Air Combat

Air Combat
Developer(s)	Namco
Publisher(s)	Namco NA: Namco Hometek (PS) EU: Sony Computer Entertainment (PS)
Producer(s)	Kazumi Mizuno
Designer(s)	Masanori Kato
Composer(s)	Nobuhide Isayama Masako Oogami
Series	Ace Combat
Platform(s)	PlayStation, mobile phone
Release	JP: June 30, 1995 NA: September 9, 1995 EU: October 13, 1995
Genre(s)	Combat flight simulation
Mode(s)	Single-player, multiplayer

Air Combat^[a] is a 1995 combat flight simulation video game developed and published by Namco for the PlayStation. Players control an aircraft and are tasked with completing a series of missions, with objectives ranging from destroying formations of enemies to protecting a specific target from enemy fire. Missions award money that is used to purchase new fighter aircraft, each with its own unique weapons and strengths.

Air Combat is based on a 1993 arcade game of the same name that ran on the Namco System 21 hardware. Company employees Masanori Kato and Kazumi Mizuno were tasked with bringing the game to the then-new PlayStation, but decided to create a new game from scratch after realizing the PlayStation's hardware was not powerful enough to properly render the arcade version's gameplay. Air Combat shipped 2.23 million copies worldwide and was later reprinted under Sony's The Best budget title range. Critics found enjoyment in the game's arcade-like gameplay, realism, and cinematic approach, though several criticized its graphics and presentation for being below-average. It spawned the Ace Combat franchise with several sequels, spin-offs, and other forms of media.
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