Ace Combat Assault Horizon

Ace Combat: Assault Horizon brings the acclaimed series to a lower entry level with easier controls and real locations. Its cinematic flare helps deliver an experience worth playing.

60%Game Brain Score

story, gameplay

grinding, stability

49% User Score Based on 1,697 reviews

Critic Score 83%Based on 4 reviews

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About

Ace Combat Assault Horizon is a single player and multiplayer arcade shooter game with a warfare theme. It was developed by NAMCO and was released on January 25, 2013. It received positive reviews from critics and neutral reviews from players.

Ace Combat: Assault Horizon is the 14th game in the combat flight simulation series, taking place in a real-world setting with a different timeline. Players join Task Force 108, led by William Bishop, in a single-player campaign to stop the threat from Russian rebels, including Andrei Markov. The game also offers a multi-player mode for even more aerial combat action.

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49%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,697 reviews

story179 positive mentions

grinding29 negative mentions

The game features stunning graphics and detailed aircraft models.
The fast-paced action and cinematic dogfighting moments can be thrilling.
The variety of aircraft, including helicopters and bombers, adds some unique gameplay elements.

The mandatory Dogfight Mode (DFM) takes away player control and feels overly scripted.
The story is generic and lacks the depth and engagement of previous Ace Combat titles.
Helicopter missions and turret sections are tedious and detract from the overall experience.

story
1,022 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
69%
13%
The story of "Ace Combat: Assault Horizon" has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it generic and clichéd, often likening it to a typical "America vs. Russia" narrative. While some appreciate the attempt to introduce real-world elements and varied mission types, including helicopter and bomber segments, others criticize the lack of depth and engaging characters, feeling it detracts from the series' traditional storytelling charm. Overall, the campaign is seen as a departure from the more imaginative plots of previous titles, leaving many fans disappointed.
- “If you love the Ace Combat storylines, you will love this game.”
- “The story is fine and the graphics are amazing.”
- “The game presents an impressive level of detail on a macro, mid, and micro scale as you soar through the sky, run low altitude helicopter missions, and listen in on first person cutscenes presented in real time.”
- “The story is w@nk, but get a few drinks down you and you'll be alright!”
- “With bland characters, poorly written story, a terrible dog fighting mechanic, an overly long intro, terrible non-playable sections to kill with boredom, feels like a cheap knockoff of the worst chunks of BF3... do not start the series with this one.”
- “The story is so bad it hurts and since I said the gameplay lacks then the conclusion is that this is not really worth playing.”
gameplay
380 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
67%
16%
The gameplay of this title has received mixed reviews, with many players expressing disappointment over the introduction of the dogfight mode, which simplifies combat and often feels scripted or on-rails, detracting from the series' traditional freeform gameplay. While some appreciate the new mechanics and variety of missions, including helicopter and gunship gameplay, others find the overall experience repetitive and lacking the depth of previous entries in the Ace Combat series. Overall, the game is seen as a departure from the franchise's roots, appealing more to casual players than long-time fans.
- “The chance camera you get when engaging specific targets allows for basically seamless cutscenes mid-mission and keeps the gameplay fluid. The fact you can try out helicopters too gives you a nice break from the typical style of combat you see in the game series.”
- “Great gameplay and plot, strongly recommend.”
- “The gameplay is good and the levels are varied enough to interest the player.”
- “The dogfight mode mechanic really dumbs down the gameplay, and all the game turns into is you going behind one plane after another, going into dogfight mode, pressing the missile buttons a couple of times, and then repeating that.”
- “The gameplay is hit or miss.”
- “The new system makes dogfighting incredibly interesting compared to the old more sluggish and underwhelming system that relied too much on the story and less in the gameplay.”
graphics
255 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
37%
8%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players praising the visuals as impressive and well-designed, especially for a title originally released in 2011. While some users noted that the graphics hold up well on modern hardware and feature detailed aircraft and environments, others criticized the lack of graphical options and the quality of ground textures. Overall, the consensus is that the graphics are a strong point of the game, contributing to an enjoyable experience despite some gameplay shortcomings.
- “The graphics are amazing and I don't even much care about the whole 'dogfighting' thing, but the controls ruin the game.”
- “The graphics are beautiful, if more than a little overdone on the HDR front, and the game is not limited to 1920x1200 like the trailer says; you can crank it up to any resolution you want, including surround view / eyefinity resolutions.”
- “The graphics are exceptional, but it doesn't make up for the awfulness of this game.”
- “The graphics are bad even for a game from 2011 and the music might as well not even be present.”
- “The controls are really wonky, graphics look bad and low res.”
- “The graphics of the city or ground are terrible; long story short, waste of money, wish I had my $7.49 back!”
music
100 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
49%
8%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising the soundtrack as a standout feature that enhances the gameplay experience, blending genres like rock, orchestral, and electronic elements. While some players find the music to be memorable and fitting for the action, others feel it falls short compared to previous titles in the series, describing it as repetitive or lacking standout tracks. Overall, the soundtrack is generally regarded as enjoyable, making it worth considering for fans of the genre.
- “The soundtrack is great like previous titles with genres such as rock and orchestral that fit the mood for every mission.”
- “The music (especially the dogfight music from the intro level, which evokes old musical cues from the past games) is mind-shatteringly good, the explosions and screeches and sputtering of dying aircraft, the brrrrrt of cannonfire and whooshing of missiles, all accented by the lovely cacophony of both friendly and enemy radio traffic, with calls of 'fox two', 'break, break!' and 'I'm hit!' all mixing together.”
- “The soundtrack combines electronic music with symphonic sounds (western and oriental instruments), and for the first time in the series you can also headbang to heavy metal guitar solos while blasting your targets out of existence, leaving nothing but debris behind.”
- “The soundtrack is just unworthy of being paired in any way with the brand name of Ace Combat.”
- “Graphics are bad even for a game from 2011 and the music might as well not even be present.”
- “Music in this game is also pretty lame in comparison to the others.”
grinding
29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious and repetitive, with many missions feeling artificially prolonged due to clunky mechanics and mandatory "dogfight mode" that detracts from the enjoyment of air combat. While some elements, like graphics and customization, are praised, the gameplay often devolves into frustrating cycles of repetition, particularly in helicopter and scripted sequences. Many reviewers express that the game could have benefited from a more engaging and less grind-heavy design.
- “The duration of the game is artificially lengthened by the ridiculous tediousness of gameplay.”
- “The missions are fun and the storyline is decent; unfortunately, though, as the game progresses through the main story, the missions become more and more tedious and repetitive.”
- “The 'dogfight mode' forced combat system is completely baffling, both useless and tedious.”
stability
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
94%
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with many users reporting significant bugs and glitches, particularly with controls and gameplay mechanics. While some players experienced no technical issues during the campaign, others faced constant screen freezes and clunky performance, especially on PC. Overall, the game is described as technically playable but unpolished, with a need for improvements to enhance the user experience.
- “I had no glitches and no crashes during the campaign.”
- “The game ran smoothly throughout, with no performance issues.”
- “I experienced consistent frame rates and stability, which made for an enjoyable experience.”
- “Horrible buggy controls, not a percent of realism, not in the controls, nor in the airplane functionality.”
- “I also disliked the constant screen freezes and prompting on first use; I'd imagine that stops after you've used all the key bindings a couple of times, but it bugged the hell out of me.”
- “The action is nice, but I found the overall gameplay to be buggy, repetitive, and unpolished.”
replayability
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
58%
21%
Overall, the game has been criticized for its limited replayability, primarily due to a lack of diverse missions and the absence of multiplayer options. While some players appreciate the customization features and polished gameplay, many feel that the single-player experience is hindered by unskippable tutorials and a clichéd storyline, leading to a lower replay value compared to previous entries in the series. Enhancements in mission variety and multiplayer could significantly improve its replay potential.
- “The game is well polished and has plenty of replay value.”
- “With some more missions written for the different types of aircraft, this could have been a very interesting and replayable game.”
- “Oh and there's the complete lack of multiplayer, which is frustrating for a game with so much multiplayer potential and replayability with the new customization system and new helicopter and heavy bomber aircraft types.”
- “Don't get me wrong, the game is fun, but I feel that the implementation of the dogfight mode, ground attack mode, helicopter, and bomber missions led to an underwhelming number of missions. If there were more missions, then it would be more fun because there would be more variety and replay value. I feel that wanting to implement DFM and all the other features took time and resources away from the amount of playable content in the game. If there was one more of each type of mission, or if there was more diversity in the existing missions, then it wouldn't be a problem.”
- “Little replay value compared to Ace Combat 5, which you have to play at least twice just to get the secret plane, or Ace Combat 6, where once you get the CFA, you just want to keep coming back to it and destroy everything in your path.”
- “Now story-wise, once you pass it, it has little to no replay value.”
humor
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
92%
23%
The humor in this game is polarizing, with some players finding it lacking and unoriginal, particularly in comparison to previous entries in the franchise, while others appreciate its over-the-top antics and amusing dialogue. Many reviews highlight the contrast between the game's attempts at humor and the execution, with some moments deemed genuinely funny, especially in multiplayer scenarios. Overall, the humor is seen as inconsistent, with a mix of enjoyable quips and frustrating elements that detract from the experience.
- “All of the banter between the pilots and command was really funny, dramatic, and had actual emotion to it.”
- “Fast, funny and over the top.”
- “And that trinity mega bomb is simply hilarious, much more on multiplayer.”
- “The humor feels forced and often falls flat, making the dialogue tedious.”
- “The jokes are repetitive and lack originality, which makes them unmemorable.”
- “Most of the comedic moments seem out of place and disrupt the flow of the game.”
optimization
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
42%
33%
Overall, the game's optimization receives mixed reviews; while many players report smooth performance at high resolutions and frame rates, others criticize the control schemes and certain gameplay mechanics as poorly optimized. Some users highlight issues with motion blur and audio, while others appreciate the variety of missions and overall graphics. However, there are notable complaints about jerky gameplay and unresponsive controls, particularly when using joysticks.
- “Awesome game with great optimization.”
- “Performance-wise, this game ran flawlessly in full 1920x1080 on a 6GB GTX 980 Ti at a locked 144fps (144Hz monitor).”
- “This game, as a plane game on PC, is surprisingly well optimized, and the controls are done pretty well. The combat is awesome, plus you don't just use planes; there are Apache missions, Black Hawk door gunner missions, and AC-130 missions. I give it a 9/10.”
- “Performance-wise, it runs fine, graphics are all right, though it uses a downright horrible motion blur/heat haze system, and the audio is, well, to think of it, I never noticed it.”
- “The problem is, the control schemes were not optimized very well at all compared to when flying a fighter jet.”
- “While some of the visuals and graphics are stunning, and the story is somewhat engaging despite flat-as-cardboard acting performances, the gameplay is jerky, unresponsive, confusing, and... well, horrible.”
emotional
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
Reviews indicate a significant lack of emotional engagement in the game, with players expressing disappointment over a boring storyline and minimal character attachment. While some moments evoke intensity akin to an action movie, they fail to deliver the emotional depth found in previous titles, leaving players feeling disconnected from the experience.
- “Seeing these bad reviews about this game is heartbreaking to me.”
- “I just couldn't hold my emotional outburst.”
- “It did not have a touching moment like in mission 27 'Aces' in Ace Combat 5; it was more of an intense action movie that you can't pull away from.”
- “Once you get past the horrible default controls or you plug in your controller, you get a game that has a boring storyline and apparently no online players.”
- “Ace Combat was an okay game with a relatively boring storyline.”
- “- boring storyline.”
character development
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
Overall, the character development in the game is perceived as weak, with players expressing a lack of emotional connection to the characters and finding the story formulaic and uninspired. While there are some elements of character development and a notable cameo, many reviewers feel that the interactions and narrative fail to engage, leading to a disappointing experience.
- “As a fan of the series since 2004, I can say this game is good, but not in a traditional Ace Combat type of game. The story is the typical 'Murica always wins, Russia loses' narrative. There is character development to some degree and a cameo appearance by Kei Nagase. Overall, I would give it a 7/10.”
- “There wasn't a strong character development process that went into the game, where I never had a real connection with the characters.”
- “DFM ruins everything; the story mode is boring, with no character development, and conversations between units are also boring.”
- “Hardly any character development, no interesting fights, and a lot of 'more of the same' dogfights.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
33%
The atmosphere of the game is praised for its engaging battlefield elements and nostalgic ties to the iconic Strangereal setting, evoking strong emotions during intense dogfights. However, long-time fans of the Ace Combat series may find it lacking in the depth and elements they cherish from earlier titles. Overall, the combination of thrilling gameplay and immersive sound design contributes to a captivating experience.
- “Measuring this as an action game, I have to say I enjoyed the atmosphere created by this combination.”
- “Interesting dogfights and really photogenic, nice storyline, and the outstanding battlefield atmosphere; the noise of missile launches can accelerate my heartbeats every time.”
- “If you're an avid Ace Combat fan who truly misses and wants the iconic Strangereal elements in terms of story, atmosphere, and gameplay feels from AC1, 2, 3, 04, 5, Zero, X, and 6, then maybe this game isn't for you.”
- “If you're an avid Ace Combat fan who truly misses the iconic Strangereal elements in terms of story, atmosphere, and gameplay feels from AC1, 2, 3, 04, 5, Zero, X, and 6, then maybe this game isn't for you.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization of the game is criticized as a poorly executed cash grab, with reviewers suggesting that it feels like a subpar console port aimed at extracting money rather than providing a quality experience. Players are advised to skip it unless they are specifically interested in flying games and have high-end equipment.
- “All in all, a poorly ported cash grab by the developers. If you're into flying games and have a joypad and a latest spec system, you may have some fun with this.”
- “It's a crappy console port cash grab, skip it.”