If you’ve been following the ACE COMBAT 30th Anniversary celebrations, you know that Bandai Namco and Project Aces have been on a nostalgic tear. Since last year, they’ve been releasing monthly “Memorial Movies” for every major entry in the franchise, counting down to the highly anticipated ACE COMBAT 8: Wings of Theve.

The latest drop? A high-speed trip down memory lane with the ACE COMBAT 3D Memorial Movie, celebrating the 2012 Nintendo 3DS classic.

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A Remake Hiding in Plain Sight

For those in the UK and North America, you might remember this title better as Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Legacy. Despite the confusing Western branding (which tried to piggyback off the then-recent Assault Horizon), fans quickly realised this was something much more special: a full-blown, modernised remake of the legendary Ace Combat 2.

The memorial movie highlights exactly why this handheld gem deserves its spot in the pantheon:

• The Return to Usea: It brought us back to the 1998 Usean coup d’état, but with the narrative depth and “Ace Squadron” boss fights we loved from later titles like Ace Combat Zero.
• Manoeuvre Actions: It introduced the “Touch Pad” manoeuvres that allowed for cinematic dodges and tailing, which—while controversial to some purists—paved the way for the fluid action we see in AC7.
• The “Plus” Factor: The video pays homage to the Legacy+ update, which added amiibo support and those iconic Nintendo-themed fighter liveries.

Why It Matters Now

This isn’t just a simple clip show. These memorial movies are part of a massive lead-up to 2026, the year Ace Combat 8 is officially set to launch on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.

According to the cryptic messages hidden at the end of these videos, Project Aces is spelling out a “Thank You” to fans. With AC3D (Assault Horizon Legacy) now checked off the list, we are nearing the end of the countdown.

TechMash Trivia: Did you know that Ace Combat 3D actually fixed the infamous “Easy Monkey” typo from the original AC2? The + version finally correctly labeled it as “Easy Money.” Small wins!

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What’s Next for the 30th Anniversary?

As we move closer to the summer of 2026, the community is buzzing with rumours. Now that the spinoffs and handheld titles are getting their flowers, only a few heavy hitters remain in the memorial cycle—most notably Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown.

The release of Wings of Theve is the endgame, promising a return to the “Refugee Carrier” survival vibes and “photorealistic” skies powered by next-gen tech. If this memorial series has proven anything, it’s that the “Ace” legacy is stronger than ever.

Are you a fan of the 3DS entries, or are you strictly a home console pilot? Let us know in the comments below!

Find out more here – https://acecombat.jp/tc/movie/

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