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Not quite...

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 3 / 5
Date: September 15, 2002
Author: Amazon User

If you are going for a good flight-sim than turn elsewhere. If you want a good flight-shooter than this is for you, almost.
This game is just meaningless shoot this and then blow this up. Every mission plays almost the same. I was bored out of my mind very quickly but forced myself to play thinking that Namco could not have ... up so bad. Just one more step over the hill and then it's all clear. Nope. Do yourself a favor and find yourself a copy of Ace Combat 2 instead. At least Namco cleared it's name with Ace Combat 4. Get either 2 or 4 and don't bother with 3.

ACECOMBAT (1)

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 9 / 10
Date: March 12, 2000
Author: Amazon User

Or as it should be titled. It seems that everyone is sacrificing quality for excitment. Acecombat 2 was more exciting than Acecombat 3 for one main reason, speed. In Ace2 you had better handling, you can always count on your plane turning when you wanted to. You had the option of configuring your joysticks so you can utilize all the buttons, I don't know about anyone else but when I think of shooting a missle or guns I think "Trigger". I really enjoyed Ace2 because it was always a challenge, you always had to work really hard to get to the next level or get new planes. Ace2 planes moved so well that my wife could not watch the television during dog fights or she would get nauseous. Now lets look at the flipside of that, Ace3 has great graphics. That should be all but I can add a few more credits. I thought it was great how they added the directional ring on the HUD which tells you which direction you're facing and even if you're upside down. The sound is better and it did have a few surprises locked away. I was blown away with the plane/spaceship which was totally unexpected but a nice addition. The total downside to Ace3 was the lack of joystick configuration, how badly the planes handle and did I mention how slow it is. It's even amazing to me that I can say all this about this game and I only had since this morning. I waited so long for this game to come out and I must say I was greatly dissapointed. I always thought that when something comes in series, the next number is better that the last, not the case here. This game though it may look good does not deliver the same adrenaline pumping excitment Ace2 did. It's so mind-numbing my wife can play it. ACE3 should have been the training game to prepare for Ace2 and even though I'm only halfway through the game I still wouldn't be ready.

A game without lift.

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 6 / 6
Date: March 05, 2001
Author: Amazon User

I have been enjoying the ace combat series for sometime now. But this one leaves alot to be desired. The mission briefs were dull and very uninspired. The missions themselves were very similar. It didn't take long before one mission seemed the same as the next. The aircraft designs were very cool and that was the best part of the game. Some of them were nigh brilliant. Although most of them were enemy aircraft.

I finished the game in around 3 hours which makes its lasting appeal minimal. I am waiting to see what they are going to do on the PS2.

If you played the others then give it a play. It's still an okay way to spend a couple of hours.

A Gutted Version of a Namco Masterpiece

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: October 14, 2001
Author: Amazon User

Now,I've been playing the Air/Ace Combat series since I got my hands on a PSX.2 continues to juice me up even today.When I first heard Ace Combat 3 was being made,I stormed over to media sections for it.I was in complete awe of the anime scenes and complex story of the Japanese version,spanning 2 disks.Seeing how it took Namco quite some time to bring it over to our American shores,I thought they were taking extra time to dub it w/ great american voice talents.Instead,I got the product of reckless slashing.
Ace Combat 3:Electrosphere maintains little if none of its increadible cinematic elements,now spannng only 1 disk.W/ the loss of its great story,the new storyline seems incomplete,confusing,and outright boring.What in the he!! is an electrosphere,anyway?One will never know unless they take a look at the game's stunning Japanese counterpart.The HUD has been redisgned in an odd and unapeeling way,as some instruments have been cut,leaving u blind to their functions.I will admit though:The graphics of this game are breath taking.AWSOME afternoon water affects can be seen in the 1st sortie of the game.The jet models,from the g-pulling bad boys we have now a-days to the awkward yet sexy designs of the futuristic fighters have no rival on a 32 bit console.The soundtrack can have mixed responses.While some are pretty well balanced Japanese dance tunes,the other slow electronica pieces can EASILY put you to sleep in the middle of flying.Any of you wanting another Top Gun style soundtrack found in the previous games,your prayers have not been answered.Just turn it off and slap "Danger Zone" into ur player.Anime fans,however,may find a few of the tracks extremly driving.Many start up slow,but they can kick it up later on.You also now have the ability of selecting numurous types of missles,guns,bombs,and even laser cannons depending on what your missions call for.The plane's abilities,though,have been altered for the worst.You no longer purchase your own aircraft,nor are you awarded $ at all in your missions.Instead,you are given aircraft depending on yur performance per mission,which can be very frusterating in some missions.No more wingmen are availible,however in about all of 3[(out of 36)(Its Japanese original had 52,based on 4 different alliances)] missions u are given a buddy to turn and burn w/.Those people would have much more meaning had the plot been left undamaged...Mid air refueling has been added to the game,buts its seldom seen.Plus,all landings & such can be automatically avoided by pressing the "Autopilot" button.In dogfights,your enemies are either piloted by a senior or by a steroided air god,as seen in the last missions.You have the ability to look around your canopy for enemies now,but anyone skiled enough in using their radar has no need for this.Aircraft wise,my biggest complaints:The F-22 has lost its dominance(although it is 47 years old in the story...)Stealth jets aren't stealth,AND THERE'S NO F-14!!!
With that being said,Ace Combat 3 is a beatiful,yet extremly dissapointing game for any follower of the series.Import the JPN version,play more Ace Combat 2,an increadible game in itself,or wait a couple more weeks for Ace Combat 4:Shattred Skies,availible for the PS2 late october 2001,which if unscrathced(or even if snipped a little)will be the DEFINANT cosole flight sim.Just dont waste a wallet full of $ on this,for it's truley a "Crash & burn,huh Mav?"

Horrible! Hard! Don't Buy This!

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 0 / 5
Date: January 20, 2003
Author: Amazon User

BORING! This is a hard and stupid game. And it's title AceCombat03: Electrosphere...What's Electrosphere? When I read the other reviews it said that the Japanesse version told you about Electrosphere.The Japanesse AND the Americans should be able to have the better game. Namco made it hard to play because of it's BAD graphics. This is a tottaly stupid game. The planes are not that realistic and replay is very bad. When a plane explodes you can see it all choppy. The little missile lanching thing in the mountains on Mission 2 is weird and hard to escape and destroy. The lock-on is HORRIBLE! The squares surronding the plane are huge and bigger then the plane itself. ... They have too much missile lanchers and makes it nearly impossible. When you complete a objective it makes more targets for you to destory. When you fly where they where before you complete the objective it is not there...it's bare ground. ...P>Rating AceCombat03: Electrosphere

Graphics 2/10
Realistic Controls 9/10*
Mission Difficulty 10/10
Realistic Enviorment 0/10~
Realistic Sound 1/10

*There is also a EASY MODE for the controls.
~Realistic Enviorment includes Explosians, Buildings etc.

3rd string efforts produce 3rd Ace Combat

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: March 10, 2008
Author: Amazon User

I was severely disappointed with this game. Everybody has a different take depending on their background and experience. It affects your conclusion in a review. For myself, I am nearly "grandfather" age now (sheesh!) and am not a professional gamer, as many of you out there may be. So, for you young guys in your teens and 20's who've been playing since age 5, my comments will be as irrelevant as those of a weekend Piper Cub pilot to an Air Force F-15E combat experienced pilot. But still, I feel compelled to share my own humble view.

I have played Air Combat, AC2, AC4, and just finished AC5. I bought AC3 not long after it came out, with a game book, and only did a couple of the missions. I decided to to go back through it, since it's the only one I have not completed. I was very impressed with AC2--it was fun, the graphics were great (for the time), the controls etc. could be mastered without too much trouble and the game was lots of fun. I enjoyed the ranks and medals that could be earned. It was easy to navigate the control screens.

AC3 significantly does not meet this standard in about every category. I found the flight controls were very clumsy and I either could not slow down well enough to get a proper lock and observe the scene/target or--I was constantly stalling. Getting a good solid lock was difficult. I didn't appreciate much improvement in the quality of the graphics of either the terrain or the jets. The HUD screen was unappealing and seemed sort of "Playskool"-toys in design. The planes also handled in a clumsy fashion just in general. The screen briefings were nearly worthless. There was no "story", at all; though I understand that the original Japanese version had a story, etc. Too bad they didn't put some of it in this game to liven it up a little. In some of the missions it is very difficult to accomplish the top grade and I'm referring to some of the very earliest missions. I will say that the radar scope on the HUD was good; in fact, much better than in AC5. I could actually see where my plane was and which direction I was facing, regardless of other craft very nearby. This, sadly, is about my only laudatory comment regarding this game.

If I had never experienced the others in the AC series, I might have had a better impression of AC3. I can logically understand that AC4 (the best of the series in my opinion) and AC5 would be better since they used a more advanced platform (PS2) etc. I am a bit astonished though that AC2 was significantly better in virtually all categories compared to AC3. Even accounting for the editing out of a story line etc., I cannot understand why the essentials of the game itself, i.e., the controls, the lock-ons, the graphics, the performance of the aircraft, etc. are all inferior to the experience in AC2. It doesn't make sense.

So, in a nutshell, that's why I ranked this game so low. Overall, I didn't think it was much fun to play; much of the time I was just annoyed with how it went.

I wish my Japanese was up to snuff because it would be revealing to communicate with the design engineers of AC3 and ask them how this all happened. To their credit, Namco salvaged their reputation with AC4 and AC5 (I don't have an XBox 360 and haven't played AC6. I just contacted Namco today, they have no plans to have a Playstation 2 or 3 version of AC6.)

However, if you are a true afficionado of the AC series, then I suppose you ought to get this and try it. Some day, you may be of "grandfather" age too, and the young gamers will sit at your knee, enthralled as you regale them with your experiences in the Old Days of playing the AC series. To truly have that Sage Wisdom, you will need to reveal to the younglings the presence of this glitch in the AC series and how you handled it.

Thanks for listening and Good Gaming to all of you!

After much anticipation, I was somewhat disappointed.

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 11 / 16
Date: April 05, 2000
Author: Amazon User

Well.... after long awaited last, the highly anticipated sequel to Air Combat and Ace Combat 2 arrived on the shelves. I was one of the first to play it when it hit the market, and I must say: I was a little...... disappointed. After taking nearly 2 years to master Ace Combat 2, I completed Ace Combat 3 in a matter of hours. I have been Namco's biggest Air & Ace Combat fan, until now. Granted, the graphics and effects are highly improved and the depth is greater, but the gameplay leaves much to be desired. The enemy planes are much slower than your own fighter's idle speed, so you constantly whiz past your enemy. Hit the brakes for too long and you will stall - very frustrating! Earning an "A" rating on these missions is nearly impossible sometimes. Some people may rant & rave about this game, but after 2 years of edge-of-my-seat anticipation, I must say that the disappointment far outweighs the excitement - so much in fact that I haven't even bothered purchasing the game yet. Maybe someday, just to make my trilogy complete - but buying this game is NOT on my list of priorities!

Take to the skies

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: September 09, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Ace Combat 3: Electrosphere - Circa 1999

GOOD:
- Fun and unique missions (especially later on in the game)
- Lot's of planes to unlock

BAD:
- Graphics may looked dated, to today video game players
- Controls can be tough
- Learning curve is high
- Story is a little on the dry side

IF IT FITS YOUR TASTE:
- Arcade type jet fighter game with some simulation elements

GAME ITS MOST ASSOCATED TOO:
- Air Combat
- Ace Combat 2

ADDITIONAL NOTES:
- All of the planes are real ones, or based on the concepts of future ones

Most impressive game I have played!

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: November 16, 2001
Author: Amazon User

Considering I got a used copy for (dollar amount) I am thrilled with it. The graphics are excellent, the sound effects authentic, the electronic music score outstanding, and this game is an overall 9.5!! I never played any of the previous Ace Combat games, so I can't say how much of an improvement this one is. Check it out!

Definately the best terror in the skies!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 13 / 14
Date: March 14, 2000
Author: Amazon User

Put simply, this is the best flight simulator I have ever played. The controls are exact, but do take some getting used to (about a half hour was needed for me), and the graphics are wonderful. The first thought that crossed my mind was...this is a Playstation game? Along with the beautiful graphics and crisp controls is a soundtrack that blends into the background, providing just the right amount of ambient noise so you don't drift off into la-la land during play. Also, the story, though rather simple (good vs. bad) is set up nicely and provides just the right excuse for us to want to get inside the cockpit and blast every thing visible out of the sky. A definate winner, and a must-have for any fan of the genre - also a good game if you are a first-timer with the flight simulator type game.

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