Flying High, Again- Ace Combat: Joint Assault Review

The portable system seems like a unlikely candidate for any type of flight simulation. Lacking the sizeable displays,  elaborate input methods, and raw processing power which accompany console and PC setups, some serious downsizing would seem to be in order. The faltering framerates and pixel-sized enemies found in the PSP iterations of IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey and Air Conflicts: Aces of World War II regrettably illustrate what can happen when developers try to shoehorn a full-fledged flight game onto the Playstation Portable.

The sole exception to this rule was 2006’s Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception, a title which managed to capture the fluidity and exhilaration of the popular console franchise remarkably well. The key to the title’s success was its robust engine, which offered players a buttery smooth, sixty frames-per-second delivery amid an environment filled with smoky missile trails, blooming explosions and some remarkable ground geometry. Recent release Ace Combat: Joint Assault retains its predecessor’s graphical agility while adding a considerable online component. If players can look past a few of the game’s quizzical design decisions, they’ll find a dog-fighting diversion which nearly rivals the intensity of a full-fledged console combat titles.

While Joint Assault‘s narrative may lack plausibility and originality, its impetus is amusingly relevant: following a global financial meltdown and subsequent war, a group of terrorists begins striking targets around the world. When it appears a powerful insurance broker may have a link to the nefarious organization, Martinez Security forms a Rainbow Six-like confederation of fighter pilots from around the globe to halt this growing threat. As it typical of the series, the title’s dialog often veers into the melodramatic as an unlikely amount of chatter is traded between friendlies and enemies.

Despite the game’s unlikely storyline, the game’s backdrops have been transferred to real-world locations. Whether you’re eliminating SAM launcher around the Giza pyramids or intercepting a giant war machine over the skies of Tokyo, Joint Assault looks consistently gorgeous- I couldn’t imagine better looking scenery on the PSP hardware. Skillfully, the game’s jets (when in third person view) are equally as attractive. Each model is fastidiously accentuated with working airbrakes, glowing afterburners, and individual heads-up-displays, lending the title a small dose of authenticity.

Most of the Joint Assault‘s missions challenge players to eliminate both air and ground based targets, with a handful of requisite escort missions mixed in for variety. A surprising number of sorties involved downing the same oversized craft- the title’s equivalent to a boss battle. Personally, I found these stages to be frustrating, because of the giant jet’s respawning weaponry and in the case of the final boss- the foe’s uncanny ability to evade incoming missile attacks. The title’s biggest success hails from the incorporation of both online and co-operative missions. Instead of a quartet of pilots all attacking the same targets, the game breaks the party into two maps. On one mission, my cohorts failed to eliminate a small naval fleet, sending the enemies toward my sector. For those seeking more antagonistic diversions, Joint Strike also offers a lag-free match for up to eight competitors. 

Console to PSP ports are a decidedly mixed bag: for every gem like God of War: Chains of Olympus, gamers seem to get two lackluster translations. With a astonishingly nimble and polished engine, Ace Combat: Joint Assault clearly falls into the first camp. By augmenting its single-player with a near-faultless co-op component,  the title is a must play for social-minded PSP owners. While the main campaign is a bit fleeting (lasting about three hours), branching missions and upgrading a fleet of unlockable aircraft can potentially maintain a player’s interest for a few additional hours. For some, the ability to drop a few tangos on their morning train ride will be sufficient  motivation for Joint Assault‘s asking price.