Another Century's Episode 2
Encyclopedia
, abbreviated as A.C.E.2, is a third-person
mecha
action
video game produced by Banpresto
and developed by From Software
. It is the sequel
to the popular 2005 game Another Century's Episode
. It was released for the Sony PlayStation 2 on March 30, 2006.
On November 29, 2007 Banpresto released A.C.E.2 Special Vocal Edition, as a follow-up to the heels of A.C.E.2's sequel, Another Century's Episode 3: The Final. This version includes vocal theme songs for each of the featured animated series in the game.
, as it involves its own original plot, as well as covering events that already happened in A.C.E., albeit differently. This is not an unusual occurrence, as Banpresto has done this with most entries in the Super Robot Wars
franchise; most of the games in that series are not connected by an established continuity (exceptions include the Super Robot Wars Alpha
games and the titles in the Super Robot Wars Classic Timeline), with remakes or updates abounding.
However, there are some links back to A.C.E. in the sequel. The Ark series, including the main character's Gunark, use as their power source the super-volatile substance E2, which was introduced in the first game. Additionally, most of the A.C.E. original enemies return, this time with a backstory, while in A.C.E. they were simply there to add to the challenge.
Fighter Mode and the transformations of machines like Layzner MK II and L-Gaim MK II. Flight Mode is the standard control system, where the player controls roll and pitch with the Left Analogue Stick, and can bank with the L1 and R1 buttons. Easy Mode has the analogue stick control both roll and pitch. Flight Reverse Mode reverses the natural set-up for altitude, so that tilting the analogue Stick down causes the machine to dive, while holding it up makes the machine climb.
, Gundam Wing). Additionally, three EX Series are included, although their involvement in the game's story is not as significant as the other series (Excluding Wings of Rean, which is announced to join the series in later promotion video, and have its ONA released after the game). A grand total of 106 playable mecha from the fourteen anime
represented, as well as the originals, are playable.
In addition to the fourteen series, A.C.E.2 includes new original characters and mecha
, designed by Takuya Saito and Junya Ishigaki respectively. The heroes of the game are Tak Kepford (seiyū: Daisuke Kishio
) and Marina Carson (seiyū: Naomi Shindou
), and they pilot transforming mecha
called Gun Arks.
RX-93 Nu Gundam (pilot: Amuro Ray)
RGZ-91 RE-GZ (pilot: Amuro Ray)
Billbine (pilot: Sho Zama)
Dunbine (pilot: Marvel Frozen)
Leprechaun (pilot: Jerryl Coochibi)
Wryneck (pilot: Todd Guiness)
Zwarth (pilot: Black Knight aka Bern Burnings)
Galava (pilot: Black Knight)
Layzner (pilot: Eiji Asuka)
New Layzner (pilot Eiji Asuka)
Layzner Mk-II (pilot Eiji Asuka)
Nelly Brain (pilot: Yuu Isami)
Hime Brain (pilot: Hime Utsumiya)
Yuu Brain (pilot Yuu Isami)
Quincy Baronz (pilot: Quincy Issa)
XDFU Dragonar 1-lifter (pilot Kaine Wakaba)
XD-01SR Dragonar-1 Lifter (Pilot: Kaine Wakaba)
XD-01SR Dragonar-1 Custom (Pilot: Kaine Wakaba)
XDFU-02 Dragonar-2 Lifter (Pilot: Tapp Oceano)
XD-02SR Dragonar-2 Custom (Pilot: Tapp Oceano)
XDFU-03 Dragonar-3 Lifter (Pilot: Light Newman)
XDFU-03 Enhanced Dragonar Lifter-3 (Pilot: Light Newman)
MAFFU-09 Falguen MAFFU (Pilot: Meio Plato)
L-Gaim (Pilot: Daba Mylord)
Novel D.Sserd (Pilot: Gaw Ha Leccee)
Batshuu
VF-1 Valkyrie (pilot:Hikaru Ichijyo)
VF-1J Armored Valkyrie (pilot Hikaru Ichijyo)
SDF-1 Macross
VF-1S Strike Valkyrie (pilot: Roy Focker)
VF-1A Valkyrie (pilot: Maximillion Jenius)
Queadlum-Rau (pilot: Millian Jenius)
Aestivalis (pilot: Akito Tenkawa)
Aestivalis Custom(pilot: Ryoko Subaru, Izumi Maki, Hikaru Amano, Nagare Akatsuki)
Nadesico
RX-78GP01 Gundam "Zephyranthes"(pilot: Kou Uraki)
RX-78GP01Fb Gundam Full Vernian "Zephyranthes"(pilot kou uraki)
RX-78GP02A Gundam "Physalis"(pilot: Anavel Gato)
RX-78GP03 Gundam "Dendrobium Orchis"(pilot: Kou Uraki)
AMA-002 Neue Ziel(pilot: Anavel Gato)
GF13-017NJII God Gundam (pilot: Domon Kasshu)
XXXG-00W0 Wing Gundam ZERO(pilot: Heero Yui)
XXXG-01D2 Gundam Deathscythe Hell(pilot: Duo Maxwell)
XXXG-01H Gundam Heavyarms(pilot: Trowa Barton)
XXXG-01SR Gundam Sandrock(pilot: Quatre Rabera Winner)
XXXG-01S2 Altron Gundam(pilot: Chang Wufei)
OZ-00MS2B Tallgeese III(pilot: Milliardo Peacecraft)
Black Selena (Pilot: Akito Tenkawa)
Aestivalis Custom (Pilot: Ryoko Subaru)
Alstroemeria (Pilot: Genichiro Tsukiomi)
Yatenkou (Pilot: Hokushin)
Nanajin (Pilot: Asap Suzuki)
Aka-Nanajin (Pilot: Asap Suzuki)
Oukaou (Pilot: Shinjiro Sakomizu)
A.C.E.2 follows the musical style of its predecessor, using remixes of themes from the featured anime along with several new songs composed for the game. However, A.C.E.2 uses much more faithful remixes of the songs borrowed from anime, while A.C.E. used more rock and roll
-styled remixes.
The theme songs for each series are:
Third-person shooter
Third-person shooter is a genre of 3D action games in which the player character is visible on-screen, and the gameplay consists primarily of shooting.-Definition:...
mecha
Mecha
A mech , is a science fiction term for a large walking bipedal tank or robot, including ones on treads and animal shapes.-Characteristics:...
action
Action game
Action game is a video game genre that emphasizes physical challenges, including hand–eye coordination and reaction-time. The genre includes diverse subgenres such as fighting games, shooter games, and platform games, which are widely considered the most important action games, though some...
video game produced by Banpresto
Banpresto
is a Japanese toy company, best known in America for game development, headquartered in the Shinagawa Seaside West Building in Shinagawa, Tokyo. It was founded April 1977 as Hoei Sangyo, Co. Ltd. The company was renamed Coreland in 1982, and during the 1980s it worked mainly as a subcontractor for...
and developed by From Software
From Software
is a Japanese video game company founded in November 1986 known primarily for being the developers of the Armored Core, Demon's Souls, King's Field, Otogi and Tenchu series.-Games:...
. It is the sequel
Sequel
A sequel is a narrative, documental, or other work of literature, film, theatre, or music that continues the story of or expands upon issues presented in some previous work...
to the popular 2005 game Another Century's Episode
Another Century's Episode
, abbreviated as A.C.E., is a mecha action video game produced by Banpresto and developed by From Software. It was released for the PlayStation 2 on January 27, 2005....
. It was released for the Sony PlayStation 2 on March 30, 2006.
On November 29, 2007 Banpresto released A.C.E.2 Special Vocal Edition, as a follow-up to the heels of A.C.E.2's sequel, Another Century's Episode 3: The Final. This version includes vocal theme songs for each of the featured animated series in the game.
Plot
A.C.E.2 is not a direct sequel to its predecessorAnother Century's Episode
, abbreviated as A.C.E., is a mecha action video game produced by Banpresto and developed by From Software. It was released for the PlayStation 2 on January 27, 2005....
, as it involves its own original plot, as well as covering events that already happened in A.C.E., albeit differently. This is not an unusual occurrence, as Banpresto has done this with most entries in the Super Robot Wars
Super Robot Wars
is a series of tactical role-playing video games produced by Banpresto, which is now a Japanese division of Namco Bandai. The main feature of the franchise is having a story that crosses over several popular mecha anime, manga and video games, allowing characters and mecha from different titles to...
franchise; most of the games in that series are not connected by an established continuity (exceptions include the Super Robot Wars Alpha
Super Robot Wars Alpha
, is part of the Super Robot Wars franchise, and was published for the PlayStation by Banpresto in 2000. Super Robot Wars Alpha is the initial game of the Alpha series, which spans the PlayStation and the PlayStation 2 platforms.-Summary:...
games and the titles in the Super Robot Wars Classic Timeline), with remakes or updates abounding.
However, there are some links back to A.C.E. in the sequel. The Ark series, including the main character's Gunark, use as their power source the super-volatile substance E2, which was introduced in the first game. Additionally, most of the A.C.E. original enemies return, this time with a backstory, while in A.C.E. they were simply there to add to the challenge.
System Changes
- Faster Combat: A.C.E.2 delivers and portrays high-speed mecha combat better than its predecessor.
- Pilot Cut-Ins: The game will feature the pilots in both 2D2D computer graphics2D computer graphics is the computer-based generation of digital images—mostly from two-dimensional models and by techniques specific to them...
and cel-shaded 3D3D computer graphics3D computer graphics are graphics that use a three-dimensional representation of geometric data that is stored in the computer for the purposes of performing calculations and rendering 2D images...
forms, while in A.C.E. their only presence was in sound bites played while launching and during certain battles. - More Weapons: Each unit can also have up to seven weapons, which can be set by the player; this allows the player to separate the units primary ranged weapon and melee weapon, unlike the previous game.
- Improved Support: While A.C.E. allowed the player to have other units support him/her during a stage, their presence was limited to occasional voice clips. A.C.E.2 will have the other units actually appear during the stage as computer-controlled allies.
- Combination Attacks: The player will be able to perform special combination attacks where their team members combine their skills with incredibly devastating (and cinematic) results. Certain combinations of characters will result in team-ups from the anime involved, such as Brain Powered's Chakra Extension and Nadesico's Double Gekigan Flare. Some combinations of characters (such as the major characters from MacrossMacrossis a series of science fiction mecha anime, directed by Shōji Kawamori of Studio Nue in 1982. The franchise features a fictional history of Earth/Humanity after the year 1999. It consists of three TV series, four movies, six OVAs, one light novel and five manga series, all sponsored by Big West...
and Endless Waltz) get new combinations. If the player uses three unrelated characters for a combination attack, they simply perform a generic all-out attack. - Favorites System: Much like recent entries into the Super Robot Wars series (specifically MX and J), A.C.E.2 features a system by which the player can designate one of the featured series as their favorite. The units from the favored series may be upgraded more than they would normally, potentially making them the strongest units in that player's game.
Control Types
Like the previous game in the series, A.C.E.2 features two different set-ups for the controller: shift and select type. However, unlike A.C.E., neither of these set-ups will be a "Simple Mode" for first-time players. Instead, the two different set-ups will simply represent different ways of using the many weapons available to the player.Flight Controls
The player can also choose to modify the controls for plane-type units, such as the Re-GZ, the Valkyrie'sVF-1 Valkyrie
This article is about a fictional vehicle; for the fighter squadron see VF-1.In the fictional Macross Japanese anime series and its English adaptation Robotech, the first mass-produced variable fighter or veritech fighter is called the VF-1 Valkyrie.-Background:The VF-1 was created by the...
Fighter Mode and the transformations of machines like Layzner MK II and L-Gaim MK II. Flight Mode is the standard control system, where the player controls roll and pitch with the Left Analogue Stick, and can bank with the L1 and R1 buttons. Easy Mode has the analogue stick control both roll and pitch. Flight Reverse Mode reverses the natural set-up for altitude, so that tilting the analogue Stick down causes the machine to dive, while holding it up makes the machine climb.
Featured Series
Six of the series from A.C.E. return in A.C.E.2, joined by five new ones (although one of the new series, Endless Waltz, is the sequel to one of the series that did not return from A.C.E.Another Century's Episode
, abbreviated as A.C.E., is a mecha action video game produced by Banpresto and developed by From Software. It was released for the PlayStation 2 on January 27, 2005....
, Gundam Wing). Additionally, three EX Series are included, although their involvement in the game's story is not as significant as the other series (Excluding Wings of Rean, which is announced to join the series in later promotion video, and have its ONA released after the game). A grand total of 106 playable mecha from the fourteen anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
represented, as well as the originals, are playable.
In addition to the fourteen series, A.C.E.2 includes new original characters and mecha
Mecha
A mech , is a science fiction term for a large walking bipedal tank or robot, including ones on treads and animal shapes.-Characteristics:...
, designed by Takuya Saito and Junya Ishigaki respectively. The heroes of the game are Tak Kepford (seiyū: Daisuke Kishio
Daisuke Kishio
is a male Japanese voice actor. He is a member of Tokyo Actor's Consumer's Cooperative Society . Kishio changed his given name from 大輔 to だいすけ on June 1, 2007 with the pronunciation and romanization remaining the same....
) and Marina Carson (seiyū: Naomi Shindou
Naomi Shindou
is a Japanese voice actress who works for Aoni Production. She is best known for her voice roles as Shizuru Fujino , Shizuru Viola and Cagalli Yula Athha...
), and they pilot transforming mecha
Mecha
A mech , is a science fiction term for a large walking bipedal tank or robot, including ones on treads and animal shapes.-Characteristics:...
called Gun Arks.
- Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's CounterattackMobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattackis a 1988 anime film set in Gundam's Universal Century timeline of Gundam, specifically U.C. 0093.Making its theatrical debut on March 12, 1988, Char's Counterattack is the culmination of the original saga begun in Mobile Suit Gundam and continued through Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam and Mobile Suit...
- Playable Mecha
RX-93 Nu Gundam (pilot: Amuro Ray)
RGZ-91 RE-GZ (pilot: Amuro Ray)
- Aura Battler DunbineAura Battler Dunbineis an anime television series created by Yoshiyuki Tomino and produced by Sunrise Studios.Dunbine is set in Byston Well, a parallel world that resembles the countryside of medieval Europe with kingdoms ruled by monarchs in castles, armies of unicorn-riding cavalry armed with swords and crossbows,...
- Playable Mecha
Billbine (pilot: Sho Zama)
Dunbine (pilot: Marvel Frozen)
-
- Non-Playable
Leprechaun (pilot: Jerryl Coochibi)
Wryneck (pilot: Todd Guiness)
Zwarth (pilot: Black Knight aka Bern Burnings)
Galava (pilot: Black Knight)
- Blue Comet SPT LayznerBlue Comet SPT Layzner, sometimes translated as Blue Meteor SPT Layzner, is an anime series produced by Sunrise between 1985 and 1986. Its original creator was Ryousuke Takahashi of Armored Trooper Votoms fame who served as the writer and wrote the scripts for such shows as Panzer World Galient, Tetsuwan Atom, Zero...
Layzner (pilot: Eiji Asuka)
New Layzner (pilot Eiji Asuka)
Layzner Mk-II (pilot Eiji Asuka)
- Brain PowerdBrain Powerdis a Japanese anime television series created by Sunrise. The series is set on a future, decimated Earth after the discovery of a mysterious, alien spacecraft dubbed "Orphan". A group of researchers scour the planet for Orphan's disc plates using mecha called "Antibodies" in order to revive the...
Nelly Brain (pilot: Yuu Isami)
Hime Brain (pilot: Hime Utsumiya)
Yuu Brain (pilot Yuu Isami)
Quincy Baronz (pilot: Quincy Issa)
- Metal Armor DragonarMetal Armor Dragonaris a 48-episode mecha anime series, created by Sunrise and aired from 1987 to 1988. Devised shortly after the release of Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ, Dragonar was intended to be both a "starter" series to get new fans into mecha anime, and a potential successor to the Gundam franchise. In fact, it's...
XDFU Dragonar 1-lifter (pilot Kaine Wakaba)
XD-01SR Dragonar-1 Lifter (Pilot: Kaine Wakaba)
XD-01SR Dragonar-1 Custom (Pilot: Kaine Wakaba)
XDFU-02 Dragonar-2 Lifter (Pilot: Tapp Oceano)
XD-02SR Dragonar-2 Custom (Pilot: Tapp Oceano)
XDFU-03 Dragonar-3 Lifter (Pilot: Light Newman)
XDFU-03 Enhanced Dragonar Lifter-3 (Pilot: Light Newman)
MAFFU-09 Falguen MAFFU (Pilot: Meio Plato)
- Heavy Metal L-GaimHeavy Metal L-Gaimis an anime television series, begun in 1984, which was directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino. Its characters and mecha were designed by Mamoru Nagano, who would later go on to create The Five Star Stories. Heavy Metal L-Gaim takes place in the Pentagona System, a solar system made up of five planets...
L-Gaim (Pilot: Daba Mylord)
Novel D.Sserd (Pilot: Gaw Ha Leccee)
Batshuu
- The Super Dimension Fortress MacrossThe Super Dimension Fortress Macrossis an anime television series. According to story creator Shoji Kawamori, it depicts "a love triangle against the backdrop of great battles" during the first Human-alien war....
VF-1 Valkyrie (pilot:Hikaru Ichijyo)
VF-1J Armored Valkyrie (pilot Hikaru Ichijyo)
SDF-1 Macross
- Macross: Do You Remember Love?
VF-1S Strike Valkyrie (pilot: Roy Focker)
VF-1A Valkyrie (pilot: Maximillion Jenius)
Queadlum-Rau (pilot: Millian Jenius)
- Martian Successor NadesicoMartian Successor Nadesico, is a science fiction comedy anime TV series, and a later manga series created by Kia Asamiya. The manga, published in English by CPM Manga, is significantly different from the anime....
Aestivalis (pilot: Akito Tenkawa)
Aestivalis Custom(pilot: Ryoko Subaru, Izumi Maki, Hikaru Amano, Nagare Akatsuki)
Nadesico
- Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust MemoryMobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memoryis a 13-episode anime OVA series set in the Gundam universe. The first volume containing two 30-minute episodes was released in Japan on May 23, 1991. Subsequent volumes, containing one 30-minute episode each, followed every one or two months; the final volume went on sale on September 24, 1992...
RX-78GP01 Gundam "Zephyranthes"(pilot: Kou Uraki)
RX-78GP01Fb Gundam Full Vernian "Zephyranthes"(pilot kou uraki)
RX-78GP02A Gundam "Physalis"(pilot: Anavel Gato)
RX-78GP03 Gundam "Dendrobium Orchis"(pilot: Kou Uraki)
AMA-002 Neue Ziel(pilot: Anavel Gato)
- Mobile Fighter G GundamMobile Fighter G GundamMobile Fighter G Gundam, known in Japan as , is a Japanese animated television series directed by Yasuhiro Imagawa . Created to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the franchise in 1994, it is the first of the Gundam series to be set in an alternate continuity from the original "Universal Century"...
GF13-017NJII God Gundam (pilot: Domon Kasshu)
- Gundam Wing: Endless WaltzGundam Wing: Endless WaltzGundam Wing: Endless Waltz, known in Japan as , is the sequel to Mobile Suit Gundam Wing, both of which are set in the After Colony timeline, an alternate universe to that of the original Gundam series...
XXXG-00W0 Wing Gundam ZERO(pilot: Heero Yui)
XXXG-01D2 Gundam Deathscythe Hell(pilot: Duo Maxwell)
XXXG-01H Gundam Heavyarms(pilot: Trowa Barton)
XXXG-01SR Gundam Sandrock(pilot: Quatre Rabera Winner)
XXXG-01S2 Altron Gundam(pilot: Chang Wufei)
OZ-00MS2B Tallgeese III(pilot: Milliardo Peacecraft)
- Martian Successor Nadesico: The Motion Picture – Prince of Darkness
Black Selena (Pilot: Akito Tenkawa)
Aestivalis Custom (Pilot: Ryoko Subaru)
Alstroemeria (Pilot: Genichiro Tsukiomi)
Yatenkou (Pilot: Hokushin)
- The Wings of ReanThe Wings of Reanis a light novel series by Yoshiyuki Tomino published from 1983 to 1986, and a 6-episode ONA, broadcast by Bandai Channel online beginning on December 12, 2005, with the final episode starting on August 18, 2006...
Nanajin (Pilot: Asap Suzuki)
Aka-Nanajin (Pilot: Asap Suzuki)
Oukaou (Pilot: Shinjiro Sakomizu)
Music
The game's opening theme is Glorious by Rina Aiuchi; its ending theme, also performed by Aiuchi, is Precious Place.A.C.E.2 follows the musical style of its predecessor, using remixes of themes from the featured anime along with several new songs composed for the game. However, A.C.E.2 uses much more faithful remixes of the songs borrowed from anime, while A.C.E. used more rock and roll
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
-styled remixes.
The theme songs for each series are: