Ace Combat 2
Encyclopedia
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.
; its main differences are considerably improved graphics and features on both the aircraft and the environment (aircraft display moving flaps, air-brakes, and afterburner effects).
Players fly and destroy various targets to earn money for their air force, which can be used to unlock new aircraft. As more aircraft are unlocked, the player also rises in rank. A graph also indicates how many times the aircraft have been used. The game's official superfighter is the ADF-01 Falken, which is not unlockable.
Later in the game, the player will have a choice of two branching mission paths (called Alphaville and Belissima). Certain targets in missions can also unlock secret missions.
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: Ace Combat 5 and Ace Combat Zero, both for PS2. AC5 (2004) shows some weapons that were used by AC2's coup d'état 15 years ago the PS2 game's plot (2010), but AC5 is only explained in AC Zero (2006), that happens on the same year of AC2 and explains that the PSX game's coup d'état was a eastern brace of "The World with No Boundaries" AC Zero's own organization. After the fall of this coup on both games, some remnants prepare a new attack 15 years later on Ace Combat 5. None of these games can be completely understood without each other, which makes the old Ace Combat series one of the most interesting plots in a non-RPG.
Air Combat
Air Combat, released in Japan as Ace Combat, is a semi-realistic flight-sim/action game developed and released by Namco in 1995 for the PlayStation. It is part of the Ace Combat series. All subsequent games retained the original Ace Combat name.Air Combat is also an arcade game from Namco in 1992...
, released in 1997 by Namco
Namco
is a Japanese corporation best known as a former video game developer and publisher. Following a merger with Bandai in September 2005, the two companies' game production assets were spun off into Namco Bandai Games on March 31, 2006. Namco Ltd. was re-established to continue domestic operation of...
. Ace Combat 2 is part of Namco
Namco
is a Japanese corporation best known as a former video game developer and publisher. Following a merger with Bandai in September 2005, the two companies' game production assets were spun off into Namco Bandai Games on March 31, 2006. Namco Ltd. was re-established to continue domestic operation of...
's Ace Combat
Ace Combat
Ace Combat is a hybrid arcade-simulation flight action video game series featuring 12 games, published by the Japanese company Namco Bandai Games...
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
NamCollection
NamCollection is a collection of 5 PlayStation games by Namco in 2005 to celebrate their 50th Anniversary. It was only released in Japan. Its was a portmanteau of Namco and Collection words.It includes: Ace Combat 2, Mr...
for the PlayStation 2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
to celebrate the publisher's 50th anniversary.
Gameplay
Ace Combat 2s gameplay is very similar to that of its predecessor Air CombatAir Combat
Air Combat, released in Japan as Ace Combat, is a semi-realistic flight-sim/action game developed and released by Namco in 1995 for the PlayStation. It is part of the Ace Combat series. All subsequent games retained the original Ace Combat name.Air Combat is also an arcade game from Namco in 1992...
; its main differences are considerably improved graphics and features on both the aircraft and the environment (aircraft display moving flaps, air-brakes, and afterburner effects).
Players fly and destroy various targets to earn money for their air force, which can be used to unlock new aircraft. As more aircraft are unlocked, the player also rises in rank. A graph also indicates how many times the aircraft have been used. The game's official superfighter is the ADF-01 Falken, which is not unlockable.
Later in the game, the player will have a choice of two branching mission paths (called Alphaville and Belissima). Certain targets in missions can also unlock secret missions.
Aces
Ace Combat 2 introduces the concept of aces, elite pilots that have better flight performance than standard enemy pilots. They are identifiable by their planes' unique color schemes and their callsigns. Some of the aces fly together as a squadron. Shooting down a legendary pilot or squadron will earn a medal in the player's record.Plot
MilitaryMilitary
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
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
World
World is a common name for the whole of human civilization, specifically human experience, history, or the human condition in general, worldwide, i.e. anywhere on Earth....
. Intelligence
Intelligence (information gathering)
Intelligence assessment is the development of forecasts of behaviour or recommended courses of action to the leadership of an organization, based on a wide range of available information sources both overt and covert. Assessments are developed in response to requirements declared by the leadership...
reports that the rebels now possess both strategic and long-range weapons. Their sphere of power has rapidly expanded in the coup d'état
Coup d'état
A coup d'état state, literally: strike/blow of state)—also known as a coup, putsch, and overthrow—is the sudden, extrajudicial deposition of a government, usually by a small group of the existing state establishment—typically the military—to replace the deposed government with another body; either...
, as has their military capabilities. Since the United Forces are already spread thin around the globe, UF Headquarters has formed a mercenary
Mercenary
A mercenary, is a person who takes part in an armed conflict based on the promise of material compensation rather than having a direct interest in, or a legal obligation to, the conflict itself. A non-conscript professional member of a regular army is not considered to be a mercenary although he...
tactical strike force, code named: Scarface. The player is to lead strike force Scarface against the rebel
Rebellion
Rebellion, uprising or insurrection, is a refusal of obedience or order. It may, therefore, be seen as encompassing a range of behaviors aimed at destroying or replacing an established authority such as a government or a head of state...
insurgents
Insurgency
An insurgency is an armed rebellion against a constituted authority when those taking part in the rebellion are not recognized as belligerents...
.
The story is very light, but it foreshadows future events in later Ace Combat games: Ace Combat 5 and Ace Combat Zero, both for PS2. AC5 (2004) shows some weapons that were used by AC2's coup d'état 15 years ago the PS2 game's plot (2010), but AC5 is only explained in AC Zero (2006), that happens on the same year of AC2 and explains that the PSX game's coup d'état was a eastern brace of "The World with No Boundaries" AC Zero's own organization. After the fall of this coup on both games, some remnants prepare a new attack 15 years later on Ace Combat 5. None of these games can be completely understood without each other, which makes the old Ace Combat series one of the most interesting plots in a non-RPG.