The sky tears open, a missile screams, and you become the ace his enemies still talk about ten years on.

With so few votes, let's read the profile as a draft. The top of the board impresses anyway: the urge to take it to a desert island puts it ahead of roughly 84% of games, sound atmosphere and controller feel hold high too, around 70 to 76%. This is a game you love to fly. But look at the contrast: attachment and especially art direction drop to the very bottom, ahead of barely 9 to 20% of titles. To confirm on more votes, but the tension is clear: the flight sensations win you over, the emotional bond and visual style much less.

In the rare niche of arcade air combat, Ace Combat reigns with no real rival. Its pleasure comes from the heady flight and epic music, not a memorable visual signature.

So, who is it for? For you if you love banking a jet, locking a target and riding a soundtrack that slaps. Much less if you want characters to cling to or a style that stays in your head.