GAMES: GameSpot | GameFAQs MUSIC: Last.fm | MP3.com MOVIES: Metacritic | Movietome TV: TV.com
Home | About Metacritic | About Metascores | What's New | Wireless Versions | Discussion Forums | Advertising Inquiries | Contact Us | RSS
Metacritic.com: We Deal With Criticism
     Help
> Switch to Advanced Search  
Film Video/DVD Music Games TV

Games

Playstation Reviews
PS3 | PS2 | PS One | PSP

Xbox Reviews
Xbox 360 | Xbox

Nintendo Reviews
Wii | DS | GBA | Cube | N64


PC | N-Gage | Dreamcast

How Metascores Are Calculated
Discuss Games In Our Forums

 

Upcoming & Recent Releases

sort by name sort by score

Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed games.



Printer-Friendly Version Email This Page Discuss In Our Forums
Aero Elite: Combat Academy ps2 Game Reviews
Aero Elite: Combat Academy
Critic Score
Metascore: 64 Metascore out of 100
User Score  
7.2 out of 10
based on 18 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
based on 7 votes
Read user comments
Rate this game

Aero Elite is your opportunity to train as a fighter pilot and master the intricate flight mechanics and high-tech weaponry of today's latest aircraft. Take part in rigorous training, where you will master more than 60 types of aircraft, from jump jets to choppers. Through a wide range of combat scenarios, you'll hone your skills and perfect a wide variety of difficult aerial maneuvers. These will come in handy as you become intimately involved with radar-guided missiles, heavy machine guns, and terrestrial targets in need of destruction. Are you skilled enough to become one of the Aero Elite? Pilot more than 60 authentically-modeled aircraft, including helicopters. Battle above 12 different areas during morning, day, or night under various weather conditions. Master aerial acrobatics through realistic training. Outsmart deviously aggressive enemy squadrons. [Sega]

PUBLISHER: Sega of America
DEVELOPER: AM2
GENRE(S): Action, Simulation
PLAYERS: 2
ESRB RATING: E (Everyone)
RELEASE DATE: March 11, 2003

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

80
PSM Magazine
Visually stunning and incredibly complex, Aero Elite is a work of art that takes time to appreciate. [Apr 2003, p.34]
80
Cheat Code Central
The gamers that it will appeal to most of all are those beginning or dabbling in flight sims and/or for those looking for a game that presents a very realistic challenge.
77
GameSpy
It may be on a console, but don't let that deter you: it's actually surprisingly deep.
Read Full Review
75
GameNow
The missions are somewhat predictable. [Apr 2003, p.50]
70
GMR Magazine
Graphical shortcomings aside, hardcore fans shouldn't fret. AE is easily one of the most full-fledged flight sims available on any console. [Apr 2003, p.71]
70
Electronic Gaming Monthly
Stringent pilot-training courses and competitions seem dull at first, but as you unlock cooler aircraft, the fun blossoms. [Apr 2003, p.111]
70
Village Voice
While cheesy flight simulation goes back to the original PC, this incarnation's technical detail brings CNN's gee-whiz graphics-and-stats fighter plane descriptions—indicative of our fascination with death from above—to life.
Read Full Review
68
Game Informer
An excellent flight simulator, but a poor action game. [May 2003, p.83]
65
IGN
The whole package seems to have been constructed to drift onto retail floors, sit around for a while and then fade quietly into history.
Read Full Review
64
GameZone
A realistic flight sim. Sometimes realistic games can drive people away, which is what Aero Elite did for me. Most of the time I was doing nothing but trying to get in range of my target, then shot a missile.
Read Full Review
62
GameSpot
The controls are just a little too sluggish, making it feel as though you're driving a run-down school bus instead of a quick and nimble jet fighter or helicopter.
Read Full Review
60
PSX Nation
As good as the control and visual re-enactment of the real-life planes come across in Aero Elite, AM2 and Sega drop the ball somewhat when the players become proficient armchair pilots and start itching for new challenges beyond those of the Training missions.
Read Full Review
60
XGP Gaming
This game can only be recommended to flight fanatics or those into self-abuse.
Read Full Review
60
Official U.S. Playstation Magazine
The main problem is that there's just no sense of speed. You can be going Mach 1.2 and it feels like you're driving a charter bus. Uphill. Against the wind. In a foot of snow. Towing another charter bus. [Apr 2003, p.84]
60
G4 TV
Why are so many missions so dull? Why is the combat-radio voice work so insipid? And which unemployed sports commentator and soccer mom did the tutorial and combat voices, respectively?
Read Full Review
60
Yahoo! Games
The game tends toward actual-world realistic, but in a fancifully dull way.
Read Full Review
50
Armchair Empire
More of a simulation than arcade, which may seem good at first, but it's not.
Read Full Review
40
GamePro
Aero Elite’s true failure, though, is its boring gameplay. Dog fighting and attacking ground forces just isn’t entertaining.
Read Full Review

What Our Users Said

Vote Now! The average user rating for this game is 7.2 (out of 10) based on 7 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Efe B. gave it an8:
The score i gave is pretty high, im considering the game for what it is and grading it on that premises, being a console flight sim. this is not a fun game, it is a fun simulation. there is a huge difference. your avarage joe will play this one maybe for 5 minutes and hate every minute of it. but flight sim lovers who have a ps2 must own this game, this game seems very basic and dumb at first but as you play it, the game makes you feel dumb thinking that you only had a rental in your hands. this is the best console flight sim out there no daubt. i just wish the graphics were better...because in the end...thats all that matters, i mean...if you are joy flying over a canyon...that canyon must be pretty damn nice looking...right? i must say this...if they ever make a ps3 version of this, using all its technology...it will make gaming history. so, see past the horrible presentation and package design and horrible sound and mediocre graphics...this is a good and deep game.

[Anonymous] gave it a 10:
I think AE is the closest thing a console can get to a true flight sim, and acurately re-creates aircraft to their preformance, even taking into account airframe age (the Tomcat for example can't pull 9g's anymore. likewise, in the game, it's limited to 6.5). This is definitely not a game for people into arcade-like "sims".

Rick R. gave it a 10:
For those of you who are into aviation this one is for you.

Steve L. gave it a 4:
Fun for about 3 hours. Then the gameplay just starts to get repetitive and boring. It's defintely worth a rent, but in my opinion not a buyer at all, unless you are a HARDCORE flight-sim fan.

[Anonymous] gave it a 9:
This game is the only true flight sim on any playstation console. The challenges are very hard but not impossible. If you practice, you will surley be a ace at this game.

Pierre-Marc B. gave it a 9:
Best sim ever.

Discuss this game in our forums

Return to top of page
Home | FILM | DVD/VIDEO | MUSIC | GAMES | TV | Forums | About Metacritic metacritic.com

Popular on CBS sites: iPhone 3G | Fantasy Football | Moneywatch | Antivirus Software | Recipes | E3 2009

About CBS Interactive | Jobs | Advertise

© 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use