Air Combat
Encyclopedia
Air Combat, released in Japan as Ace Combat, is a semi-realistic flight-sim/action game developed and released by Namco
in 1995 for the PlayStation. It is part of the Ace Combat
series. All subsequent games retained the original Ace Combat name.
Air Combat is also an arcade game
from Namco in 1992 that simulates an F-16. The game mainly involves dog fighting and has three levels of play; Cadet, Captain and Ace. This game was the predecessor of the PlayStation series. It had an arcade sequel, Air Combat 22
.
force starts an uprising and inflicts massive damage across an unnamed country. Efforts to defeat these terrorists through conventional means failed and the situation turns desperate; in response, a mercenary
air force is assembled to take the fight to the enemy and free the nation from the terrorist forces.
games. The player can choose from several different planes in the game ranging from F-4 Phantoms
to Su-27 Flankers
and Stealth aircraft
, albeit painted in a special "Phoenix
" color scheme. Later in the game, the player can select a wingman to accompany them during a mission, the player can "instruct" the wingman to perform one of three different actions.
Namco
is a Japanese corporation best known as a former video game developer and publisher. Following a merger with Bandai in September 2005, the two companies' game production assets were spun off into Namco Bandai Games on March 31, 2006. Namco Ltd. was re-established to continue domestic operation of...
in 1995 for the PlayStation. It is part of the Ace Combat
Ace Combat
Ace Combat is a hybrid arcade-simulation flight action video game series featuring 12 games, published by the Japanese company Namco Bandai Games...
series. All subsequent games retained the original Ace Combat name.
Air Combat is also an arcade game
Arcade game
An arcade game is a coin-operated entertainment machine, usually installed in public businesses such as restaurants, bars, and amusement arcades. Most arcade games are video games, pinball machines, electro-mechanical games, redemption games, and merchandisers...
from Namco in 1992 that simulates an F-16. The game mainly involves dog fighting and has three levels of play; Cadet, Captain and Ace. This game was the predecessor of the PlayStation series. It had an arcade sequel, Air Combat 22
Air Combat 22
Air Combat 22 is an arcade game released by Namco in 1995 and the sequel to Air Combat in the Ace Combat series. It was named Air Combat "22" because it runs on Namco's Super System 22 hardware...
.
Story
A terroristTerrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
force starts an uprising and inflicts massive damage across an unnamed country. Efforts to defeat these terrorists through conventional means failed and the situation turns desperate; in response, a mercenary
Mercenary
A mercenary, is a person who takes part in an armed conflict based on the promise of material compensation rather than having a direct interest in, or a legal obligation to, the conflict itself. A non-conscript professional member of a regular army is not considered to be a mercenary although he...
air force is assembled to take the fight to the enemy and free the nation from the terrorist forces.
Gameplay
Air Combat is mostly considered an "arcade style" flight game due to its semi-realistic physics and the fact that many planes can carry up to 65 missiles, an impossibility in real-life aircraft. The goal of the game is to destroy enemy targets dispersed throughout the various levels and earn money (extra money can be earned by destroying non-target, optional enemies) to purchase additional aircraft and special weaponry, a feature that continues with the current Ace CombatAce Combat
Ace Combat is a hybrid arcade-simulation flight action video game series featuring 12 games, published by the Japanese company Namco Bandai Games...
games. The player can choose from several different planes in the game ranging from F-4 Phantoms
F-4 Phantom II
The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II is a tandem two-seat, twin-engined, all-weather, long-range supersonic jet interceptor fighter/fighter-bomber originally developed for the United States Navy by McDonnell Aircraft. It first entered service in 1960 with the U.S. Navy. Proving highly adaptable,...
to Su-27 Flankers
Sukhoi Su-27
The Sukhoi Su-27 is a twin-engine supermanoeuverable fighter aircraft designed by Sukhoi. It was intended as a direct competitor for the large United States fourth generation fighters, with range, heavy armament, sophisticated avionics and high manoeuvrability...
and Stealth aircraft
F-117 Nighthawk
The Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk was a single-seat, twin-engine stealth ground-attack aircraft formerly operated by the United States Air Force . The F-117A's first flight was in 1981, and it achieved initial operating capability status in October 1983...
, albeit painted in a special "Phoenix
Phoenix (mythology)
The phoenix or phenix is a mythical sacred firebird that can be found in the mythologies of the Arabian, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, Chinese, Indian and Phoenicians....
" color scheme. Later in the game, the player can select a wingman to accompany them during a mission, the player can "instruct" the wingman to perform one of three different actions.