I just played through all the main games from Air Combat to 0 and I'm having a blast with these games
I had some vacation time saved up so I needed some way to spend the two weeks I had. So I started playing through the Ace Combat games and have been having a lot of fun with them.
My favorites in the series are AC3 (the Japanese version) and AC0, I can't decide which one is better I love both equally for different reasons, and in order of most favorite to least I rank the rest at 4>2>5>1.
2 really surprised me with how much more fun it is than 1. 1 was extremely simple and clunky to the point that I found it more quaint than fun, but 2 like immediately found its stride and I think track for track this game has the best soundtrack in the series. I think it's really underrated as far as the whole series goes and it shouldn't be overshadowed.
AC3 is genuinely a masterpiece. I was not at all expecting it to be as engaging or as well structured narratively as it is. And despite a weird downgrade in the analog controls, it still maintains a really fun and exciting gameplay loop.
AC4 felt like a deliberate step back to reign in the ambition and refocus on the fundamental elements of the series; having a much simpler story and mission structure. But the story it does have is still good and it has a lot of really memorable locales. The game itself is also really fun with a more advanced flight model and tighter controls than any of the ps1 games.
AC5 felt like it was one step forward, two steps back. It has a simpler flight model, but it has even tighter and more refined controls I feel than 4 does, so I actually prefer how this game plays over the previous title. However so far this game has like by far the worst mission structure in the series. The fact that the missions feel long, there are no checkpoints or opportunities to resupply, AND the game is extremely stingy with ammo really hurts it. The story is also extremely cheesy and hamfisted with a lot of elements not really feeling that well thought out. The game also has less interesting locales than 4, and the pacing is much worse. Although I do enjoy ham and cheese quite a bit, I do wish the characters in this game spoke a lot less than they do because they never shut the fuck up. Still I had a really good time with it, I just don't plan on replaying it any time soon
AC0 has none of the issues I had with 5. Fewer characters that speak less, but they have more depth, a more complex story that although doesn't reach 3's level, still has a lot more depth and rewards further examination. It controls a lot like AC5, but it has much better mission structure, has the best soundtrack of the PS2 trilogy, and is also the most well paced one. I loved it so much I immediately played it all the way through again the day after I beat it
I hear 6 recently got recompiled and is now fully playable on pc, so I'm really looking forward to checking that game out! (Before anyone suggests it, yes I have already played Project Wingman and it is one of my all time favorite games)