Explosive dogfights light up the skies
The highlight of air-combat is DogFight Mode (DFM), a semi-scripted fight between you and one other opponent. Responding to criticism from the Ace Combat community - about spending too much time having to pixel-hunt for enemy planes - DFM now allows you to trigger an action sequence when you're close to any enemy craft.When you get close enough, you have a short window of time to press LB and RB simultaneously and lock yourself into a frenetic chase sequence. You then have to try to keep the target reticule over the enemy as long possible as he twists and turns to escape your missile. If you do manage to keep up with him, which requires skilful rudder control, you get the opportunity to lock-on and shoot your missile.
Dogfights are now a huge part of the Ace Combat experience and it's better off for it. Frantic chases through the skies are exciting as you travel at lightning-fast speeds to catch up with your enemy and then swoop low around structures near ground level while trying to remain focused on the target. Inevitably, dogfights end in a gratifying slow-motion explosion that lights up the skies.
Long-range combat still features heavily but dogfight mode adds balance, resulting in a game that combines strategy with action very well. These two different play-styles are complemented by enemies that are split into two categories: a target or lead target. While you can down a target with gun fire and missiles alone, you must engage in a dogfight to take down lead targets. This means that you can't just get away with just tracking planes from a distance, but have to get right into the thick of the action. Ultimately, that makes for some very exciting fire-fights.
As well as engaging other crafts in dogfights, you also have to watch your back for missile warnings, quickly trying to evade and outmanoeuvre the target circle before hitting the LB and RB buttons simultaneously to perform a counter-attack that conveniently leaves you in a prominent position for a full-on assault.
The fact that you're only fighting in-aircraft means that weapon variety is fairly limited, but the likes of air-to-ground missiles and missiles that can lock-onto four targets simultaneously means they have real impact on other craft and the environment, so you never feel like you're missing out too much.