Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Ace Combat: Assault Horizon trailer gets to the choppa!]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/13/ace-combat-assault-horizon-trailer-gets-to-the-choppa/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/13/ace-combat-assault-horizon-trailer-gets-to-the-choppa/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/13/ace-combat-assault-horizon-trailer-gets-to-the-choppa/#comments
This ten-minute Ace Combat: Assault Horizon sees a barrel-rolling whirlybird destroying everything that has a motor or gun. Ace Combat assaults retail on October 11.

JoystiqAce Combat: Assault Horizon trailer gets to the choppa! originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 13 Sep 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ace-combat-assault-horizonmicrosoftNamco-BandaiplaystationProject-Acesps3xboxTue, 13 Sep 2011 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Ace Combat: Assault Horizon represents 'rebirth' for the series, coming 'later this year']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/04/ace-combat-assault-horizon-represents-rebirth-for-the-series/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/04/ace-combat-assault-horizon-represents-rebirth-for-the-series/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/04/ace-combat-assault-horizon-represents-rebirth-for-the-series/#comments
 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."

Hit the jump for a teaser trailer.

Gallery: Ace Combat: Assault Horizon (Ignite 2011)

Continue reading Ace Combat: Assault Horizon represents 'rebirth' for the series, coming 'later this year'

JoystiqAce Combat: Assault Horizon represents 'rebirth' for the series, coming 'later this year' originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 04 Feb 2011 12:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ace-combatace-combat-assault-horizonignite-2011microsoftnamco-bandaiplaystationproject-acesps3xboxFri, 04 Feb 2011 12:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Ace Combat returns to consoles with the plane-wrecking Assault Horizon]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/08/10/ace-combat-returns-to-consoles-with-the-plane-wrecking-assault-h/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/08/10/ace-combat-returns-to-consoles-with-the-plane-wrecking-assault-h/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/08/10/ace-combat-returns-to-consoles-with-the-plane-wrecking-assault-h/#commentsFiled under: , ,

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.

Continue reading Ace Combat returns to consoles with the plane-wrecking Assault Horizon

JoystiqAce Combat returns to consoles with the plane-wrecking Assault Horizon originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 10 Aug 2010 18:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011ace-combatace-combat-assault-horizonair-combatmicrosoftNamco-Bandaiplaystationproject-acesps3xboxTue, 10 Aug 2010 18:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Ace Combat: Joint Assault trailer shows off four-player co-op]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/18/ace-combat-joint-assault-trailer-shows-off-four-player-co-op/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/18/ace-combat-joint-assault-trailer-shows-off-four-player-co-op/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/18/ace-combat-joint-assault-trailer-shows-off-four-player-co-op/#comments It seems almost every PSP game franchise wants to take a page from Monster Hunter Portable (for obvious reasons). Project Ace's upcoming Ace Combat: Joint Assault unsurprisingly adds four player co-op -- but with its aerial combat, it should prove a refreshing change from hunting monsters, eating gods, and peace walking.

While the graphics of Joint Assault have taken an obvious hit from its transition down to PSP, we're impressed by the locales shown by the trailer. It seems dogfights will blaze through the skies of Tokyo, San Francisco, London and Egypt. Hopefully, we'll see more of the game before it releases later this year.

JoystiqAce Combat: Joint Assault trailer shows off four-player co-op originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 18 Feb 2010 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ace-combatace-combat-joint-assaultNamco-Bandaiproject-acesThu, 18 Feb 2010 16:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Sky Crawlers landing in Europe this February]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/19/sky-crawlers-landing-in-europe-this-february/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/19/sky-crawlers-landing-in-europe-this-february/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/19/sky-crawlers-landing-in-europe-this-february/#commentsNamco Bandai declined to publish The Sky Crawlers: Innocent Aces in North America, licensing the game out to XSEED instead. However, the company is handling the game itself for the European release, due in February. The game is a flight action game developed by Ace Combat dev Project Aces, and based on both the novel and the Mamoru Ishii-directed anime film of the same name.

In addition to the game, the movie is planned for a DVD and Blu-Ray release in PAL territories at an unspecified future date ("coming soon"). That seems like a good idea -- licensed games probably work better when people know what the source material is.

Gallery: Sky Crawlers: Innocent Aces


JoystiqSky Crawlers landing in Europe this February originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>europenamco-bandainamco-bandai-europepalproject-acessky-crawlersthe-sky-crawlers-innocent-acesThu, 19 Nov 2009 14:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Hands-on: The Sky Crawlers]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/21/hands-on-the-sky-crawlers/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/21/hands-on-the-sky-crawlers/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/21/hands-on-the-sky-crawlers/#comments
Finally! XSEED is bringing the long-awaited Sky Crawlers to American shores. We've been eying this game for quite some time, and having gotten some hands-on time, we'd have to say it was (almost) worth the wait. Sky Crawlers expands upon the thought-provoking Mamoru Oshii film, exploring a world that perpetuates war for the entertainment (and comfort) of its docile citizens. With Namco's esteemed Ace Combat team at the helm, quality seems assured.

The controls are both the game's strongest and weakest aspect. Project Aces takes advantage of the Wii Remote to simulate the feel of having cockpit controls. The Wii Remote and Nunchuk are meant to represent the throttle and the thrust -- to some success. The idea is certainly innovative, but for those unaccustomed to plane simulators, the learning curve can be quite high. There are, however, some concessions made to make the experience a bit more accommodating for newcomers.

Continue reading Hands-on: The Sky Crawlers

JoystiqHands-on: The Sky Crawlers originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>project-acessky-crawlerssky-crawlers-innocent-acesxseedTue, 21 Jul 2009 14:15:00 EST<![CDATA[XSEED bringing The Sky Crawlers to North American Wiis]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/05/xseed-bringing-the-sky-crawlers-to-north-american-wiis/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/05/xseed-bringing-the-sky-crawlers-to-north-american-wiis/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/05/xseed-bringing-the-sky-crawlers-to-north-american-wiis/#comments
If you have a comprehensive knowledge of Japanese literature or flight combat games that never saw an American release, you probably already know about The Sky Crawlers. We fell in love with Namco-Bandai's book-to-game adaptation when we were teased with tons of gameplay footage last year -- sadly, the game was never visited by the localization fairy, and never made it to the States. Since then, we've been sad all over.

Fortunately, a recent XSEED press release has turned our melancholy into melan-jolly (ugh) -- the capitalized company has purchased the North American publishing rights for The Sky Crawlers: Innocent Aces, due out this holiday season on the Wii. The game, which was developed by Ace Combat veterans Project Aces, will have players using the Wiimote and Nunchuck to simulate actual flight controls. It's a bit overdue, but we're thrilled about the Americanization of this aeronautical gem nonetheless.

Gallery: Sky Crawlers: Innocent Aces

JoystiqXSEED bringing The Sky Crawlers to North American Wiis originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 05 Jul 2009 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>flightlocalizationnamco-bandaiNintendoproject-acessky-crawlersthe-sky-crawlers-innocent-acesWiiXSEEDSun, 05 Jul 2009 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Sky Crawlers come creeping back]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/01/the-sky-crawlers-come-creeping-back/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/01/the-sky-crawlers-come-creeping-back/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/01/the-sky-crawlers-come-creeping-back/#commentsFiled under:



It's been some time since we've seen anything from The Sky Crawlers, but guess what? It's still drop-dead gorgeous, though that's not particularly surprising, considering the source. There may be hope for the film -- and thus the game -- for Western audiences, too, as the film of the same name is being screened at the Venice Film Festival this week, and is sharing the spotlight (and a lot of fanfare) with Hayao Miyazaki's latest. So cross those fingers, and in the meantime, check out the lush new screens. You'll be glad you did.

JoystiqThe Sky Crawlers come creeping back originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 01 Sep 2008 16:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>flight-simulatormamoru-oshiinamco-bandaiproject-acessky-crawlersvenice-film-festivalMon, 01 Sep 2008 16:55:00 EST