Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Army Men: Air Combat brings the strategic air battles of its console counterparts to a compact, handheld format without sacrificing mission depth. With 16 distinct missions, players take on objectives ranging from daring rescue operations to high-stakes bombing runs. Each level feels unique, testing your piloting skills, resource management, and split-second decision-making as you navigate dense jungles, desert canyons, and fortified enemy bases.

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The controls are simple yet responsive, offering digital pad maneuvering and context-sensitive action buttons for firing missiles, dropping bombs, or performing evasive rolls. While the pace can feel brisk, the learning curve is forgiving, making it accessible for newcomers but still rewarding for series veterans. As in Army Men: Air Tactics and Air Attack, fuel and ammunition are limited, so careful planning and swift execution are paramount.

Mission variety is one of the title’s strongest suits. Early stages focus on basic dogfighting and strafing runs, gradually introducing supply drops, stealth approaches, and escort assignments. Some missions even require you to coordinate with ground units, providing a satisfying sense of teamwork despite the solitary cockpit perspective. Overall, the gameplay loop stays fresh from start to finish.

Graphics

Given the constraints of a pocket console, Army Men: Air Combat delivers surprisingly detailed visuals. The plastic soldier models have a distinctive sheen, and the environments—whether leafy jungles or arid desert plateaus—feature layered scrolling backgrounds to convey depth. Explosions and missile trails are rendered crisply, adding excitement to every aerial engagement.

The color palette sticks to the classic green-versus-tan motif of the Army Men franchise, but clever shading and sprite work give you a clear sense of altitude and distance. Enemy fortifications, shipping convoys, and hidden anti-air emplacements pop out against the terrain, helping you plan attack vectors quickly. While it doesn’t match the polygonal flair of console titles, the game’s 2D art style feels polished and consistent throughout its 16-mission run.

Cutscenes and mission briefings are presented via static illustrations and text overlays, maintaining the portable theme while still conveying narrative context. Character portraits and schematic diagrams add personality to each briefing, making you feel invested in the success of your plastic comrades. Altogether, the graphics strike a strong balance between clarity, style, and technical feasibility.

Story

Although Army Men: Air Combat doesn’t boast an elaborate plot, it weaves a simple yet engaging narrative that ties the missions together. You assume the role of “Wing Commander Sarge,” a fearless pilot tasked with turning the tide in the ongoing conflict between the Green Army and the nefarious Tan forces. The stakes escalate naturally, moving from rescue attempts to full-scale offensive strikes on enemy strongholds.

Each mission briefing provides just enough context to keep you invested—whether you’re extractions behind enemy lines, supply runs to isolated units, or carpet-bombing runs to soften fortifications. The story unfolds through mission objectives rather than lengthy cutscenes, which keeps the action flowing while still giving you a purpose beyond mere score-chasing.

Recurring characters, like the plucky Lieutenant Grub and the hardened Captain Brittle, add flavor through quips and commendations delivered between assignments. While the narrative is straightforward, it captures the lighthearted, plastic-soldier charm that fans love. You’ll find yourself rooting for your miniature troops with every successful sortie.

Overall Experience

Army Men: Air Combat succeeds as a handheld adaptation of the series’ air-combat spin-offs, providing a well-rounded package of engaging missions and approachable controls. Its 16-mission campaign offers hours of replayability, especially if you’re chasing perfect completion times or hidden mission bonuses. The balance of offensive and support roles ensures the gameplay never feels repetitive.

While it lacks the 3D depth of console entries like Army Men: Air Attack, this portable version carves out its own identity with polished sprite work, varied mission design, and tight performance. The pocket-sized format means you can enjoy full-blast air battles on the go, making it an attractive choice for fans of flight action and strategic handheld titles alike.

Ultimately, Army Men: Air Combat is an engaging romp through plastic battlefields, offering accessible yet substantial air warfare in a portable shell. Whether you’re a long-time Army Men aficionado or a newcomer seeking bite-sized aerial thrills, this title delivers an entertaining, mission-packed experience that’s easy to pick up and hard to put down.

Retro Replay Score

null/10