Ace of Aces (Atari 7800 review)

Developer: Nova Game Design
Publisher: Atari Corporation
Released: 1988

Ace of Aces is a combat flight simulator that was released on numerous formats including the Sega Master System (1991).

+ Having multiple plane viewpoints is spectacular and there's tons of nuance to staying alive, such as dousing onboard fires.

+ There's real intensity when flying below the clouds to bomb trains and U-boats, especially as you're so close to ground level.

+ Practice mode is great for teaching you the ropes and working on specific actions you'll end up using in real missions.

- Frame-rate is low and it's irritating having to constantly realign your altitude because of delayed button presses.

- No take-off or landing sequences does deter from the game's realistic feel, and there can be huge lulls in the action.

- Firing rockets is a nail-biting affair for all the wrong reasons, as the ultra-small hit boxes require immaculate precision.

- Pre-mission images are hard to decipher and don't have anywhere near as much clarity as the Sega Master System port.