The Ace Combat series has long been the pinnacle of console-based flight simulation titles. However, in recent years, Namco Bandai seems to have let the franchise slip a bit. With a new generation of consoles comes a new opportunity, and the first installment of the series this generation, Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation, delivers on that opportunity, bringing the franchise back from the darkness.

Ace Combat 6 opens in 2015 with fighter pilots from the Federal Republic of Estovakia invading the airspace of the capital of the Republic of Emmeria, Gracemaria. Taking the role of Emmerian fighter pilot Garuda 1, your mission begins as a defense-based mission, but quickly turns ugly when the Estovakians roll out a flying superweapon that forces Emmeria's forces into full-blown retreat. This turns out to only be the beginning of the battle between Emmeria and Estovakia on the Anean continent as Emmeria tries to survive, then tries to reclaim its conquered lands from Estovakian forces and push back the threat once and for all.

Long time fans of the series might remark how this sounds a little bit like Ace Combat 04's well-written storyline. In fact, the further you progress into the game, the more similarities you begin to see. However, the Ace Combat 6 story is unique enough, especially in the way it tells the story.

Rather than telling the story through the eyes of one or two people, Ace Combat 6 is told through the eyes of four very different people on both sides of the war. It’s an interesting perspective that is perhaps overly-dramatic at times, but it’s a nice reminder that war is hell for everybody involved in it. These cut scenes also provide a good amount of the game’s backstory, including the real reason for the Estovakian invasion or Emmeria.

The in-game interface remains largely the same as it was in games past, except for one notable change — an added allied support system. Utilizing a similar feature to Factor 5’s classic Rogue Suqadron games, this puts you in control of a few teammates, allowing you to direct them to attack enemy targets, provide cover fire, defend you from enemy jets, or to provide further support to allies. It seems that by default your wingmen will stick to you, and even then, you’ll still rack up most of the kills. I tended to let them cover me, as I found it kept some of the enemy fighters off my tail and silenced the blaring missile lock warning for brief periods of time.