Ace Combat X2 Joint Assault: New Trailer, Screenshots and info

Ace Combat X2: Joint Assault
Picture uploaded by Abriael

As the Japanese release date (July the 22nd) approaches, Namco Bandai released a new trailer, a new batch of screenshots and information about the newest PSP chapter of the Ace Combat series, Ace Combat X2: Joint Assault. You can see the screenshots in this Flickr gallery, and the new trailer at the bottom of this post (after the jump).

The most juicy piece of information is definitely the multiplayer mode, that not only will allow up to eight players to duel in the virtual skies both via infrastructure and ad-hoc connection, but, for the first time in the series, will include a four-player cooperative mode during the campaign. This explains the "Joint Assault" title. The ability to play a flight combat game alongside three other friends definitely seems a lot of fun. We can definitely hope to see an home console-based Ace Combat game featuring the same option in the future (Namco Bandai just trademarked the title Ace Combat: Assault Horizon)

For the ones that found the previous Ace Combat titles too difficult (if someone like that actually exists), there will be two control options, similar to those seen in Sky Crawlers: Innocent Aces. The Basic control option will just allow the plane to tilt to a limited degree, more or less like it does in After Burner, with the screen always remaining parallel to the ground. Also, neutering the analog stick will result in the plane automatically resuming level flight.
The Expert control option will instead allow complete freedom of movement, with the ability to do complete loops and barrel rolls, and will not include any flight aids. It will also let the player see the action from inside the cockpit to increase immersion.

Also, by pressing triangle, the player will be able to activate the a tracking camera that will move the view automatically towards the targeted enemy, and will follow it automatically.

Personally, I can't really see the utility of the basic control scheme, since I found such an option absolutely frustrating and boring in all games that featured it, but I guess there has to be a few people in the world capable of appreciating it. I don't know who they are or where they live, but they have to exist, since developers continue to offer dumbed down controls for their sake.

Namco Bandai also confirmed the existence of the usual Ace Combat gigantic enemies and between the screenshots you can see quite a few pictures of the titanic flying fortress "Spirdas". Some of the screenshots also show four players fighting against it in co-op mode.

We also got a nice overview of the story of the game, that, as we already knew, will be set in the real world instead of the usual fictional world that characterized the previous chapters of the series. Looks like Project Aces is going back to the ancestral Japanese cliche of an attack on the home country, reminiscent of the old glorious Godzilla movies.

The protagonist of the game, that as usual will not be shown or characterized, but will just act as a subjective and silent point of view, belongs to the Antares Squadron, part of a private air force named Martinez Security.
In the year 20XX, a disastrous world-wide crisis has left the global economy wounded, and military corporations are gaining a strong footing in several regions.

As Antares takes part to it's first joint military dill, a mysterious military group named Valahia, apparently formed by ex communist and middle-eastern mercenaries, stages a strike on Tokyo with an astonishing show of force. The scenes of the destruction of the Japanese capital are shown everywhere in the world, causing a new wave of terror.

The purposes of Valahia are unknown, as much as how they managed to gather the military power and equipment that they used against Tokyo, but the attack isn't just an isolated terrorist act, as the mysterious organization starts to wage a full scale war even in Europe and in the Middle East.
As the flames of war threaten to spread to the whole world, the IUPF, a multi-national security force that incorporates Antares organize to stage a counter-strike, oblivious of the economical interests that might run deep behind the curtains of the conflict.

Besides the story, Namco Bandai also elaborated on some of the characters that will drive it:

Frederick Bulford: the 52 years old commander of the Martinez Security M42 Squadron. He used to be part of the Air Force (presumably the US Air Force), but has retired due to problems with his superior officers. After moving to Martinez, he trained several ages, and became extremely respected even between his former colleagues.

Milos Suleimani: the 37 years old commander of the 1st wing of the M42 Squadron, known as the "Rigel Team". Usually cold and stern, he's an extremely capable fighter pilot, respected by the members of his team. He seems to be more interested in money, than in killing the enemy.

Nicolae Dimitrescu: 47 years old and commander of the forces of Valahia. He formerly a member of the secret police of an ex-communist nation (presumably Romania, given his name). He lost his family and was forced to leave his country during the revolution that overthrew the regime. He created Valahia using personnel from the middle east and central Asia, in order to take revenge against his former country.

Andrea Olivieri: 63 years old. He's the CEO of Olivieri Life Insurance, Inc. He grew up as part of a poor family of immigrants, but managed to build a global corporation in the span of one generation. Due to the financial crisis, the bombing of Tokyo and the rapid expansion of war damage, his company is earning huge profits.

This is it, for now. We'll have to stand by for further information but the elements for a very enjoyable chapter of the series seem to be there. In the meanwhile you can watch the new trailer below.