In a videogame industry full of bad decisions, we've always been able to depend on Namco's Ace Combat franchise. Some of the sequels don't feature drastic improvements, and critics can certainly argue that the series has grown stale because of that, but no matter which game you choose, you're getting a quality product, and the same holds true for Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War. This latest sequel feels very similar to its predecessors, yet it also has some new additions that help it stand on its own.

Much like the other Ace Combats, Zero is an air combat game that allows you to decimate opponents while flying a wide range of real world fighter planes. The game features a variety of high octane missions that'll fray your nerves and make you sweat, some revolving around strict plane on plane affairs, and others that task you to blow up ground forces and take out a dangerous control tower. The variety definitely keeps things fresh, as does the change of scenery, as one moment you'll be zipping across snow capped mountains, and the next you'll soar over lush, green jungles and the ocean.

Exotic locations are all well and good, but this game isn't just about eye candy. The Belkan War features some of the most intense combat that you'll find on the PlayStation 2. Multiple planes soar through the air, missiles whiz past your aircraft, and enemies explode in these huge fireballs. Its just genuinely fun unloading countless rounds of ammunition upon NPCs and riddling them with machine gun fire, and each mission is a challenge, even on the easiest difficulty. Plus, the gameplay is enhanced by the in game chatter, the music, the ability to give commands to your wingmen using the d-pad, and the aces, these rival pilots (denoted by signature markings) that can be a real pain in the ass to deal with. Aces have their own flying patterns and combat styles, making them formidable foes, and while it really sucks getting shot down by one of them after wading through more than half of a mission (which may have taken 25 minutes), they add some extra spice and personality to The Belkan War that's missing in the previous Ace Combats.

Other new additions are the use of actual people in the cut scenes, which are impressively done, despite the cornball dialogue, and a two player mode that's pretty cool. I would have rather been able to battle opponents in an eight player online mode, but considering that it's taken years to get a multiplayer mode in an Ace Combat title, simple offline one-on-one (split screen only) is at the very least a step in the right direction.

Now while Ace Combat Zero is a great game, I don't consider it a phenomenal one. The addition of aces and an online mode are pretty cool, but the gameplay is by and large the same as its predecessors, and with that being said, the same old thing is getting tired. Furthermore, the lack of checkpoints, while a badge of honor for the self-proclaimed "hardcore" set, is just a bad idea. Missions can take up to 30 plus minutes to complete, and dying at minute 28 is a deflating experience. Fans will eat it up, but I think casuals will give up and move on. I know that some people think that it's better to suck it up and tough it out, but I'm a busy guy and there's lots of other games to play. Let's get on with it.

Then there are the visuals. The Ace Combat series has always been the Gran Turismo of the PS2 skies and Zero is no exception, with its realistic looking planes and backgrounds. The ground is unimpressive up close, and the game isn't exactly as jaw dropping as its predecessors since it's being released in the shadow of next generation technology, but it's still very attractive.

Ace Combat Zero is a frantic and intense war based title that's a welcome addition to Namco's storied franchise. It's pretty, has plenty of missions to mess around with, and the gameplay is just as good as it's ever been. It's not going to win any awards for originality, and I'd argue that its arrival hasn't been met with much fanfare, which may be an indication that the Ace Combat series is losing its mass appeal, but this by the numbers sequel serves up more of the same, and if you've been hungering for more, it'll satiate your appetite.