Namco is putting a twist in its long-running Ace Combat series. For the first time, you leave the jets behind and get into an attack chopper for several missions in Ace Combat Assault Horizon...
One of the many announcements made by Namco Bandai during its Level Up event in Dubai was the release date of Ace Combat: Assault Horizon, the explosive series reboot for PS3 and Xbox 360. It's flying to North America on October 11, and will be released in Europe on October 14. The European version will also be available in a limited edition bundle (above), with a soundtrack, "exclusive aircraft digital content," and a notebook signed by the development team, all presented in a steelbook case.
Namco Bandai also briefly mentioned Ace Combat 3D, the 3DS flight sim first announced during a Nintendo event in October. No details came up, but at the very least we know the three-dimensional dogfighting game is still in the works -- so keep an air sickness bag handy.
Ace Combat Assault Horizon, the latest game in the dog-fighting franchise, has now got an official release date, announced at Namco Bandai's Level Up event in Dubai - which, coincidentally, is the location for one of Assault Horizon's Airstrike missions...
Ace Combat Assault Horizon, the latest game in the dog-fighting franchise has now got an official release date, announced at the Namco Bandai's Level Up event in Dubai, which coincidentally is the location for one of Assault Horizon's Airstrike missions...
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Namco's venerable Ace Combat series is also getting a once-over—just like Ridge Racer—with Ace Combat: Assault Horizon, which adds a little "Close Range Assault," bringing the camera closer for more intense dogfightin' action. More »
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."
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.
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After yesterday's trailer piqued our curiosity, Namco Bandai delivers more details on Assault Horizon, a game being called a "complete rebirth" for the Ace Combat franchise, or "steel carnage in the sky." More »
