Air combat simulation with a well-crafted fictional narrative. Varied missions and excellent sense of speed. The tactical depth and large aircraft roster will satisfy series fans, even if it remains a transitional entry in the franchise.
Your verdict
Category
Simulation4 players7+
Description
The first Ace Combat on PS2, released by Namco in 2001 and widely seen as a high point of the series. Its hand-drawn ground-level cutscenes give weight to the air combat, while the missions demand real tactical sense at the controls of a jet fighter.
Ace Combat 04 - Shattered Skies review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
MAX
Music
★★★★★
"Legendary"
4/5
Story
★★★★★
"Captivating"
Blending cinematic orchestra and moving flights, Keiki Kobayashi's music elevates the aerial battles with an unexpected dramatic grandeur. The poignant "Blue Skies" and the heroic themes turn every mission into a grand spectacle. This symphonic breadth, rare in the flight game, leaves a lasting mark on the series.
Gameplay
"Masterful"
At the controls of a fighter jet, the flying strikes a rare balance between accessible simulation and twitchy arcade thrills: tight turns, multi-target locks and aerial duels all stay remarkably easy to read. The varied missions and brisk pacing still make your head spin with a controller in hand. A few textures have aged, but those sensations of flight have lost none of their intensity.
A peak of Namco's arcade flight simulation, praised for its ground-level narrative in drawn panels and its balance of accessibility and intensity, sold in Europe under the subtitle Distant Thunder. Still fairly widespread in the West, its interest lies in this excellence reputation rather than scarcity. A prime piece for arcade-flight fans wanting a series milestone on PS2.
Better with friends
A cinematic aerial-combat sim whose tension is also shared together, the pad passing around to tackle the toughest missions. The common fun springs from the spectacle of the dogfights, advice thrown from the couch and the time trials where you try to beat each other's mark. With no head-on clash, it rallies people around one sky to tame.
Is Ace Combat 04 - Shattered Skies still worth playing in 2026?
Released in 2001 on PS2 in Japan as Ace Combat Distant Thunder and in the West as Ace Combat 04 Shattered Skies, Namco's project refounds the aerial formula with an unprecedented cinematic staging. The sense of speed, the readability of dogfights and the voice over narration by a child traumatised by war install a real identity. The Mediterranean art direction and Keiki Kobayashi's music keep their power. The 3D modelling has aged. Recommended today for arcade aerial combat devotees and for Namco fans curious about a label peak on Sony's second home console hardware globally.
