Ace Combat 3 Electrosphere is the most ambitious PS1 trilogy entry, with a branching sci-fi scenario and memorable missions. Visually impressive for its era. The complete Japanese version with cutscenes and five endings is far superior to the expurgated western releases.
Your verdict
Category
Simulation1 player12+
Description
Futuristic third entry set in a cyberspace ruled by rival megacorporations in 2040. Aerial simulation by Namco, released in 1999 in Japan, then in 2000 in the United States and Europe. Fifty-two missions and five endings in the Japanese release, anime-style FMVs, against a trimmed international version with thirty-six missions.
Ace Combat 3 - Electrosphere review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
3/5
Music
★★★★★
"Memorable"
1/5
Story
★★★★★
"Anecdotal"
Gameplay
"Excellent"
Fun
"From the very first minutes"
Addictiveness
"Captivating"
Difficulty
"Balanced"
Lifespan
"Long"
Technical info
💾0,43 GB📅27/05/1999
Published by Namco
Ace Combat 3 - Electrosphere (PS1) price, value & rarity
The Japanese version of Ace Combat 3 is a major collector item, because it is far richer than the Western release: fifty-two missions, five branching endings and a wealth of animated cutscenes and voice acting, all trimmed to thirty-six missions and stripped of its story elsewhere. That famous reduction makes the Japanese edition the only truly complete one, fuelling a lasting demand well above its international counterparts.
Is Ace Combat 3 - Electrosphere still worth playing in 2026?
The third entry in Namco's aerial combat series, Ace Combat 3 dives into a near future of holographic interfaces and stylised aircraft, with a 3D engine and a sense of speed remarkable for the PlayStation. The fluidity, the readability of the dogfights and the science fiction mood stay striking. The Western version was stripped of the branching narrative and animated cutscenes of the Japanese game, which thins the story. A genre reference for fans of arcade flight and the curious about its richer Japanese version.
