Screaming through the night sky in a state-of-the-art jet fighter is a thrill that has so far eluded the Xbox 360. But aspirant pilots will soon get their chance, as leaked images of Ace Combat 6: Kaiho e no Senbi have appeared, and it's coming exclusively to the 360. Funny thing, these internet scans - we were about to announce the game on Thursday. Well, don't worry. We're going to have exclusive screens and a weeklong look at the entire Ace Combat series, including part six, in the coming days. High-res screens, developer interviews, hands-on time, the works... but we'll start with the official English title - Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation.

For those not in the know, the Ace series has been around for more than 10 years, delivering similar yet exciting entries in the jet-fighter genre. Part of the franchise's lasting appeal comes from its smart balance of realistic aircraft and arcade-style gameplay. The jets may be fully licensed and spitting images of their real-life counterparts, but for the sake of accessibility, they may not quite handle as a true fighter would. The bottom line is a game that anyone can pick up and enjoy, but enthusiasts will spend plenty of time ogling the visuals and nitpicking the individual planes' attributes.

Look for screens to hit by Friday, and look for a total blowout of Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation to hit soon after.

March 20, 2007