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Report: Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Legacy Plus flies to 3DS
In the latest issue of Famitsu (courtesy Gematsu translation), publisher Bandai Namco reveals that an updated version of its 2012 dogfighting action game Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Legacy is currently in development for the Nintendo 3DS handheld. Dubbed Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Legacy Plus, this enhanced reissue boasts improved controls, support for the improved 3D functionality of the upcoming Nintendo 3DS models and new planes modeled after famous Nintendo icons. Famitsu claims Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Legacy Plus will reach Japanese retail shelves on January 29, 2015. It will feature a price point of 4,740 yen (about $42). There's currently no word on a Western release for Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Legacy Plus, but series history suggests we'll see the game in North America shortly after its Japanese debut. [Image: Bandai Namco]
Ace Combat Infinity boarding PS3s on May 27
Bandai Namco's free aerial fighter Ace Combat Infinity is set to lift off on May 27 for PS3. The next entry in the long-running Ace Combat series was first announced last year in July, and was listed as the first free-to-play game in the series one month later. The game includes a single-player campaign as well as cooperative and competitive multiplayer, and Bandai Namco plans to add a player-vs-player mode following the game's launch. The PS3 exclusive takes place on an alternate-reality Earth in which global authorities construct massive guns to save the planet from incoming debris caused by the destruction of a moon orbiting Jupiter. Ace Combat Infinity was originally due to land in 2013, but its flight suffered delays in December. The game entered open beta for one week in February. [Image: Bandai Namco]
Ace Combat: Assault Horizon will let you create a pink jet
Straight out of TGS, the video above and the screens below will give you a good look at what's in store for next month's Ace Combat: Assault Horizon, including some really "fly" aerial online combat ... and a pretty pink jet fighter (with pink missile smoke!). We've got new 3DS screens in here, too.
Ace Combat: Assault Horizon represents 'rebirth' for the series, coming 'later this year'
Ace Combat: Assault Horizon is not Ace Combat 7. In a lot of ways, it isn't an Ace Combat game -- outside of the branding and the fact that it's got planes, it's unrecognizable from its predecessors. AC: Assault Horizon is a more visceral game, doing away with the open-air, long-distance dogfighting of the series' roots and exchanging them for closer encounters and more environmental interaction. Executive director and producer Kazutoki Kono describes the game as "a complete rebirth of the franchise" and it's immediately evident in the brief bit of gameplay Kono showed off at Namco's Ignite 2011 event in San Francisco. Dogfights are a lot closer now, with the camera zooming in over the shoulder of the player's plane to give them a better look at their target. Because of this new system (aptly titled the "Close Range Assault System"), the game's combat has shifted away from an emphasis on missile locking in exchange for a more machine gun-heavy scheme, making for some jarring combat -- planes erode and explode under fire in a fantastic display of shrapnel fireworks. Flying around a metropolis, Kuno was not only destroying planes, but flying between buildings and a massive crane at the center of this seaside city. The game takes place in 2015 in Africa, where a new type of WMD threatens the world. Players will assume the role of William Bishop, whose job it is to stop the impending mass destruction -- though Kuno promised players will also see events unfold through the perspectives of other characters. AC: Assault Horizon will feature real-world locales and is set to launch on the Xbox 360 and PS3 "later this year." Hit the jump for a teaser trailer. %Gallery-115711%
New Ace Combat, Double Pen Sports in development for 3DS
During the Nintendo Conference, Namco Bandai announced to press that it's working on a new Ace Combat title for 3DS, tentatively named Ace Combat 3D. 4Gamer's brief description of the game mentions battling over detailed ravines and town areas in 3D. The other new game announced by Namco is Double Pen Sports, which appears to (somehow) require the use two styli on the bottom screen to control archery, soccer and more. Of course, the actions also appear to be divided into two steps, suggesting they could be done consecutively (with one stylus). Namco Bandai's Taiko Drum Master series on the regular DS uses two styli, so this wouldn't be the first time the publisher used the "double pen" gimmick.
Ace Combat: Assault Horizon and Joint Assault media does a flyby
We've made sure that you don't need to fly to Germany to land a look at the latest screens from Ace Combat: Assault Horizon for PS3 and 360, or a video of the newest PSP entry in the series, Ace Combat: Joint Assault, which touches down at US retail on August 31. (We didn't actually fly there for them -- but it's the thought that counts, right?) As expected, the shots from the console game are almost all of planes getting torn to holy hell by other planes' cannons, while its portable sibling is seen on video after the break looking like a PS2 game (that's a compliment) and not like something that will make your knees and elbows ache. Aircraft puns and arthritis jokes -- what will we do next?%Gallery-99737%
Ace Combat returns to consoles with the plane-wrecking Assault Horizon
Namco Bandai's latest Ace Combat game, headed to PS3 and Xbox 360 next year, adds something new to the formula that's sure to please people who really hate airplanes. According to the press release, Ace Combat Assault Horizon "intensifies the franchise, escalating combat to the next level with aircraft that are literally torn apart, spewing oil and debris across the sky." This game represents a "rebirth of our premiere franchise," said Project Aces producer Kazutoki Kono. What better way to bring it back than with airplane mutilation? The trailer (after the break) also makes references to real-world locations like Miami, and cites GeoEye map data, suggesting that this game is following the flight path set forth by the PSP's Joint Assault. Also, there's a shoutout to Namco Bandai's Twitter account for some reason.
Ace Combat: Joint Assault trailer shows off four-player co-op
It seems almost every PSP game franchise wants to take a page from Monster Hunter Portable (for obvious reasons). Project Ace's upcoming Ace Combat: Joint Assault unsurprisingly adds four player co-op -- but with its aerial combat, it should prove a refreshing change from hunting monsters, eating gods, and peace walking. While the graphics of Joint Assault have taken an obvious hit from its transition down to PSP, we're impressed by the locales shown by the trailer. It seems dogfights will blaze through the skies of Tokyo, San Francisco, London and Egypt. Hopefully, we'll see more of the game before it releases later this year.
Ace Combat: Joint Assault for PSP brings Ace Combat into the real world
Recently, a Namco Bandai trademark for "Joint Assault" was discovered, but the identity of the project using that title was unknown. We didn't have to wait long to find out, as Namco just announced Ace Combat: Joint Assault, a new release in its flight action series for PSP. Joint Assault features four-player co-op (playable online through adhocParty), new AI, and some kind of new "Enhanced Combat View" which, according to IGN, is designed to "bring the fighting up close and personal to take things away from the RADAR-heavy battles." Adding to the "enhancement" of the "view" is the fact that missions will now take place over real-life cities instead of the fictionalized nations in which the (ace) combat usually occurs. Joint Assault will be released this summer in Asia and EMEA territories, and "this year" in North America. %Gallery-82930%
Namco launches iPhone Ace Combat Xi, updates Garters & Ghouls with 3GS compass
click to take off into the galleryNamco announced two notable iPhone launches today. Garters & Ghouls, its 19th-century twin stick zombie shooter, has been updated with iPhone 3GS compass functionality -- the first game, Namco Networks claims, to make use of the feature. Now, physically moving and rotating the phone to face different directions will help locate powerups in the game. The update is free for those who already have the game, and will be included in new downloads of the $4.99 title. The other new release: Ace Combat Xi: Skies of Incursion, which brings the long-lived flight franchise to iPhone. We found that the controls worked just fine during our brief look at the game at TGS, but have yet to delve into the full game. It's featured at a $4.99 sale price for its first five days. Garters & Ghouls ($4.99) Ace Combat Xi ($4.99) %Gallery-79540%
Japan getting Lost Planet / Ace Combat 6 Xbox bundle
Seems like everyone has to get in on the Elite bundle action these days. Game Watch reports that a new Xbox 360 Elite bundle is headed to Japan, with both Lost Planet: Colonies and Ace Combat 6 baked right in. it also comes packed with the normal Elite goodies -- headset, wireless controller and (incredibly flexible) composite cables. Unfortunately, the bundle fails to meet super Elite status, as it contains only a paltry 120GB hard drive. Still, at ¥29,980 (~$330), it's not a bad deal. The bundle goes on sale in Japan starting October 29.
TGS 2009: Hands-on: Ace Combat Xi
One of the few iPhone games I've seen at TGS is Namco Bandai's new Ace Combat Xi, which uses the iPhone's tilt controls to simulate flying a fighter jet. Of the two available control schemes, I went with the "easy" one, mostly so I wouldn't fail and embarrass myself in front of the nice people at the Banamco booth. I'm not sure what the more advanced mode adds. And it is easy to control! After a few seconds of severely oversteering (and severely approaching a big old mountain), I got the hang of gently tilting the iPhone to control my flight. A little icon on the left of the screen controls throttle -- oddly, requiring constant taps to increase speed, despite throttle not really working that way. Weapons are fired with icons on the right of the screen. The demo level I played was a simple enough matter of keeping enemy fighters (who were very far away and therefore tiny on the screen) in target lock until the icon turned red, then tapping the "missile" icon and watching them explode. For a bite-sized Ace Combat experience, that seems like enough. The graphical presentation is somewhere in the early PS2 era, which is to say very impressive for an iPhone experience. I went through about ten enemy planes before my brief three-minute demo elapsed. Ace Combat Xi should be in the App Store sometime this winter. [Image credit]
Japanese company recruiting for 'PS3 flight action game'
Ace Combat has always been a PlayStation series. Well, except for that last game, Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation, an Xbox 360 exclusive. Many have wondered why the PS3 hasn't seen its own Ace Combat game yet -- could Namco Bandai be working on one now?A Japanese job listing is searching for a PS3 artist experienced in MAYA. This person will be responsible for creating the textures and models of jet fighters. The hiring company is not named, but the address listed is in the same area as many of Namco Bandai's Shinagawa offices.We're hopeful that Namco Bandai will bring the Ace Combat series back to PlayStation fans. If not, then PS3 owners can -- at the very least -- take comfort in knowing that some Japanese company is making a "flight action game" for our system.[Thanks, KATSU! Via PS3 FAN]%Gallery-5024%
Ace Combat series soars past 10 million copies sold
While Namco Bandai's big news yesterday came with weapons in hand, the company also let slip that its long-running arcade-style aerial combat series, Ace Combat, has surpassed more than 10 million units sold worldwide, with the franchise's fifth offspring, The Unsung War, contributing more than a million to that total in North America alone. The series first took to the skies in 1995 with Air Combat for the original PlayStation, and has since enjoyed the company of eight additional sequels and spin-offs on multiple platforms, from the PS2 and PSP, to even 2005's Ace Combat Advance for the GBA, with the visually stunning Ace Combat 6 for the Xbox 360 reminding us all that we feel the need ... the need for speed.
Sky Crawlers screens soar past our expectations
We have one word to describe Sky Crawlers: Gorgeous. Yes, looks aren't everything, but we're too busy mopping up our own drool to care about such technicalities. Also, since the game is being made by the same people behind Ace Combat, we're going to bet that the gameplay in this will be just fine. At the very least, the controls sound solid. Simply enough, you move your plane around with the Nunchuck, and then point and shoot with the Wiimote. The best shots of the game are in our gallery (below), but some more Famitsu screens are posted after the break. So, click away if you're looking for some nice Wii eye-candy.*Note: The pictures look best when viewed in their full resolution, so make sure to click here to see them in their glory. If you prefer, you can also click on the "Hi Res" button in the gallery.%Gallery-18921%
Rumor: Ace Combat 6 returns to PS3
It was a tad controversial when Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation was announced as an Xbox 360 exclusive. After all, Namco Bandai's Ace Combat series had cut its teeth on Sony's consoles for years. Now, however, the title might return to familiar territory, as UK-based PSM3 Magazine is reporting on the development of Ace Combat 6 on PS3. According to a brief blurb in the magazine, Ace Combat 6 is scheduled for release later this year, and will feature online co-op. The blurb also mentions that the title will include its own custom controller (clearly referring to the Ace-Edge flight sticks that were released alongside the 360 version). With no official word from Namco Bandai on the topic, we're hesitant to believe this one just yet, although breaking exclusivity agreements is certainly not unheard of in this industry. [Via PS3 Fanboy]
Ace Combat 6 DLC flies in on Wednesday
According to the guys over at 1UP, Namco will be releasing new Ace Combat 6 downloadable content to the Marketplace this Wednesday. The DLC will be five separate fighter planes (Su-33 Flanker, F16C, Mirage 2000-5, A-10A and a A-18F) each costing an unannounced amount of Microsoft points with one being a free download. Though, we're not exactly sure which jet will be offered for free. But no matter, new fighter jets are inbound this Wednesday, so try and ration your weekly allotment of jet fuel and stock up on snack cakes.[Thanks, Jonah Falcon]
Ace Combat 6 and Beautiful Katamari go gold
Earlier today, Namco-Bandai made the announcement that both Beautiful Katamari and Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation have wrapped up development, went gold and are on track to make their respective release dates. Beautiful Katamari will be available on October 16th for the very beautiful price of $39.99 and Ace Combat 6 will be on retail shelves October 23rd for $59.99 or $149.99 for the flight stick collector's bundle. W00t, w00t!So, as we see it, these two games coupled with Orange Box, Virtua Fighter 5, Guitar Hero III and Jericho (just to name a select few) should leave Xbox 360 gamers with quite the busy and expensive October. Happy Halloween gaming everyone!Read - Beautiful Katamari goes goldRead - Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation goes gold
Hori Ace Combat joystick for Xbox 360 on display
Blink and you might have missed it: at Tokyo Game Show Microsoft is showing off the Hori Ace Combat joysticks that were announced a couple of months ago for the Xbox 360. They still aren't available until November 1st overseas (and who knows when the US will get 'em), but there's nothing that manages to excite us like glass-encased $150 video game flight sticks that use old school parallel connections. Sign us up!%Gallery-7688%
Joystiq checks out Ace Combat 6
Joystiq got a chance to try out Ace Combat 6 at E3 last week, and they came away impressed. Of particular note are the game's incredible graphics. According to Joystiq, the earth below is damned near photo-realistic. Even individual buildings are actually rendered. Furthermore, the gameplay proves to be intense, with midair skirmishes occurring all throughout the open skies. Ground and naval combat come into play as well, and players have some control over that as well, being able to command allies to target certain enemies. Yup, not much bad to say about Ace Combat 6 at all. Check out the game's jaw dropping graphics in the gallery below. Better yet, check out the demo on Xbox Live. %Gallery-5045%
