Ace Combat: Assault Horizon for Xbox 360 Reviews by Gamers

At first, I was genuinely excited for the game. It promised some really cool features like the Dogfight Mode. I replayed Ace Combat 6 before I picked this one up to compare the two. Unfortunately, I regretted that decision.
Assault Horizon takes a new approach to the series by making it a hardcore, action-packed, in-your-face thrill ride. Essentially trying to become a Call of Duty when it doesn't need to be. Don't get me wrong, the action is pretty cool, but it felt like it was just copying modern FPS games.
The thing that really killed it for me was the flight combat, the meat of the game. The first misstep was the lack of a worthwhile tutorial. With a game that brings so many new and unique mechanics, it is unforgivable to not properly teach you how to do it. The old Ace Combat games barely evolved their combat systems and they all gave step-by-step tutorial stages, why not here?
The first thing the game does is shove you right into Dogfight Mode (DFM). It's pretty cool and it makes fighting aces pretty intense as you follow them and rip their planes to shreds. Unfortunately, it overuses the mechanic. Almost all primary target planes, especially aces, feel like they need to be taken down in DFM. The game suppresses the skills that hardcore AC fans like me have mastered over the series.
Assault Horizon is also brutally difficult, even on normal. Flying around, even in DFM, you are constantly assaulted with missile locks and enemies forcing you into DFM. The IR flares are bad and don't help at all. They removed the wingman system so your squadron mates fly around and do nothing while you're getting raped by five enemy planes. It makes you want to throw your controller across the room.
The game has good mission variety but the helicopter controls are clunky and awkward and the AC-130 mission is pretty boring. The bombers are fun though.
If you're a fan of the series, you'll be disappointed. If you're new, you might actually enjoy it. Just be ready to die a l