Move over <i>Crimson Skies</i>, Namco returns to rule the air once again with the forthcoming release of <b>Ace Combat 5</b>, scheduled for release on the PS2 in September 2004. The latest edition takes places in the near distant future on a small in the Ceres Ocean that divides the two superpowers, Osea and Yuktobania. An entire military base is on red alert--the 108th Tactical Fighter Squadron intercepted an unidentified aircraft and the entire squadron was decimated.

Players can select from over 50 different licensed planes and engage 30 intense missions ranging from air-to-air combat, rescue, recon, air-to-ground missions and much more. In addition, <i>Ace Combat 5</i> will introudce a new feature called Wingman Command, allowing players to issue specific directives to their wingmen to carry out coordinated group attacks.

Still no word of online multiplayer (can I get a pretty please anyone?). Hopefully such aspirations will come through, which would definitely make many of us pick it up in a heartbeat.

We're impressed by what's been unveiled so far, and eagerly await to see the game and grab some hands-on E3 impressions this May. In the meantime, have a gander at these awesome shots and stay tuned for additional updates as they develop.

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<a href="http://www.the-nextlevel.com/news/0403/namco/ace_combat57.jpg"><img src="http://www.the-nextlevel.com/news/0403/namco/ace_combat5-7t.jpg" width=100 height=75 border="1"></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.the-nextlevel.com/news/0403/namco/ace_combat58.jpg"><img src="http://www.the-nextlevel.com/news/0403/namco/ace_combat5-8t.jpg" width=100 height=75 border="1"></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.the-nextlevel.com/news/0403/namco/ace_combat59.jpg"><img src="http://www.the-nextlevel.com/news/0403/namco/ace_combat5-9t.jpg" width=100 height=75 border="1"></a>
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<b>See Also:</b>
<a href="http://www.acecombat5.namco.com">acecombat5.namco.com</a>