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Ace Combat: Squadron Leader Review - PS2

Ask anyone to name the first combat flight simulator that comes to mind and they'll most likely blurt out Ace Combat. The long-running series developed by Namco, which began on the PlayStation and is now making use of the PlayStation 2's capabilities, has gathered pools of fans in its wake. And now, the latest game in the series, entitled Ace Combat: Squadron Leader, has landed. Fortunately, Namco still hasn't taken a wrong turn; rather, it's delivered yet another brilliant game that'll - even after playing countless other games in the series - leave fans begging for more.

Ace Combat: Squadron Leader sees a war between two provinces, Osea and Yuktobania, erupt. You begin the game as a rookie, taking orders from the squadron's leader during the first couple of missions, but after he disappears abruptly and leaving no trace following a successful mission, you're thrown into command - which, of course, you could've guessed would happen considering the game's subtitle. Cleverly, the game manages to update and propel the storyline in between missions through great-looking full-motion videos, handling even details such as character development fairly well.

While the game's twenty-five or so missions are wholeheartedly very enjoyable, they don't contain too much originality; your objectives will require you to carry out the usual tasks such as escorting aircraft and ships, destroying enemy weapon emplacements, overcoming ambushes and the like. While this isn't necessarily a problem, it would've been nice if the mission objectives featured a bit more innovation. On another note, following each mission is a great replay, during which you can select from a number of camera angles and switch between squadron members as the action unfolds. It's a nice addition to the game and works well, keeping track of the action and presenting impressive, movie-like sequences as you watch from the sideline.

What I did find original and innovative, though, was the level of interaction and general chatter between all pilots and captains in the field. Not a few seconds have the chance to pass during any one mission without one of your three squad members, your commander, any allies that you're escorting or even the enemy sending a few words through your earpiece - and they're not the standard one-liners, either; almost every sentence relates to the mission objective or current events. Even more impressive is the fact that during almost every mission someone in the field you'll often be asked questions, which you have the option of answering yes or no to using the Left and Right buttons on the D-Pad. While whether you select yes or no isn't terribly important, both options usually resulting in a witty response by your comrade, on the odd occasion your decision may be critical to the mission; when your squad sees an opportunity, they'll ask you whether or not you'll agree to allow them to disperse, attack the enemy or cover you. I found these two features incredibly beneficial to the game; not once will you ... (continued next page)