28 - Sky Odyssey (PS2)

Genre: Flight sim
Rating: E
Developer: CAProduction
Publisher: Activision
Platform: PS2
Release date: 2000

I don't know why I have so many simulation games that I barely know anything about. I don't have any particular interest in flying or planes but here's another game based around it. Unlike more action oriented games such as Ace Combat this game is one based upon adventuring.

In the game you're given the option to play through the adventuring story mode, practice, or just fly freely around. I went with adventure mode because that was what I assumed to be the meat of the game. At first it seemed really boring but quickly picked up.

You're flying in precarious places by cliff sides and between them. Sometimes there will be rock slides that spontaneously occur and you have to maneuver out of the way or else you're in big trouble. You also need to keep an eye on the random plane stats on the side of the screen or else your craft might stall in midair. Mine did, but somehow miraculously un-stalled before I went crashing to my death.

Speaking of which, I managed to fly through the level, hitting the magical circles in the air that they wanted you to nail. It was at the very end of the flight that I finally saw the landing strip down below me. I quickly descended and tried to get on their as slow as possible. However, what ended up happening was that I slammed down onto the strip and it was game over. I saved a replay and hope to upload that to Youtube sometime.

Would I play again? No.

2 - Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies

Genre: Flight simulator

Rating: E

Developer: Namco

Publisher: Namco

System: PS2

Release date: 2001

Believe it or not I've never played an Ace Combat game. I've never been especially enamored with flight sims. I'm much more of a mech kind of guy. Regardless, it seems like a very cool set of games and this was my first flight. 

It's not an easy game. I'm sure it's nothing compared to the massive setups that some hardcore flight sim players set up and use but I still didn't really know what to do. For the life of me I couldn't figure out how to do a flip or turn faster to get where I needed to go. The planes controlled as well as they possibly could under my novice piloting. 

For the initial mission I spent a long time trying to figure out how to speed up. Once I finally did I still heard my teammates asking for help that I was wholly unable to provide. After my horrible piloting I was eventually able to take down enemies with guided missiles (thank goodness!) I crash landed in the mountains and received a Mission Fail screen despite the fact that my teammates were congratulating me on a job well done already. 

It was a very pretty looking game in regards to the planes and I could tell there was a lot of work put into it. Star Fox is really the only type of game in this style that I've ever had my hands on and in comparison feels like Super Smash Bros. vs Street Fighter. If I could figure out how to do those very basic maneuvers I was lacking in my initial play through then the game would probably become entirely more playable to me. 

Would I play again? Maybe.