Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Legacy

Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Legacy, known in Japan as Ace Combat 3D: Cross Rumble (エースコンバット 3D クロスランブル) is an upcoming new game for the Nintendo 3DS, coming out November 15, 2011 in North America.

Gameplay
Cross Rumble features standard Ace Combat gameplay prior to Assault Horizon, where the player controls an aircraft of their choice through different stages, destroying all mission-important targets. Before each mission, you will be able to select what aircraft to fly, as well as wingmen and special munitions for your craft. Similar to the original game, the destruction of a target will result in being net with a congratulatory message, such as "Nice shot!" and "Good job!", contrasting with Ace Combat 2's "Bingo!". However, the message appears in the lower edge of the screen, as opposed to the center of the screen.

A portion of the reveal trailer confirms the return of wingmen John Harvard and Kei Nagase, which also contains a small bar with a blank space named "None", allowing you to choose no wingmen like in the original version of Ace Combat 2.

Another addition to the game is the "ace squadron" concept introduced in Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War. The reveal trailer features the squadrons Cocoon, who fly Rafale-type aircraft, Lancer, who fly F-14 Tomcats, Beast, who fly F/A-18E Super Hornets and Albireo, who are the first squadron of the series to fly the PAK-FA. Each squadron's appearance features an introductory cutscene, not unlike The Belkan War. The game also features the return of the original game's Z.O.E. aircraft, with the trailer featuring a confrontation between the main character and the Z.O.E. Captain, now piloting an F-14D, in a night stage.

Special paint schemes have been confirmed to return in Cross Rumble, as evidenced by previous screenshots portraying an Su-37 Terminator in its famed Aquila Squadron livery.

Story
It is sometime after the Belkan War, and the Osean Federation along with The Union of Yuktobanian Republics have grown as the two greatest superpowers in the world. Due to these events, the nations of USEA finally decided to put aside their mutual differences and end the tension by banding together to face this threat. However, for reasons unknown, a group of southern nations ranging from the Independent State of Ugellas to the western coast decided to abandon the USEA and join the Osean Federation. However, the Federal Republic of Erusea, North Point, and many other northern and Western nations opposed and protested the movement. However, they were already too late, Osea extended a military pact to the southern nations.

On the day when the southern nations were to join the Osean Federation, conservative extremists from all over Usea organized from North Point's capital, Saint Ark, a Coup D'état that encompassed the entire continent, starting in USEA Allied sector NA-P2700. The rebels feared that like the Principality of Belka, their mining rights would be robbed and the Osean military would have a constant and invasive presence in Usea. Using these fears as a common thread, they were able to quickly spread their influence too many land, sea, and air units to join the cause and because this, merciless fighting among Rebel and Allied forces began in all parts of Usea.

The Usean Allied Forces at first believed the rebellion could be ended swiftly early on, but due to the aggressiveness of the movement, were forced to retreat. Despair had quickly settled in that the Coup forces would win and take over the Government of USEA completely. To bring back one last glimmer of hope to the Allied Cause and answer the Rebellion's continuous successes, Allied Headquarters started Operation: "Fighters Honor" by contracting the Mercenary USEAN Allied Forces 37th Air Force 18th Fighter Wing 9th Special Tactical Fighter Squadron "Scarface". With the stage set, Scarface 1, TAC Name Phoenix, must take to the skies and bring an end to the coup.

Aircraft
The game contains aircraft featured in the original Ace Combat 2, such as the Su-25 Frogfoot and the F-16C Fighting Falcon. New aircraft included are the Sukhoi PAK-FA, Su-37 Terminator and Su-47 Berkut, F-2A Viper Zero and F-22A Raptor. Original aircraft, such as the ADF-01 Falken and the XFA-27 have been confirmed as unlockable.

Development history
The development of Cross Rumble was first announced in September 2010, being featured in an article from gaming site 4gamer describing games that were then in development, being tentatively known as Ace Combat 3D. Months later, in E3 2011, the first footage of the game was released. Through 2011, the nature of the screenshots (more specifically, the locations featured and fact that the player aircraft brandished the roundel of the Scarface Squadron) gave birth to speculation that the game would be a remake or sequel to Ace Combat 2. Said rumors became true in September 13, 2011, when Namco Bandai released the first official trailer of the game, confirming its name as Ace Combat 3D: Cross Rumble.

Trailer:

 * Ace Combat 3D shown at 00:28secs.
 * Ace Combat 3D gameplay video

Sources:

 * 4gamer article on Ace Combat 3D
 * Cubed3 article on Ace Combat 3D and screen shots.
 * Gaming Age article on Ace Combat 3D