Got Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War recently and played it up to the last couple of missions. Much like with all other Ace games there is a tunnel run type scenario AGAIN, but the last battle after that annoying one is over is a one on one air fight that is very obnoxious and, like with all other Ace games, I get so frustrated I never actually beat it, I just play up to the end and restart. It brings back some of my favorite features from 4 and 5, and the melodrama isn't quite as thick but it's still there. The cutscenes and interviews however are beautiful and very realistic.
Also when playing you can choose En/Sub and No Sub (no Japanese version this time, but it doesn't really suffer for it), choose the sub, because during some of the noisy battle scenes when your missile alert it going off non-stop and your trying to dodge missiles, you will likely miss some of the story going on as the NPCs talk to each other. Even then, reading the text while your trying to keep six Belkan aces off your ass is also difficult.
My only other gripe is the plane selection and how you receive your aircraft. You have access to two of the games best aircraft very early on (just not the funds to buy them yet) that by the time you get some slightly better aircraft like the F-15 and Su-27, you can already afford aircraft like the Gripen, Typhoon, and Su-37 Terminator.
But one thing I really liked was this time you have a choice of three beginning aircraft, all outmoded by modern standards but still better than predecessors - the out-dated Japanese F-1 light attack aircraft (good for those early ground attack missions), the F-5 II Tiger (ever the earliest or one of the earliest jets in an Ace game), and the best beginning craft, the J35 Drachen, that wonderfully eclectic looking Saab built jet with its double delta wings. One of the most attractive jets around in my opinion.
My over all rating - 8/10. It's fun, but aggravating at times, and you keep playing until you get to hear what every fallen ace that gets interviewed has to say about you, and it all depends on how honorable you have been in battle - the scale ranges from Mercenary to Soldier to Knight.
