Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies

 PlayStation 2
  • Publisher: Namco
  • Release Date: Nov 1, 2001
Metascore
89

Generally favorable reviews - based on 22 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 22
  3. Negative: 0 out of 22
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  1. XenGamers
    100
    Offers a heady, elating sense of flight, adrenaline-charged combat, perfect controls, and breathtaking visuals that will humble titles played even on the mightiest PCs.
  2. Hot Games
    100
    Without a doubt the best flight sim available for a next-gen system. Ace Combat 04 shatters the competition.
  3. Cloudchaser
    95
    This game is so beautiful and addictive that I fear the quality of the writing in this review has greatly suffered, since I find it difficult to concentrate as the game beckons to me even now.
  5. GameShark
    93
    Simplistic and intuitive controls are what make the game fun to play. The analog controls are dead on, and very precise.
  6. XGP Gaming
    92
    If you are looking for a topnotch flier, you can call off the search. This one is a must-have for any PS2 owner.
  7. Gaming Age
    91
    There’s a dramatic war story and fantastic scenary, and the trademark Ace Combat arcade gameplay is more solid than ever.
  8. IGN
    91
    Another one of those games that looks almost real, to the point where you can't quite peg exactly what it is that tips you off it's a videogame.
  9. TotalPlayStation
    90
    The best flight game ever made.
  10. GamerWeb Sony
    90
    The game seems to hearken back to the successes of "Ace Combat 2" by adding fair doses of realism with a good amount of action and intensity. The game's biggest fault lies in its brevity, as it ends much too soon.
  11. Official U.S. Playstation Magazine
    90
    Controls are practically perfect, plane selection is extensive, and the whole package is exceptionally polished. [Dec 2001, p.160]
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  12. PSX Nation
    90
    If you like games that tell stories, this is one of the best yet for the PS2. It’s shocking that it’s also one of the best shooting / action games as well.
  13. GamePro
    90
    The arcade gameplay retains the Ace Combat trademarks: tons of firepower and a simple control scheme.
  14. GameSpy
    89
    There is exceptionally thrilling gameplay, eye-popping graphics, a solid and plausible storyline, and an overall fun factor that will keep you coming back for more even after you’ve beaten it several times.
  15. netjak
    88
    This is probably as close as a game is going to get to realistically portray what it’s like to get behind the helm of a fighter jet and waging battle in the air. Even though the game is over a year old and at a measly $20.00, Ace Combat 4 is a must have for the Playstation 2.
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  16. GameSpot
    88
    A highly enjoyable, well-executed flight sim that perfectly blends the action elements found in the series' earlier games with the sort of narrative typically reserved for other genres.
  17. TotalGames.net
    87
    That the plot is furthered only periodically, rather than religiously at the end of each mission, highlights Namco’s tempered hand, ensuring that it’s the gameplay which remains firmly at centre stage.
  18. Gamezilla!
    87
    Although some graphical elements are not what they should be, others look amazing. In addition, there are eighteen different jets with assorted armaments available, and they all handle well.
  19. Game Informer
    85
    A complete game package that has been meticulously constructed to draw you in like a missile to an afterburner. [Nov 2001, p.102]
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  20. Yahoo!
    80
    Ace Combat 4 delivers all the necessary thrills at a blistering Mach 1 style pace.
  21. Gamestyle
    80
    A combination of good graphics, excellent game play, a compelling story and a worthwhile soundtrack make this an essential purchase for fans of the genre.
  22. Electronic Gaming Monthly
    72
    Its gameplay isn’t revolutionary, and a couple of its missions get a tad tedious, but Ace Combat 4 sure looks pretty, which is half the reason flying buffs play these air-combat games anyway. [Dec 2001, p.234]
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  23. All Game Guide
    60
    Accessible and exciting. It's also disappointingly easy.

Awards & Rankings

16
#16 Best PS2 Game of 2001
13
#13 Most Discussed PS2 Game of 2001
15
#15 Most Shared PS2 Game of 2001

User Reviews

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User Score
8.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 154 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 136 out of 154
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 154
  3. Negative: 11 out of 154
  1. DGDrocks7
    Feb 15, 2013
    9
    It's been 10 years since I got this game. Yet every year since, I always find time to play this game. Sure, I play games like Battlefield andIt's been 10 years since I got this game. Yet every year since, I always find time to play this game. Sure, I play games like Battlefield and Call of Duty today, but this game will always be hold a special place in my gaming library. Graphics were stunning in its time, almost on par with MGS2 (released in the same year). And gameplay, it defines fun. Of course, when you play it for too long, it gets boring (like any other game). But after a couple days (or maybe hours), when you pop it in again, it feels like a new game. If you still have a PS2, or a PS3 that plays PS2 games, go find this game. You won't regret it. Should it be released on the PS Store, buy it. If they ever release an HD remake, buy it.… Full Review »
  2. The1stGodfather
    Feb 13, 2012
    9
    The graphics aren't the best. That's inevitable. But as long as you don't crave the absolute best graphics, this is a phenomenal game. TheThe graphics aren't the best. That's inevitable. But as long as you don't crave the absolute best graphics, this is a phenomenal game. The missions are engaging and aren't different versions of the same goal over and over again. But what really never seizes to amaze me is the incredible story-line. It gives a great look at what war is really like. It gives an inside look at the civilians in towns that have been victimized by wars. It shows that the enemy in war thinks the exact same thing of us as we think of them. They think we're the trigger-happy murderers. They aren't bad people in many cases. They are simply people who have views, opinions, and actions that conflict with us, and so we respond with violence. Of course, there are people like Bin Laden and Hitler who really are horrible people, but in this game, that's not the case. What also makes it unique is that it doesn't take the violence lightly. It doesn't make it seem fun to kill all the time, like C.O.D. and Battlefield do. It shows how war breaks hearts, kills innocent civilians, and we aren't necessarily the good guys. For example, the cut scene in which they say that Yellow-13's pride doesn't come from his kill record, but from his record of never losing a squadron member, shows that the enemy isn't a gun-toting demon.… Full Review »
  3. homer4president
    Mar 25, 2015
    10
    The photo realism must be seen first hand to be believed, screen shots and movie clips found around the net cannot describe half the beautyThe photo realism must be seen first hand to be believed, screen shots and movie clips found around the net cannot describe half the beauty that this game is. The graphics, consistent frame rate, and responsive controls successfully creates an immersive environment of flight. There are times where I would ignore the mission objectives and fly at incredible speeds, low to the ground, amongst snow-capped mountains. One word: Bliss.… Full Review »
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