Coming out of a five-year retirement, Ace Combat 7, the latest installment out of the long-running Aerial combat franchise, is set to take off to PlayStation 4 platforms next year. During the PlayStation Experience Keynote speech, a trailer for Ace Combat 7 was unveiled, which can be seen above.
Not much is known about Ace Combat 7, save for a few details. The game will come included with an optional VR mode, for a true cockpit experience. Additionally, the game will take place in the “StrangeReal” a world that is reflective of actual countries and happening in the real world, but with completely different names, terms, and happenings. For example, the in one of the previous entries, two of the warring countries are Osea and Yuktobonia. Osea is reflective of the United States, and Yuktobonia is reflective of the Russian Federation.
Ace Combat is one of the longest-running franchises for publisher NamcoBandai and the team at Project Aces. Beginning on the PlayStation One as “Air Combat” players take to the skies in one of several real-life aircraft, licensed by real air manufacturers for use in the game. From the F-4 Phantom by McDonnel Douglas Manufacturing to the F-22 Raptor by Lockheed Martin, players take to the skies to defend the United States and her NATO allies against terrorists and armies from around the world. The game’s incredible reception was met with multiple sequels.
On the PlayStation 2, Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies ushered in the next-generation of games featuring some of the most photo-realistic graphics on the system, and a fantastic score. The game had the visual look of a simulator with the action and intensity of an arcade flight game.
While taking place in the StrangeReal, the game would be praised for its story and characters, as well as its set-piece battles. Ace Combat 4 would be succeeded by Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War, and Ace Combat Zero: the Belkan War. In 2006, Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation, would make it’s exclusive debut to the Xbox 360 platform. Several another installment would be released for the PlayStation Portable, Gameboy Advance, and Nintendo DS.
In 2011, Ace Combat: Assault Horizon launched on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Going back to more real-world scenarios, players were thrust into a developing conflict between the US, terrorist cells, and Russian Ultranationalists. With a penned story, sharp graphics, and licensed aircraft, the game focused on an incredibly detailed conflict.
The game featured CQC aerial combat, which allows players to get up close to targets and eviscerate their enemies in bullets and missile fire. However, the trade-off were smaller battles, as opposed to the large scale and long duration of many missions in previous installments. Additionally, the CQC system made battles tremendously easy, requiring minimum input.
While the game performed well and was met with a Nintendo 3DS installment, Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Legacy Plus, players didn’t quite resonate with this departure from series traditions. Since then, Ace Combat Infinity has been a free-to-play installment on PlayStation 3 platforms that has been running for several years.
Ace Combat 7 will be taking off on PlayStation Platforms next year. If you are looking to take to the skies, follow the website located HERE.