Ace Combat Zero is a flight simulator game made by Bandi Namco Games in 2006 for the PlayStation 2, and is the eighth installment of the Ace Combat Series.
Gameplay
Ace Combat zero’s gameplay is split into Single player campaign and Multiplayer mode. this game features fighter jets from the second generation such as the Mig 21 fishbed to the fifth generation such as the f-22 raptor also there is advanced aircraft that are from the previous ace combat games like the ADF-01 Falken from Ace Combat 5 and ADFX-02 Morgan. Players also can unlock the X-02 Wyvren from ace combat 4.
This game brought back Ace combat 4’s Aircraft customization system which allows players to buy three special weapons per plane however can only choose one for the mission and choose one special weapon for wingman but never the fighter aircraft another element form Ace Combat 4 is that the player can withdraw from the battle and replenish the fighter aircraft’s missiles and special weapons at home base. Like it’s sequel Ace Combat 5 the player can issue orders to wingman such as Attack, Disperse, use special weapons and cover the player. Another feature of this game like the previous games is the enemy aces with unique paint schemes that will appear in many mission depending on the difficulty of the game as well the introduction of the boss squadrons that player would face against. Also all of the pilots information could be looked at the assault records
Ace Style
The only element that is new to the Ace Combat series. In the story mode the player would encounter enemy targets that are incapable of fighting or less of a threat to the player, both are marked as yellow dots on the map and on the HUD. After every mission there is a horizontal bar below the score board with three boxes marked as “Mercenary,” “Solider,” and “Knight” depending player’s actions the bar would slide to the left, stay in the middle or go to the right if the player destroys the yellow targets or not.
Setting
Ace Combat Zero takes place in 1995,15 years before the events of Ace Combat 5 the Unsung war, revolving around a conflict between The Principality of Belka and Allied Forces which consist of the Osean Federation, The Union of Yuktobanian Republics, Republic of Usito, and the Kingdom of Sapin. The war was briefly mentioned in the beginning of the Unsung war’s story mode cutscene. Seven years before the war there was political unrest in Belka and the Belkan Government had to allow countries like the Republic of Usito to have their independence however, this was not enough to fix their economy seizing the opportunity Osea, a leading superpower expands eastward. Fearing for the worst an extreme right wing party took over the government and focused on returning Belka like it used to be. Once Belka had learned Usito had natural resources they invaded on March 25,1995.
Characters
The Player assumes the role of a mysterious mercenary pilot Cipher commissioned by the Usitian Air Force. His wingman is another mercenary pilot named Larry “Pixy” Foulke and later Patrick “PJ” James Beckett. Most of game’s narrative is through the eyes of an Oesan Journalist named Brett Thompson who interviews the former fighter pilots that fought with cipher with the intent on getting to know who the mysterious mercenary.
Plot
In March 1995 Belka quickly invaded Osea, Usito and Sapin for their natural resources in order to make the country great again. unable to stop the Belkan war machine the three countries join forces along with another country Osea’s rival Yuktobania and formed the Allied forces. Cipher and Pixy of the Usitian 66th Air Division squadron known as Galm Team assisted the allied forces through many intense battles such as the offensive campaign 4101, Operation Varsity and Operation Battle-Axe. Although the Allied Forces were successful with the help of Galm team Larry starts to question his role in this war after he escorted Allied Bombers to an industrial city named Hoffnung and witnessed the carnage below as well the Belkan troops with in the area resorting to a scorched earth policy. On edge of defeat, Belka detonated seven nuclear bombs on their own cities to prevent the Allies from advancing any further. In the confusion Larry betrays his flight lead Cipher and fled from the battle after that Cipher has a new wingman by the name of Patrick Beckett callsign “PJ”, they both defeated a renegade faction of Belkan troops that were stationed at Belka’s northern coast while a peace treaty to reduce belka’s military and gain some of Belka’s resource rich territory on June 20,1995. During a six month period of peace, soldiers and pilots from both the allies and belka disagreed with the treaty and formed a terrorist organization named A World with No Boundaries. On December 25,1995 A World with No Boundaries attacked Valais airbase with a heavy air cruiser called XB-0 Hresvelgr along with the escort of a renegade Sapinish fighter squadron known as Espada, Cipher and PJ went after them and defeated them. Six days later A World with no Boundaries threaten to use an intercontinental ballistic missile codename V2 and launch it from there base located in northern Belka. Cipher, PJ, and the rest of the Allied Forces head over to the terrorist base while on route Cipher and PJ were ambushed by a fighter squadron depending on your ace style despite this Galm team managed to defeat them and join up with the allied to attack the base. After destroying the components that would launch V2 PJ talks about proposing to his Girlfriend back at the base however PJ was instantly shot down and killed by Foulke who defected to the A World With No Boundaries and acquired a super fighter jet the ADX-02 Morgan. Cipher engaged his former wingman and came out victorious. After months of interviewing the aces that fought with Cipher, Brett Thompson managed to tracked down Larry who survived the engagement with Cipher and fighting in some war also still delusional of what countries mean. His last words in the Interview were “yo buddy you still alive” and hopes that Cipher watching. After that concludes that there was no personal information about the mercenary but with the Interviews of the pilots and the they give that was his answer.
Reviews
Ign : 8.8/10
Metacritic: 75/100
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