Air Combat

Air Combat is a combat flight simulation game presented in an arcade-like format. The player controls one of sixteen different aircraft, including the F-4 Phantom, Su-27 Flanker, and Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk, and must complete each of the game's seventeen levels, each having mission objectives that must be fulfilled. Missions range from destroying a squadron of enemies, protecting an allied base from enemy fire, or destroying a massive battleship. Completing missions awards the player money, which can be used to purchase new aircraft in their own personal hangar. Extra money can also be earned by destroying optional, "non-target" enemies.

Beginning at the game's fourth mission, a wingman can be employed that will help protect the player and fight alongside them. Additional wingmen can be hired by earning additional money during combat. The game progresses in a linear format. Alongside the main single-player campaign, there is also a split-screen multiplayer deathmatch mode, where two players attempt to destroy each other in the quickest time possible.

In 1995, a terrorist organization launches an insurrection against allied nations, specifically the Skully Islands in the fictional country of Usea. In response to attacks made across the globe, a mercenary air force is assembled to prevent the terrorist organization from seizing control of the government.

Air Combat was created by Namco designer Masanori Kato and producer Kazumi Mizuno. The two were commissioned by company executives to create a home port of the arcade game Air Combat for the then-new PlayStation console. The arcade game was published in 1993 for Namco's polygon-powered System 21 hardware, and is noteworthy for its 3D graphics and technological capabilities. Problems arose early in development for the home port, as staff did not believe the PlayStation's hardware was powerful enough to properly render the arcade version's gameplay.

At the time, Namco primarily focused on developing ports of arcade games like Ridge Racer and Cyber Sled, which often contained content exclusive to their PlayStation releases. Believing console-exclusive features would give consumers more incentive to buy it, the team chose to scrap a straightforward port and instead create a new game based on the arcade game's core mechanics. The project planner, Asahi Higashiyama, believed the PlayStation's superior hardware could allow for more potential in the game and room for expansion.

Air Combat proved to be a commercial success. In Japan, the game sold over 246,000 copies in its first week, and nearly 600,000 overall. By 2008 the game shipped 2.23 million copies, making it the second best-selling game in the franchise behind Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies. Electronic Gaming Monthly awarded it "Best Flight Sim of 1995".

Critics focused primarily on the gameplay, who felt it had an addictive, arcade-like nature. GameFan reviewer Nick Rox described it as being "easily the ultimate flight simulator". Writers from IGN, who compared it favorably to Warhawk, praised its action-packed gameplay, as did AllGame's Michael House and a reviewer from Coming Soon. House also liked the game's addictiveness and longevity.