Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception Critic Reviews

Instead of simply porting over one of their best-selling PS2 titles, NamcoBandai took a couple extra steps to move the series forward as it made it portable. With only the small misstep in the customizable planes department, Skies of Deception could very well be seen as one of the best titles in the series.

From the beautifully modeled and textured aircraft, to the expansive ground below, everything looks incredible for a PSP game. Explosions look natural, cutscenes are well choreographed, and the anime art looks as good as ever.

Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception makes a spectacular landing on the PSP.

A must-own flight/combat game. It’s not just the best PSP has to offer – it’s the best any handheld has ever seen.

The missions find the right balance between challenge and ease of play. Having battles against enemies like giant flying fortresses offers enough fantasy to balance the realistic military vibe. There’s even some ad hoc multiplayer, if that’s your thing.

One of the best names in flight combat delivers another standout installment in Ace Combat X for the PSP, which features its own story and well-designed gameplay twists.

Pretty similar to PS2 efforts but X's multi-player side helps elevate it to 'well worth a play' status.

The multiplayer aspect is better drawn out, the storyline is fantastic, and the visuals and sound deliver on every accord. Namco's delivered a real top gun.

It's fun, it looks good, it has a solid set of multiplayer options, while also bringing some new features to the series. Though the series has been getting stale, Ace Combat X does a great job of reminding us of what it can be.

Big, brash and beautiful, Ace Combat X is a prime example of the PSP's capabilities and deserves a place in every thrill-seeking PSP owner's collection.

Aside from the snub for online, Ace Combat X definitely makes the most of the PSP. It's mercifully not a port but does justice to its roots, and has enough G-forces to make you crap your pants.

But it's the single-player campaign which really shines, thanks to a branching storyline set over 15 different arenas that alters as you make certain decisions.

It's a well done port that runs superbly well on Sony's little unit.

The splendid level design, and the attention to action make this worth playing, and if you're into the local multiplayer, it makes it worth buying.

One of the finest games to come from a console to a handheld and is easily the best flight sim on a handheld.

On a DualShock it would be great. On an analogue nub it isn't. Despite this, it's still a pretty solid game.

Too bad it's only ad-hoc - a true online mode would have brought all the Ace fans together in a maelstrom of missiles and inappropriate language. Instead, we'll all happily settle for a portable version that, despite its flaws, is a rocket-powered ballet that'll ensnare new and old players alike.

Ace X gets bonus points, however, for being a completely new title, with no "new for PSP" content shoveled over from an older PS2 game.

Ace Combat: Skies of Deception is an ok PSP game, it’s just a shame it also happens to be one of the few flight games found on the PSP, so while it is only moderately impressive, you’re probably not going to do much better if you want airborne action on the go Sony style.

If only there were a longer solo mode and game sharing option, it could have been really ace.