Ace Combat 3: Electrosphere 1999

Is it still worth playing?

A combat flight game from Namco for the PlayStation, the third in the Ace Combat series, released in Japan in 1999 and abroad the following year. It keeps the arcade feel of its predecessors but adds a focus on energy, so tight turns and steep climbs make you lose speed and stall. You pick from 23 aircraft, in a futuristic science fiction setting with one mission flown in space. The story was meant to affect the gameplay directly, and the Japanese release has four factions and 52 missions, of which you play a selection. The international release was cut to 36 missions on a single side. The Japanese version has since been re evaluated for its ambition and story. Fan translations now cover all 52 missions, so the full story can be played in English.