The moment those Famitsu scans of Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation hit QJ, yours truly, a veteran of the North Point Coup, the Electrosphere conflict, the Usean Continental War, the Circum-Pacific War, the Belkan War, and the Aurelian-Leasath War, did something he didn't even do after reviewing Resistance: Fall of Man. He fainted.

It took a little knock-knock from Galm Squadron wingman Larry "Pixy" Foulke to bring me around. "Yo, buddy, still alive?" he asked after rapping my head a few times. Yes, Pixy, you old SOB. Very much alive.

Which is primarily the theme of this Weekend Slowdown. Ace Combat fans ejected out of their cockpits upon hearing that the beloved Sony staple would hit Microsoft's console - and a new front in the console fanboy wars opened up. Said front in said war being a sad mistake.

I'm about to argue that there is no greater "MS steal your precious, Sony" significance to Fires of Liberation. Rather, after much thinking about it, it is the natural consequence of the observed historical pattern of development that Ace Combat took, from its first days in the PSOne, and that it can actually mean great things for BOTH the PS3 and Xbox 360.

So please fasten your seatbelts, raise your trays in the upright position, and stop eyeing that Keira Knightley dead-ringer flight attendant, because you ain't got a chance with her. This is your captain speaking, and no matter what the fanboys may say, it's going to be a smooth flight from takeoff to landing.

This is your captain speaking. Because this is a trans-Pacific flight from Narita to LAX, your in-flight entertainment is too long to fit in a short featurette. Instead, QJ Air invites you to learn more at the full article. Also, in the event of an in-flight emergency, a certain someone can be used as a flotation device, 'cause he's full of hot air.

With the European and Australian launches of Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception, the game developed and published by Namco has conquered the skies. It was released late in October in the US and Japan.

The game is the eighth (and hopefully not the last) installment in the popular Ace Combat series, but it's the first (and hopefully not the last) for Ace Combat game for the PSP.

The game is set in a fictional world, where you, as a member of Gryphus Squadron, control one of the last few planes left in the decimated air force of the peaceful nation of Aurelia (you know, for a peaceful nation, Aurelia has a lot of military hardware). Aurelia has been occupied by the military might of the neighboring country of Leasath. Now only you and your small group stand between defeat and freedom [insert dramatic music].

The game is realistic, but isn't really realistic because there are some planes with dozens and dozens (and dozens more) of missiles and there's no limit on afterburner use. In the game, you'll encounter dozens of different kinds of aircraft; some of them were made-up for the game by Namco.

Fast-paced. High-flying. Amazing technology. Better than the real thing? As long as you're a teenager or older (and can handle the mild violence of air combat and mild language and references to alcoholic drinks), you can get this ESRB Rated T game at the recommended selling price of about 40 US bucks.

Good morning pilots. Today we're going to take you on a quick pre-flight briefing of the first three missions for Namco Bandai's Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception, courtesy of Famitsu. Based on our best understanding of Japanese (and web translations), we present to you this briefing:

With Aurelian forces all but decimated by the surprise attack from Leasath, you must lead Gryphus Squadron on an air strike and intercept an enemy force, in the process disrupting Leasath plans to attack the last surviving military base in the area - your own.

Succeed in this mission, and you will next be deployed to support a commando raid on a Leasath supply depot and replenish some badly-needed supplies. The Famitsu article suggests that the base has an important strategic value. We interpret this to mean strategically-important objectives that will have an impact on later events.

In the third mission, you get to turn the tables on your Leasath aggressors. This time you attack an enemy resupply mission, in a prelude to an operation to capture the important stronghold of Patterson Port. All three missions, if you've noticed, are air-surface missions, requiring you to employ both air combat and ground/sea strike skills.

And beyond this? It's the game's call, thanks to ACX's Strategic AI system! As we've discussed before, your actions in previous missions - like the first three described above - will decide which mission paths and enemies you will face later on.

In the Famitsu preview (as best as we can understand), your next mission could be to help isolated allies, or to face off against the aerial fortress... Wikipedia calls it Glepnir, IGN calls it Grapenill. We call it bad, bad news. Quick, Famitsu, how do we get the help-the-allies mission?

Pre-order: [Ace Combat X]

With just a few days left before its U.S. release, we're back with even more screens to add to your already built-up anticipation for Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception.

Skies of Deception is the first PSP title from Namco's flight simulation series, and based on your response to our previous articles, we can tell that this is really one of the games that you can't wait to get your hands on. Can't really blame you there, what with the detailed jet models, options for fine tuning, jet customization, and an original storyline, heck it might just be even better than flying a real jet!

Also, with the Strategic AI System and the multiplayer mode for up to four players, we just keep finding more and more reasons to make this game's sales figures skyrocket when its released on October 17th. You know what, why don't we just bring you the stuff that you came here for in the first place, eh? Whaddya think? Alright then, on to the screens!

Buy: [Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception]

 

More screens await after the jump!

 

As a part of Namco Bandai's current campaign to keep the gaming community as updated as possible about their games, they have released new info about Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception for the PSP, including new game features and a bunch of other stuff (including screens) that PSP users can look forward to in the game. Let us go through them as quick as we can.

Medal System - the same system introduced in ACE2 and carried over to ACE5 and ZERO will again be making an appearance in ACE-X. How it works: every time a pilot fulfills specific game conditions, he/she will receive a medal to recognize this achievement. Such conditions/achievements include surpassing the target number of enemies brought down and providing damage control for a mission. There are 36 obtainable medals all in all, and will also be available in multiplayer mode.

Free Mission Mode - allows you to replay completed missions, enabling you to challenge yourself to gain a higher score or finish a mission in a shorter time. The points earned in a free mission are usable in Campaign Mode, making it easier for players to save up and buy a plane. The details of the mission and its conditions are also customizable, you can strengthen enemy weapons or have the enemy's reserves appear, etc.

Color Variation - ACE-X wouldn't give justice to the ACE series if it didn't have the color customizing options that the series is known for, so for ACE-X, Namco will also allow players to choose between four types of color options on all planes, from the camouflage design to the more eye-catching colors.

More screens and game details await in the full article version.

IGN took Namco Bandai's Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception into the skies for a check-ride during TGS 2006, and based on their hands-on, they must have been smiling when they got back to the ground. The TGS demo had more polished visuals than the prior builds they've seen and played with before (including the E3), and featured some new content and refined gameplay mechanics.

The TGS demo had three modes of play available: Campaign (featuring three missions), Free Play, and Multiplayer. As with all the console Ace Combat games, each mission starts out with a briefing video, then you're taken to the hangar to select your winged steed. IGN says that it still remains to be seen how many and which aircraft will make it to ACX's final hangar list, but we can expect to see the classics like the "F-teen" American fighters (e.g., F-14), the Su-27 family of aircraft, and of course, the superplanes.

Controls should also be familiar to any Ace Combat vet: analog controls pitch and roll, shoulder buttons control throttle, and the face buttons control weapons and targeting. Combat in X should also be familiar to anyone who's played a flight sim or arcade flight shooter - air-to-air, air-to-ground, escort, and so forth - but if the past Ace Combat games are an indicator (and they are), expect to see a few surprises thrown into the mix.

Finally, if you've noticed from the first trailer we've posted, the storytelling returns to a more anime-influenced style closer to that seen in the PS2's Ace Combat 5 (which is what IGN says; based on what he's seen in the trailer, this veteran says it's more Ace Combat 04). Ace Combat X touches down in retail September 30 in Japan, and October 17 in the US.

Buy: [Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception]

In the high concept horror-thriller feature film "Snakes on a Plane", Troy McDaniel (played by Keenan Thompson) was able to land the snake infested plane thanks to 2,000 hours of playing a PlayStation 2 flight simulator. We don't really know if that's possible, but that's one reason to tell your folks for marathon playing of Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception on your PSP.

Namco Bandai promises to deliver an authentic flying experience with Ace Combat X plus detailed jet models, a new storyline told through CG and plenty of real world jets. In this flight simulation game, you get to play pilot in the Gryphus Squadron of the Federal Republic of Aurelia. Your mission is to defend a country under invasion in airborne battles. And in case you do find yourself on a plane with killer snakes, your Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception might come handy, too.

Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception takes pride in its pretty planes, right? Well, GameWatch says that more than just providing planes, the game will also be giving you a chance to repaint planes. You can choose from the usual paint job or two different camouflage paints, or a swanky blue and pink sakura paint. Developers of the game haven't given conditions as to how you can get your planes painted, but that's a cool option if you want to easily notice which one, among all of the planes, is really your own flyer.

Some familiar planes will be back for us to play with. The F-35 Lighting II and the YF-23A Black Widow II can be flown during the game. The F-35 is a stable carrier plane while the Black Widow is capable to fly as high up in the stratosphere. The black widow is a plane that will be available only to specific missions. Small missions such as refueling, taking off, and landing at desert runways and air craft carriers will also be available in the game.

Locations in the game have also been announced. Terminus Island is a location found in an icy location wherein a large oil reserve is found underground. Santa Elva is a bustling city situated near a big river, while in the deep ends of the forests, the largest Aurelia base, Sachana Air Base, is planning for their next mission. These three places are quite difficult to maneuver in, with steep mountain peaks, tall buildings and the thick forests, however, nothing is impossible for an Ace Combat X pilot, is it?

More screens after the jump!

After a pretty boring Summer in relation to PSP UMD game releases, it appears that PSP gamers are in for a treat this fall. Developers are making it up to us with the release of loads of great PSP games that you'll just have to buy. I hope you've been saving up your cash over summer. Here's the enormous list in alphabetical order:

• Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception - October 17 2006
  
• ATV Offroad Fury Pro - October 17 2006
  
• Bounty Hounds - September 12 2006
  
• Death Jr 2: Root of Evil - October 31 2006
  
• EA Replay - November 7 2006
• Gangs of London - September 2006
  
• Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories- October 16 2006
  
• Justice League Heroes - October 17 2006
  
• Killzone: Liberation - October 31 2006
  
• Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trio logy - September 12 2006
• Loco Roco - September 5 2006
• Lumines 2 - November 7 2006
• Marvel: Ultimate Alliance - October 24 2006
• Medal of Honor Heroes - October 23 2006
• Mercury Meltdown - October 3 2006
• Metal Slug Anthology - October 31 2006
• Scarface: Money.Power.Respect - October 6 2006
• WTF: Work Time Fun - September 26 2006
• WWE Smackdown Vs Raw 2007 - November 14 2006

Have a great Fall and don't forget to check back with QJ.net for all the latest news on these games.

 

Bandai Namco really loves its fans! First, they have the trailer to Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception. And then, they also added two new planes for players to dream about (Ace Combat fans are definitely having a riot right now, just rallying in anticipation for this lovely game). The planes are lovelier than ever and you can customize them (bet you fans just can't wait to get yourself inside that cockpit).

Let's begin with the trailer for Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception. The planes look lovelier now that we see more of the planes in motion. I don't know if some of the scenes here are actual real time combat or simply an FMV, but from the looks of it, attack formations will also be handled by the game. Again, the story stresses the never-ending battle that the soldiers of Ace Combat X face. They also begin to question who they trust in the service.

Two new planes have also been announced by Bandai Namco for Ace Combat X. These are the Gripen C and the Rafale M. The Gripen C is a more stable low-cost plane that has good upkeep. I'm not sure if this is your starter plane or if it will be like the Fregata or the Cariburn. The Gripen is great for reconnaissance and is effective in combat. It is named after the great beast Griffin. The second plane is the Rafale M. It is a well balanced carrier plane, designed to have great stability with it's heavy body. This plane is great for ground attacks.