Ace Combat 6: Fire of Liberation (AC6) is by far the most fun I had in the series.
Each mission has operations. Multiple branching pathways of battles within the over arching mission. Those operations made me analyse and listen in on mission briefings when I would typically skip them in other AC games. It made me plan how I approached the mission. What aircraft, what weapons, and what operation to take on. It was all part of the mission. From hangar to the gameplay, it affected how the rest of the sandbox interacted with you.
In one mission I remember choosing the operation to help allied special forces take the enemy's runway. We took their runway and it became a forward operating base for the mission. I used that same runway to land for resupply, changing my weapon load-out from bombs to missiles. Unknowingly the enemy quickly closed in whilst I was most vulnerable. Locked on by enemy missiles I rocketed to the sky, taking off leaving those missiles to barrage the runway I was just on. I quickly got behind the enemy and shot them down with the new missile loadout. Those enemy pilot's cursing over the radio "that must of been the ace they call Garuda".
It was one of the many adrenaline filled unique sandbox experiences I had with this game. But that one experience could have been drastically different if I didn't choose that path. Or I could have missed this experience if I played differently. The experiences are tailor'd to you in AC6 unlike other Ace Combat games. Something the franchise has forgotten moving into Ace Combat: Assault Horizon and AC7.
Typically exciting moments in the Ace Combat franchise are limited to scripted dogfights made by mission designer, whilst in AC6 it is your unique approach to the sandbox.
As years go by, I still comeback to this game. AC6 wants you to come play over and over again to see what you missed on your first and subsequent play through's. To see how the gameplay can change with your new approaches.
The only negative is the story is a bit cliche, and it doesn't have the same narrative blood pumping dogfights as intense as other AC games. But AC6 is the pioneer for sandbox flight sim's. That is why it will always be a "gem" in my eyes. AC6 makes you feel apart of this Ace Combat universe. You are the ace, fighting for your country. Talisman the Ace Pilot of Garuda Team is you, not the other way around.
Garuda, the tip of the spear of a defeated country. Your decisions will affect the battlefield. Will you be the fire to liberate your country?
If you are interested, get Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation. Take to the skies and
Go Dance With The Angels!
