Air Conflicts: Aces of World War II PSP Review

Since the PSP already has two superior flying games (Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception and After Burner: Black Falcon), we can't think of any reason why you should pick up Air Conflicts: Aces of World War II. Aside from a slight (and we do mean slight) hint of nostalgia, there's little to enjoy.

In the game, you choose from a variety of missions involving Russia, the United States and the British Royal Air Force. Your missions vary, from escort objectives where you keep your fellow pilots alive to all-out shoot-a-thons. You may get a kick out of seeing these planes in action and hearing authentic sound effects matched up to each aircraft. That is, if you have the patience to endure the game's other problems, starting with the hideous load times. You'll sit there for more than a minute gazing at Air Conflict's logo while waiting for a game to start. When it finally does, you'll discover some other issues.

First off, the game suffers from unfair difficulty. You'll have an enemy in your sights and open fire, only to have half of your bullets miss the target, as if they suddenly changed their mind about hitting the plane. Then he turns you around and gets off a few lucky shots, sending your aircraft crashing to the ground. Instead of restarting the mission, you go all the way back to the menu screen.

Second, despite developer Cowboy Rodeo's attempt to recreate the World War II era, the visuals are below average. Half the time, the frame rate chugs so badly that you can't even maintain solid control of your aircraft.

Lastly, if you do manage to weather the storm, there's not much to unlock. You get a few extra planes and medals for each level, but you'll never feel a sense of accomplishment.

Air Conflicts: Ace of World War II is just another forgettable piece of vaporware. Leave it for the history buffs and take flight with Ace Combat instead.