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The Ace Combat Thread (NSF56k)
Muramasa18
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
Hello and welcome, boys and girls, to the Ace Combat thread! What's Ace Combat, you ask? Well, I'll tell you. It's a series of semi-realistic flight combat games, and it kicks ass. When I say semi-realistic, I mean it's an arcade-style series, with the abilities of the planes being greatly exaggerated. Real planes can't hold 100 missiles! The games are praised for their stunning graphics and music, engrossing stories and balls-to-the-wall action.
The games take place in an alternate Earth, with different landmasses and history, but with real-world jets. Many of the game's stories revolve around the aftermath of an asteroid hitting the earth, and the effect it had on the various nations.
I haven't played the first three on the PSX, or the PSP version, so this post will just cover 4, 5, 0, and 6. Let's get crackin'! This is my first OP of this sort, so please go easy on me and forgive me if it sucks, which it probably will.
ACE COMBAT 04: SHATTERED SKIES
Released in 2001, Ace Combat 04 is regarded by many, including me, as the high point of the series. It tells the story of the Continental War, fought between the nation of Erusia and the Independent State Allied Forces, or ISAF. You play as Mobius 1, and it's your job to kick ass and take names. The cutscenes are stylized still animations, narrated by a civilian during the war. They don't follow the direct actions of Mobius 1, but rather the effects of the war on his town.
ACE COMBAT 5: THE UNSUNG WAR
Released in 2004, Ace Combat 5 brings more to the table: more jets, more missions, more characters, and more great music. I personally think that this entry has the best music of the series. You play as Blaze, part of the Wardog Squadron of Osea in the war against Yuktobania. Ace Combat 5 introduced wingman commands; you had three wingmen in your squad, and besides from constantly delivering annoying dialogue, they could be ordered to cover you, attack targets in front of you, or disperse and engage enemy targets freely. The game also features an arcade mode, where you get to retake the mantle of Mobius 1, and play some fast-paced missions against enemy targets, but with a twist: you have extremely limited ammo, and need to destroy enemies to get more.
ACE COMBAT ZERO: THE BELKAN WAR
Released in 2006, Ace Combat Zero is a prequel to Ace Combat 5. It tells the story of the Belkan War, and how that nation became as fucked up as it is. You play as Galm 1, or Cipher, and you're accomponied by your wingman, Pixy. The game introduces an 'Ace Style' gauge, which changes depending on how you play the missions. You can either be ranked Soldier, Mercenary, or Knight. Mercenaries destroy all nonessential targets, Knights spare them, and Soliders find a balance between the two. The cutscenes and enemies you face change depending on your gauge. AC0 also features one of the most kickass songs ever:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQsWpcwvmI0. You know you love it.
ACE COMBAT 6: FIRES OF LIBERATION
The first Ace Combat game on a next generation console, AC6 was released in 2007 for the Xbox 360. Though it features fewer missions and aircraft then its predecessors, they're bigger, more jam-packed with targets, and far better looking. You are Garuda 1, known as Talisman, and your wingman is Shamrock. The big new feature in this entry, besides online play, is the dynamic operation system - most missions feature different operations, and you can choose which ones you want to clear, making for greater replay value. Namco has released downloadable content in the form of new jet colors from previous games, such as the Mobius 1 Raptor. These are more than just cosmetic, as they change the attributes of the planes. The game also introduces ESM fields, which, if they're from your allies, can increase the maneuverability of your missiles. The reverse also applies - wander into enemy ESM and you'll have a hell of a time dodging shit.
So that's my brief summary for each game I've played. Let's talk about 'em now. Which is YOUR favorite game? Favorite missions and aircraft? What do you want to see in Ace Combat 7?
The games take place in an alternate Earth, with different landmasses and history, but with real-world jets. Many of the game's stories revolve around the aftermath of an asteroid hitting the earth, and the effect it had on the various nations.
I haven't played the first three on the PSX, or the PSP version, so this post will just cover 4, 5, 0, and 6. Let's get crackin'! This is my first OP of this sort, so please go easy on me and forgive me if it sucks, which it probably will.
ACE COMBAT 04: SHATTERED SKIES
Released in 2001, Ace Combat 04 is regarded by many, including me, as the high point of the series. It tells the story of the Continental War, fought between the nation of Erusia and the Independent State Allied Forces, or ISAF. You play as Mobius 1, and it's your job to kick ass and take names. The cutscenes are stylized still animations, narrated by a civilian during the war. They don't follow the direct actions of Mobius 1, but rather the effects of the war on his town.
ACE COMBAT 5: THE UNSUNG WAR
Released in 2004, Ace Combat 5 brings more to the table: more jets, more missions, more characters, and more great music. I personally think that this entry has the best music of the series. You play as Blaze, part of the Wardog Squadron of Osea in the war against Yuktobania. Ace Combat 5 introduced wingman commands; you had three wingmen in your squad, and besides from constantly delivering annoying dialogue, they could be ordered to cover you, attack targets in front of you, or disperse and engage enemy targets freely. The game also features an arcade mode, where you get to retake the mantle of Mobius 1, and play some fast-paced missions against enemy targets, but with a twist: you have extremely limited ammo, and need to destroy enemies to get more.
ACE COMBAT ZERO: THE BELKAN WAR
Released in 2006, Ace Combat Zero is a prequel to Ace Combat 5. It tells the story of the Belkan War, and how that nation became as fucked up as it is. You play as Galm 1, or Cipher, and you're accomponied by your wingman, Pixy. The game introduces an 'Ace Style' gauge, which changes depending on how you play the missions. You can either be ranked Soldier, Mercenary, or Knight. Mercenaries destroy all nonessential targets, Knights spare them, and Soliders find a balance between the two. The cutscenes and enemies you face change depending on your gauge. AC0 also features one of the most kickass songs ever:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQsWpcwvmI0. You know you love it.
ACE COMBAT 6: FIRES OF LIBERATION
The first Ace Combat game on a next generation console, AC6 was released in 2007 for the Xbox 360. Though it features fewer missions and aircraft then its predecessors, they're bigger, more jam-packed with targets, and far better looking. You are Garuda 1, known as Talisman, and your wingman is Shamrock. The big new feature in this entry, besides online play, is the dynamic operation system - most missions feature different operations, and you can choose which ones you want to clear, making for greater replay value. Namco has released downloadable content in the form of new jet colors from previous games, such as the Mobius 1 Raptor. These are more than just cosmetic, as they change the attributes of the planes. The game also introduces ESM fields, which, if they're from your allies, can increase the maneuverability of your missiles. The reverse also applies - wander into enemy ESM and you'll have a hell of a time dodging shit.
So that's my brief summary for each game I've played. Let's talk about 'em now. Which is YOUR favorite game? Favorite missions and aircraft? What do you want to see in Ace Combat 7?
Muramasa18 on
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My wish for Ace Combat 7 is that it'll be on a system that I actually have, and not tease me by being on the 360.
Yo, Buddy. Still alive?
Ace Combat 4 was the first one I ever played so it reigns as my favorite. I also have Ace Combat 6 and I think I am on the last mission now. There were some "HOLY FUCKING GOD" moments in 6.
I have mixed feelings about 6. Looks gorgeous, and I like the way the planes handle. High-G turns in particular add some strategy in the form of energy management. But the first few lines of dialogue were the dumbest fucking thing I've ever heard, and it got progressively worse from there. And a few missions really annoyed me. So I really didn't like the single player. Somehow I thought I'd play online a lot more, but it just hasn't held my interest. Nobody team chats, battles are complete chaos, and there's nonstop SP weapon spamming, which doesn't get any better at close range due to the QAAMs.
But aside from that, it's probably my favorite game in the series. The mission design is better than the rest and the missions feel far more grandiose than the missions in any AC game before or after it.
But seriously, the characters and the writing attached to them are awful.
What I liked about AC6 was that the missions were a bit more realistic in what they actually expected you to do.
What I didn't like about AC6 was that the missions were a bit more realistic in what they actually expected you to do.
It's nice being just another cog in the machine providing close air support and that your allies in the air and on the ground aren't completely worthless, but it's just not all that exciting.
He's just Mobius motherfucking One.
I have managed to find a copy of Ace Combat 5: Unsung Wa... wait, Ace Combat: Squadron Leader as it was released in PAL. And AC4 was called Desert Strike. Desert fucking Strike. The games were awesome, though.
It was Distant Thunder, actually, but close enough.
I have checked, I concede, it's Distant Thunder.
Just a distant guess.
he fucking deserved it
Zero had probably the most compelling story, even if it was over the top. Pixy is a badass. Despite his name.
Haven't played 6 yet but my friends say it's a return to AC5-esque faggotry.
Alternate thread title: "Angels and Demons Dance with Ribbons in a World with no Boundaries"
I enjoyed them too.
So has anybody played the PSP version?
yes. this.
also "oh god, they've all got ribbons!" "calm down, we're yellows! we can beat them!"
or something to that effect. last mission in 4
Heh. I would put Nagase as my favorite character, then Chopper, and then Grimm. But really, I thought each character had their good qualities.
I didn't hear many good things about the PSP version, but speaking of 5, the narrator is supposedly Gennette again.
since 5 was my first AC, maybe i'm biased. But in my opinion, 6 is worse than 5. Too short, and the story was sooo much worse and the characters were infinitely more annoying than Nagase
Enlist in Star Citizen! Citizenship must be earned!
So yeah, I fell for AC5's bait hook line and sinker.
It was totally not what I was expecting. Very arcadey. Pretty amazing graphics.
Ive heard the games kinda stray into the realms of sci fi or alternate futures later on. is that true? that sounds pretty great.
the edge review mentioned like capital ships in the sky or something. it all sounds good.
Yeah it gets kind of out there at times with orbital laser platforms and such and it rocks when you're facing a fucking huge ass spaceship shooting homing lasers at you while you do strafing runs on it.
While in the atmosphere though, you're not actually going INTO space.
Great series, though I must admit I've never completed one besides 4. Nothing will ever reach the heights of that final mission, I'm afraid
Best superweapon? Stonehenge IMO.
In fact, were he smarter, he wouldn't have died at all. Let's ignore the fact that he refused to eject because his plane might land on the city below despite the fact that you've all been shooting down enemy aircraft over the city for fifteen fucking minutes and those pilots don't seem so enthusiastic about killing themselves to save the people in the city.
Right, so we're ignoring that. In the time it took for him to get hit and for his electronics to fry and leave him unable to eject, he could have very easily done one of two things that would have been less potentially harmful to the city than flying his jet into a stadium at high speeds.
Firstly, he could have aimed his plane at one of the several large hills and mountains in and around the city. If you look closely at them, they are uninhabited.
Secondly, he could have easily flown out to the ocean and dropped his plane harmlessly into the water.
But he does neither. He just kills himself because he was a moron and clearly deserved to die.
Also, I like to stick him in a two-seater plane so that I can imagine his co-pilot screaming at him to stop being so stupid while he's refusing to eject.
AC5 has a truly epic trench run, though.
Especially the mission where you fly a trainer jet.
http://www.basticle.net/misc/Air%20Combat%20-%20Track%2007.mp3
Music from mission 4 I think. Pumps me the fuck up to this day.
Sweet holy moses this sounds like the greatest thing ever.
Yeah each game has at least one superweapon of doom.
Nope 6 had one.
Also is retaking Gracemeria the last mission of AC6?