Ace Combat 2

This article does not cite any references or sources. (August 2007) Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed.

Ace Combat 2
Developer(s)	Namco
Publisher(s)	Namco
Platform(s)	PlayStation/Playstation 2 (Japan only)
Release date	August 15, 1997 2005 namcollection
Genre(s)	Flight simulator
Mode(s)	Single player
Media	CD-ROM

Ace Combat 2 is the sequel to the 1995 Arcade/Flight-sim Air Combat, released in 1997 by Namco. Ace Combat 2 is part of Namco's Ace Combat series and continues the arcade style gameplay of its predecessor, with major improvements. Various subsequent Ace Combat games use similar maps or missions. In 2005 Namco re-released Ace Combat 2 as part of the NamCollection for the Playstation 2 to celebrate the publisher's 50th anniversary.

Gameplay

Ace Combat 2's gameplay is very similar to Air Combat (its predecessor) however, AC2 has considerably improved graphics (both the planes and environment) and detailed features such as: moving flaps, air-brakes and afterburner effects. One new feature is the ability to find (and shoot down) enemy Ace planes; doing so will result in the player being rewarded with a medal of the defeated Ace, that can be viewed in the games medal viewer. Also the player can unlock "extra" aircraft for subsequent replays. One more interesting feature is the branching story paths; basically two sets of missions split between Operations "A"lphaville" and "B"ellissima" they each contain unique missions and both branches lead to mission 19. (Jewel Box)

Ace Combat 2 also features realistic dog fights, total 3D polygons, advanced artificial intelligence, dynamic mission debriefings, secret planes and hidden missions.

The game uses several elements that are still used in other Ace Combat games. There is the ability for the camera to focus on the last target that was destroyed, and also the ability to give wingmen orders.

There are numerous enemy Aces that the player can find and shoot down. While many of the normal pilots are Aces, the legendary pilots are the best forces that can be fought. They are distinguished from ordinary pilots by being named, and having a distinctive paint on their fighter. The legendary pilots all have different behaviours than other ones, and some of them work in a squadron. Shooting down a legendary pilot or the legendary squadron will earn the player a medal.

There are 3 different endings for the player to experience; a "normal" ending, a "bad" ending, and a secret "Bonus" ending. The player's actions during the game will decide what ending the player sees.

Plot

Military Rebels have seized Unified Forces sector NA-P2700. Striking while the heads of state were at a peace summit, political insurrectionists have seized and occupied the administration's center. Many institutions have already fallen to the rebels' orchestrated attacks around the world. Intelligence reports that the rebels now possess both strategic and long-range weapons. Their sphere of power has rapidly expanded in the coup d'état, as has their military capabilities. Since the United Forces are already spread thin around the globe, UF Headquarters has formed a mercenary tactical strike force, code named: Scarface. The player is to lead strike force Scarface against the rebel insurgents. The story is very light, but it foreshadows future events in later Ace Combat games.

Aircraft

Ace Combat 2 features twice the amount of planes to choose from than its predecessor; each with its own strengths and weaknesses. The player can fly various types of aircraft, ranging from the F-4 Phantom, F-14 Tomcat, F-117 Nighthawk, A-10 Thunderbolt II, the Russian MiG-29, Su-35, YF-22 as well as other types, The ultimate aircraft in the game is the XFA-27 Stealth Fighter.

The aircraft are split into two categories: normal and extra. Once the game has been beat once, the extra aircraft are unlocked and the player has the option of playing the game over with these new aircraft. These include the Mikoyan MiG-21, Sukhoi SU-25, SF-35 (Saab Draken), and the XFA-27. Normal aircraft include the ones mentioned in the above paragraph, with the exception of the XFA-27. Some aircraft are accessible in both normal and extra aircraft.

References

• Ace Combat 2 Instruction Manual

External links

• Ace-combat-2 at MobyGames
• Gamespot Review
• IGN Review
• Gamestats Figures
• offical site Japanese
• Ace Combat Wikia