Will be interested to see what you think of the game as a whole; I played it on release and haven't had much of a chance to discuss it with anyone else.
Well, anyone else with a brain, anyway xD

I've beaten it. Twice.

I'm just doing this because it's a unique experience, to play the game's missions on the days they are supposed to occur.

Okay then?
Hope you have fun with it

Heh, told you, nerd stuff.

As for my opinion on it, I liked it. Not as engaging as 5 or 0, but still very good. The new weather effects are interesting, and the story was good as well.

The background idea, that drone warfare may make people think war is 'clean', and therefore perhaps cause war to be more likely, was also good.

Yeah, I agree with what you're saying; I didn't feel as invested as what I call the 'classics', but it was good to be back in the proper setting. Graphically yeah, it was gorgeous and the weather was a neat touch. Especially as it was incorporated into a few missions.
I did enjoy the story too, more than I expected to. Liked the drone warfare angle too - reminded me a bit of Macross Plus in some ways, but the way you put it is something I hadn't considered as much too, and is another good angle on it.

I've only played it through fully once so far, I want to do another play through and unlock more of the aircraft and play with more of a variety of them as well. Also still need to hunt down all the aces as well, which is something I'm looking forward to doing.

Cool nerdy idea of yours though, to play the missions on the day they happen. I remember someone doing the same with 5 a couple of years ago.

Yeah, overall, I'm happy with the game.

Now we just need 'em to remaster the older games on PC!

Ooof, yeah - a remastered collection would be fantastic! Especially if it included the PSP games and the one for the 3DS that was a remake of 2.

I'd prefer 2 in it's un-'remastered' story, though.

I haven't played the 're-mastered' one in full, but I quite like that it made an effort to fit it in with the established 'canon' and geography of the games that followed.
TBH, I'd be happy to have it whichever way it came, just so long as it looked pretty and played well xD

Yeah, I'd be happy as well.