing the controller around, your right thumb accidentally rubs the right analog stick, causing your view to swing wildly to an isometric view (for example), or perhaps you'll find yourself looking at the profile of the plane. Either way, this alone makes for some extremely frustrating moments while navigating this game, and it happens more frequently than you might imagine. Secondly, the planes aren't nearly as maneuverable as they were in the last edition of Ace Combat. Some planes, such as bombers, naturally, cannot do barrel rolls, but somehow the controls seem needlessly fussy for a game so clearly indebted to its arcade origins. Yes, the game screams of quality and class, which is what we have come to expect from Namco. The soundtrack is an exhilarating blend of the subtle and not-so-subtle techno/electronica compositions that Namco games seem to favor. The sound effects are detailed and expansive given the nature of the game. Naturally, the in-cockpit ambiance is decidedly different from the sounds you hear when playing in the third-person mode. There is also a high replay value, although that too is subject to your own personal tastes. Like the second AC, this game takes you on different paths depending on your actions in the game. These branching paths will make playing the game in all three difficulty modes a different experience each time you play. Before each mission you can also choose from a selection (usually two) of weapons to outfit your aircraft with. Usually these choices are limited to a machine or a supply of heat-seeking missiles, all with varying names. Sadly, you'll never want to pick the far more exciting Vulcan (machine s), since they're so difficult to hit anything with. Lock-on missiles, being the surefire way to finish missions quickly (thereby improving your score), will almost always be the first and only choice. --James Mielke --Copyright ©1998 GameSpot Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of GameSpot is prohibited. -- GameSpot Review See more ( javascript:void(0) )