Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Legacy
Score: 75% ESRB: Teen Publisher: BANDAI NAMCO Games America, Inc. Developer: Project Aces Media: Cartridge/1 Players: 1 Genre: Action/ Flight
Graphics & Sound: I came to really appreciate how Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Legacy handles the 3DS's 3D feature. Turning up the slider doesn't add any crazy 3D effects; instead, it adds a nice depth of field (perfect for a flight game) and some subtle lift between the game screen and HUD. While I tend to drop the slider most of the time, Assault Horizon Legacy was the first game where I insisted on turning the 3D on at all times. The actual visuals are pretty good. Planes feature a decent amount of details, which really pop out when viewed in 3D mode. The game also uses the series GeoEye imaging technology to map out realistic-looking landscapes. As always, you don't want to get a good look at what is happening on the ground, but it looks great when viewed from above. Audio is actually kind of interesting as well. The voice-overs are mostly throwaway, particularly when you consider how little story content there is, but the soundtrack is massive. Every mission has a different soundtrack. Sometimes you'll hear the epic orchestral tracks the series is known for, while other times you're treated to rock or hip-hop. Fans of the sweeping scores will be disappointed, but I like how each musical piece re-enforced what was happening in the mission.
Gameplay: Although Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Legacy doesn't offer as much variety in missions as Assault Horizon, which included helicopter missions, Assault Horizon Legacy still offers players a lot to do. The game's 23-mission story follows Scarface Squadron. As the squadron's Ace, you'll fly through a series of mostly solo missions as you put down a rebel insurrection. Unlike more recent games in the series, Assault Horizon Legacy is far removed from any real world locations. In fact, the game is incredibly light on story. A talking head issues mission orders, most revolving around shooting down "Rebel Fighters" who spend most of the time talking trash over the radio. The story doesn't exactly inspire you to fight for your cause, but the flying is fun. Sometimes not getting shot down is all the motivation you'll need. Each level offers a slightly different mission type. Most are based around a certain flight skill, but as you push through to later levels, you'll have to constantly delve into your bag of skills to survive. Occasionally, you are presented with branching mission paths, offering some choice. The choices are rarely complex, mostly asking you to prioritize one goal over another, but offer some replay value. A single flythrough lasts anywhere from 6 - 7 hours, though going through to see other choices and unlock new plane parts can double the playtime. Missions are usually short, which is great for a portable title. You can jump into a mission, dogfight a few planes, and complete a goal in a matter of minutes. Assault Horizon Legacy offers no multiplayer, which is a odd omission for a portable title.
Difficulty: Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Legacy is an easy game. Although it doesn't incorporate newer series features like regenerating plane health, it is really hard to incur enough damage that you'll be forced to the ground. I was able to blast through most missions with little difficulty. The times I did have a problem, the solution was usually sitting in the unlock shop. The real challenge in any mission involves snagging a high rank, though you can usually do that on your second or third pass through the level. Multiple plays also means multiple cash rewards. As in any game, you're strapped for cash early on, but by the midpoint you'll usually have enough cash to purchase anything you want. Even with expendable income, its not like you'll really want to purchase much from the shop. Most of the upgrades are useless and make little difference. I ended up spending most of my money on new planes, skipping other accoutrements and add-ons.
Game Mechanics: The dogfighting mechanic is Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Legacy's best feature. The simple act of jumping into a plane and shooting down other planes is a lot of fun. Most of the flight mechanics are pulled from The Sky Crawlers, so the game is very approachable. It's not quite an "arcade" flight experience, nor is it a "sim." Instead, the game sits in that nebulous area between the two. You have to worry about mid-air stalls and other more "realistic" items, but you also have the benefit of one-button evasive maneuvers and lots of reserve missiles. You have access to both defensive and offensive combat maneuvers. Once a missile targets you, a warning is flashed on the screen indicating you need to hit (Y) and slide the circle pad to the left or right to get out of the way. Once again, I have to sing praises for the 3DS's circle control pad. It works great, especially when you have to make high-G turns and quick adjustments to line up a target. Throttle and air brakes are mapped to the shoulder buttons. They work, though having to hold either down for any length of time is straining, though this is more of an issue with the 3DS's design. Evasive maneuvers contribute to the game's lack of difficulty. It is easy to dodge most threats, even when facing opposing Aces. I had a harder time figuring out the offensive system. If you have a plane in your sights for an extended length of time, a meter fills. Once filled, you are supposed to hit a button to pull off some sort of combat trick. Filling the meter was no problem, but the move rarely seemed to work as described. Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Legacy isn't an amazing experience, but it is great for portable fun, especially if you like flight games.
-Starscream, GameVortex Communications AKA Ricky Tucker
Related Links: Game Vortex's Review of Ace Combat: Assault Horizon PlayStation Illustrated's Review of Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Buy Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Legacy on Amazon
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