Aces – Iron Eagle 3 (known in the West as Ultimate Air Combat) is a combat flight simulator for the NES developed by Activision. Releasing in Japan under Pack-In-Video, it stands out for pushing the 8-bit console with a unique dual-perspective system, alternating between first-person cockpit dogfights and an isometric view for tactical ground-attack bombing runs.
How to Play
Your objective is to pilot your chosen fighter jet through multiple missions, managing fuel and surviving against enemy aircraft and ground installations. In the browser, the standard NES controls are mapped to the Arrow Keys for flight movement and targeting, Z (A button) to fire your machine gun, and X (B button) to launch missiles. Press Shift (Select) to cycle through available weapons, and Enter (Start) to pause the game. You can also deploy flares by pressing Z and X simultaneously.
Tips
- Preserve Your Fleet: You have three jets available (F-14 Tomcat, F-18 Hornet, and Harrier). If a plane runs out of fuel or crashes, it is permanently lost for the rest of the campaign.
- Dogfighting Mechanics: During the first-person segments, missiles require a strict lock-on angle. If you struggle to get a lock, rely on your machine gunโit is highly effective and far more forgiving.
- Ground Attacks: In the isometric bombing segments, follow the arrow in the upper-left corner to locate primary targets, and stay low to the ground to evade incoming anti-air fire.
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