My favorite of the PS2 era Ace Combat games. I just like how it gets down to business in terms of gameplay. I feel like it's just right in terms of mission amounts- not all of them are hits but the majority are good. The side-plot of the civilian boy is nice, and doesn't get in the way of the experience, which I felt that Unsung War and Fires of Liberation tripped up in to some extent.

It's probably also the easiest to pick up and play just one or two missions- a few of them are longer length but if you only have time for one that's probably fine. All in all, a good time