To all my new and returning viewers: let me know if you prefer longer-form content like this, where I get a little more detailed and show full cut scenes along with more bits of un-narrated gameplay. I felt that this struck a nice balance, but it still ended up being quite lengthy. Would love to hear your thoughts. Thanks!
New viewer here, I think your videos would be better if you cut down on the long and unnecessary stretches of gameplay and cutscenes with no commentary/critique. You don't need to show people that already played the game, or people that haven't for that matter, gameplay or cutscenes without a purpose behind showing it.
New viewer here. I think you struck a good balance here. Ace Combat 5 The Unsung War is my favorite in the whole series. I think it nails everything just right. My second favorite would be Ace Combat Zero followed by AC 4 Shattered Skies. The ps2 games of this series just got it right everytime, great stuff. AC 7 Skies Unknown is also good and feels like a natural continuation of the ps2 games. Looking forward to the AC 5 video.
That last battle with Pixy I swear was pure art. The music, the dialog. I was yelling at my TV ''Damnit Pixy don't make me kill you!'' Great game. The whole PS2 franchise was amazing
I think thats the kind of feeling they want to convey in the final battle, thats why Pixy is taunting you and pushing you since he deep down knows he is doing something wrong and you are the only one who can stop him.
I remember my first time beating him. I was down to my last missle. We charged each other went belly to belly and I launched the missle straight into his air intake
it even makes up for some of the stupid expo dialogue. such as: Actually, it's questionable if he ever did exist. But thanks to some old friends in the military, I was able to track down several individuals who knew him.
damn that's was me too when i yelling in front of my tv where my my dad and my mom shock when heard i was yelling. (PLEASE STOP PIXY DONT MAKE ME DO THIS, YOU ARE MY BEST FRIEND AND BROTHER IN ARMS)
In the final battle with Pixy, Eagle Eye has no idea that it is Pixy you are fighting. Eagle Eye only refers to Pixy by the plane name Morgan. Meaning, that what Pixy said to Cipher, is between Pixy and Cipher. I can only imagine what Cipher's responses to Pixy would be based on your Ace Style at the time. There is a lot of backroom lore about the Belkan War that people should look up. AC:Z is the Cipher of the Ace Combat series, though Ace Combat 1 takes place during this conflict. And just a bit of trivia Larry Foulke is voiced by Yuri Lowenthal, who voiced Saskue Uchida in the Naruto series.
Yuri Lowdnthal almost voices every male character from the 2000s. He's like half the male npc's in fallout New Vegas, the original Ben 10 and a whole bunch of other stuff.
Yes, the answer is yes. Played all AC games 4 and after even the psp / gba stuff. Zero is far and away the best. The storyline is gripping, the gameplay is flawless, the music is incredible
Pixy also has cut dialog for hoffnung where he pretty much experiences a PTSD attack. it makes his actions a little bit more nuanced in the next mission.
Pixy had a similar experience when Osea and Belka went to war years before zero. He probably had flashbacks which caused his ptsd. Hell, maybe his famous buddy line is a way for him to cope.
"...I can only imagine the feelings and emotions it must invoke for those who played this oh so many years ago." "Tears." Tears is your answer. Come back in more than a decade. Every interview, not just the last one; the respect of the Knights, the fear of the Mercs, every one made me grit my teeth. The climax of "Zero" coming in as the Morgan report comes in, makes me lost in the past, the first time. The impact of the chorus of "The Unsung War" coming in; fresh, yet nostalgic from 5's release almost two years prior. This is a form of art so compounded; music, atmosphere, acting, narrative, and nostalgia, that it is so hard to replicate that I struggle to articulate it. The closest thing I can point to that's more commonly known is when "Vigil" from Mass Effect 1 is used later, but even then, as appropriate as each use is, they use it more often, maybe too often. "Zero" is a masterpiece, both song and game.
Zero is the peak of the franchise for me, it’s the best example of why I love Ace Combat so much Even though the game gets a bit silly and dramatic sometimes, I really feel like the anti-war themes of this game just rings more true as time passes.
This game brings best of both worlds, miss the grounded and serious tone of 04 while also miss the anime-like dramatic and silliness of 5? Zero has it all
I wouldn't call it anti-war cause most of the time you're literally blowing shit up in a fighter jet lmao. but it's definitely pro-peace in it's themes
Agreed. I hope for and look forward to a video on it by JarboeGaming. Because while 5 can be a bit over the top at times, it really does deserve a place in memory. Honestly, I'm not sure what order would be best to play them in, if you've never had contact with any of them before. I think if I could tell myself in the past... I might do 4 (to establish the question of who Mobius 1 is), 5's operation Katina, then Zero (so there is weight to what is coming) and then 5. Because that mostly settles things. 7 is something of an optional follow on, but a good one.
@@Sorain1 Great thing about Ace is it was made to be accessible to everyone no matter if you're new or not. Even though its the same canon, each game is a self containing story that requires no experience with the series to enjoy.
Nothing will ever get me to tear up faster than hearing that acoustic guitar near the end followed by: "yo buddy, still alive? And thanks friend... See you again." Pixy you magnificent bastard.
That final "Yo buddy, you still alive?", the goosebumps are the same after 18 years. The pilots' testimonies are one of my favorites storytelling devices in the series. Weidly enough I didn't love it at first. Back in those holy trinity years my favorite was AC5 story, but Zero grew on me after a few years. Now is my second favorite after AC4... and that damn music.... it has been playing on my music player for almost 20 years. I pray for the day we'll get a remastered version of the Holy Trinity, it has been so many year re-living those stories through youtube videos and 420p trailers.
Excellent video. Can’t wait for your perspective of my personal favourite AC game: Ace Combat 5: Squadron Leader/Unsung War. There was a lot of small details they did to different countries versions of the game, for example, the Box Art on the American version featured the F-14 Tomcat, the French Version featured the Dassault Rafael and the UK version featured the Eurofighter Typhoon.
@ JarboeGaming Looking forward to it, it had the most impactful and beautiful music in the series, part of the AC5 soundtrack was played at the 2020 Olympics. And the Razgriz symbolism throughout the series becomes prevalent from previous games after seeing them in 5
AC5 was the peak of the series IMO. Right up there with AC4. I don't know why AC0 is so beloved to be honest. It's not a bad game, but it's almost like AC Fan Fiction. It threw everything it could think of into the game. I feel some find that "cool". Me? It seems like a mess without a strong identity.
God, I need to replay this game again. Awesome video, it wasn't too long ago since I played this but good memories have still been brought back, thank you.
The mission where Pixy tries to kill us. I feel like he knew that we would be his opponent after that. It was his only shot to get rid of Cipher, but wasn't able to get rid of him.
I do think Zero is the peak of the series, the standard that has to be strived for by subsequent games. It have it's issues and other games have aspects that are individually better, but no other game in the series blends all the aspects so masterfully, especially between narrative and gameplay. Narrative-wise it's about on par with 04 and maybe 3, on presenting a nuanced perspective on war (they're the only ones that does this unfortunately), other conflicts in the series are mostly straightforward, if not cartoony (cough... AC5). Meeting and fighting various rival aces, hearing their thoughts, it lends to the idea that your actions (from the Ace style) matters even if it doesn't seem like much. Pixy's and PJ's dynamic is what made me love this game even more, PJ is AC5's idea of "peace" personified and Pixy is the realist who criticize such naive ideals; yet it is Pixy who fell into the trap of extreme idealism and it is PJ that persevered and died with his ideals intact, who became the true unsung hero. The game earned it's anti-war messages, unlike a certain game that directly follows this story. Gameplay-wise they carried off all the "improvements" from AC5 and trimmed off the fat, enemies are less tanky making the gameplay more faster paced closer to the series' roots of AC2 and 04, boresight target select is a welcomed feature, return lines from AC04 is back for the bigger missions, and the plane list is one of the best the series has ever seen; gone are 5's boring repetitive strikes on damage sponge targets, times when the game punishes you from being too good at the game, running out on ammo because you killed respawning enemies too quickly and not even have the reprieve from a return line, there's no more grinding on a specific plane to unlock something you actually want to get (if you want it). It also helps that the themes of this game are so unfathomably cool; Arthurian legend, knights in fighter jets, flamenco guitars, a mercenary story inspired by Area 88, how did they come up with this and actually pulled it off is a wonder. It's honestly hard for me whether to pick Zero or 4 as my number one favorite from the series, ACX as my 3rd and AC2 as my 4th. I highly recommend trying ACX as it's pretty underrated even among Ace Combat fans; branching missions that affects the big mission according on which order you tackled them, massive plane list, and the first time the series implemented plane upgrade part modification.
Not to mention the introduction of Assault Records where we get to learn some of the backstories of the enemy aces we shot down.It's small but it really helps to humanize the enemy and add a bit of lore to the story.Honestly,I consider Zero to be my favourite Ace Combat game of all time due to the narrative, dialogue,how humanized the enemy are including those who were interviewed,fighting enemy Ace squadrons and more.And the music.It's really good in my personal opinion.
Eh to each is own unfortunately. I Like 5 better as it’s Just more Colorful with Adventure And Length ! Understandable though with Zero as “Less is more” (or just Better) however Just like MechWarrior2 Mercenaries it’s just too Gritty or Mature which can be even boring to me at least Probably players with ADHD😂 I only like how Zero Brought Back 2player And Weapons ! Also Refined and polished Ace5s graphics even though Zero is Literally Same Engine and Graphics, I guess as to emphasize being a Prequel to Only 5 ?
@@ahmadhadi177 it's the famous mr andross. If you watch an Ace Combat vid he'll be there. Due to language barrier he comes off as imprudent, but he got plenty of valid points. In other words, don't worry what you said I wholeheartedly agree with.
its right behind AC4. I thought it was strange that we did not see Bristows face. Actor called off that day or maybe because he was in jail they did not want to glorify him. tough to complete on the solider path. Mercenary path is canon.
I still absolutely adore the fact that Larry Foulke, the man we see being interviewed multiple times and the first character we ever meet in this game... ... is actually the *FINAL BOSS.*
Well, something interesting is that if you pay close attention throughout the story, Larry is foreshadowed to be Pixy just a few times. Idk if it was intentional or not, but Project Aces finished it that way
@@JohnSmith-ip6kcin the very first scene, it is explicitly said that the person being interviewed is "solo wing pixy" and that "he is a colleague of the man I seek" refering to cipher. His callsign is pixy which is what your wingmate callsign is. I haven't watched the video yet but i don't know what part is subtle...
@@nurrohmatadiputra5378 I disagree. in the second cutscene, Larry is only presented visually during the reporter’s mentioning of the name “Solo Wing”. Larry’s never actually named as the pilot Solo Wing, but that’s how the game eludes to Larry being Solo Wing Pixy. It’s all just not-so-subtle foreshadowing
This AC is best AC and it isn't even close! The game blew my mind back then. The cut scenes with real actors, the card collection system, secondary weapons and of course the Spanish guitar. A niche title like Ace Combat being this well rounded in terms of presentation and expanding on game features was not what I expected in 2006 when I took it home as a rental. I still own a copy and I'm looking forward to the day I get to play it again.
“…I can only imagine the feelings and emotions it must invoke for those that played this oh so many years ago.” I cried bro. I fucking cried. When I heard Pixy’s last line, 40:23 “Will he see this video? Give him a message for me. Yo buddy, you still alive? And thanks, friend. See you again.” That message felt like it was *for* me 18 years later from when I first picked up the game as a kid in 2006. Hit me in the feels like a truck. Message received, Pixy. Thank you for everything. I’ll be seeing you.
Pixy was unforgettable. 1000/10 would like to get betrayed for a reasonable cause. It is my peak Ace Combat because its about betrayal and as usual, humanizing your enemy despite them being the villain. You get to understand both sides of the coin. This is what makes me like Japanese games and anime. My 2nd on the list would be Ace Combat: Assault Horizon. I'm totally fine with the DFM modes because it is closely accurate to reality simply getting closer as if you're doing hipfire on a maneuverable target that missiles couldn't deal with. Helicopters too Iove the sexy Apache but others don't and its understandable why they hate that game much.
Zero is defiantly my most loved Ace combat game, and it will be hard to top that mantle. But I still think 5 was one of the best. I enjoyed the story/progression system. And the fact you had to hunt down parts for the Falken, coupled with a fantastic story and sound track to boot.
As the flamenco guitar plays.. appropriate to the rhythm of the dogfight intensity... the two Galm dance up in the sky.. back and forth, left and right, giving and receiving shots and missed missiles .. And the final moment when two need to go head to head to kill each other..the Demon rise above... All that with a nuclear missile above their head and the flamenco music.. EPIC!
I had played 2, 3, 04, Zero, Infinity and 7. And I have to say that Zero is the one that I like the most. Awesome soundtrack too. I had played this game from start to finish several times, for me, this game represents what Ace Combat is. Pure emotion! Great job on this video, thanks for sharing!
Lol, I'm struggling with pixy after having completed the previous two games this month, and after this it's off to AC6 and 7. In fact, today is my birthday. A victory sure would be nice.
I remember picking this game up at gamestop for $4 when I was probably 8 or 9 years old... I will never forget how much entertainment this game brought me and how iconic it was in my childhood
I'm so glad to see The Trilogy of AC games cycle through UA-cam and people are still discovering these amazing titles. I truly wish Project aces made like a (Halo MCC) version of Ace combat titles, so you can play remaster versions of the games or updated. Like for their 30th Anniversary they make a ACC (Ace Combat Collection) release, with behind the scenes footage or at least documentary or stories about the staff who made these games and the research they did. I know it'll be impossible without running into license issues with all the airplanes used in previous titles. I figured it would be a neat idea.
I like this game to the point I beat it on Ace Difficulty with the Draken, which I hated piloting at first, It really made me happy to absolutely demolish the game with a starter plane, getting to the point of noticing AIs patterns based on the planes they used and etcetera. I just will never advise anyone to go for all medals, it will be exhausting considering you pretty much gotta replay all missions in Ace difficulty.
A fellow Draken enjoyer 🤝 It is honestly a shame that this plane only appeared 3 times in the series and one of them is totally unplayable now. I remember my first time playing Zero in my childhood and immediately went for the funny looking but cool dorito jet.
It was more of a self challenge run, when I first played Zero, the Draken felt terrible to pilot, by the end I pretty much got used to it to the point I beat the Gauntlet map with it too. My first impression was terrible, but it did not hinder me as much as I thought it would, sure I knew some fights I would be better off speeding off in the distance instead of doing loops to catch enemies, but it does feel good when you manage to check your skill to this extent and realizing you probably can now use most planes in the game without much issue. But we all know the Su Terminator is the MVP of Zero :D @@shira_yone
@JarboeGaming Please do! They are nice video to listen to in the back. Also I have to give you props for setting the atmosphere really made me feel like I was watching a documentary! 👏👏👏
My first fight against Pixy was pretty much unforgettable. I was still riding the high of beating the trench run, and then PJ started his whole celebration. I felt good for the kid, as he obviously had a tough time in his previous team, not being taken seriously. But then something started to worry me: Where was Pixy? And then it hit me. Or, more accurately, it hit PJ. The unbridled rage I felt at PJs death, alongside the betrayal I felt towards Pixy pretty much carried me through the fight. I would not stop until I brought that bastard down. I was pretty much roleplaying as a Knight the entire playthrough, so in my mind I felt as if I had to strip Pixy of his wings. He didn’t deserve them anymore. He was a danger and must be brought down for both my honor and the honor of my fallen comrade. Of course I still felt a tinge of guilt and sadness for my once friend, now turned enemy, but that was put aside the moment he first drew blood. The relief I felt when I finally brought his plane down is a feeling I have hardly gotten from any game since.
At minute 27:00, during that cutscene while looking at the XB-0 being destroyed, you can actually see Pixy's plane doing a flyby over the XB-0 if you pause in the right moment, its pretty fast to notice it at first, I personally thought it was either Cipher's or PJ's plane when I first played, but its pretty nice detail
11:53 liked how Silber Squadron was basiclly a reborned veteran fighting in a new war with recruits in F-16's and himself in an F-4, along with that The Round Table OST is pretty awesome to listen to even if its Schwarze Squadrone and Huckebein
Zero's story doesn't explain the buildup to the conflict in Usea (ace combat 4). It's a direct prequel to 5, whose events are influenced by the Belkan War.
If I had seen this video yesterday, I would have agreed with you. But I've been on a retrospective journey with Ace Combat and... 6 blows the holy trinity out of the water. The music may not be as insane, and the cutscene plot mid be a little snooze worthy, but everything else is absolutely immaculate beyond a point that any other AC has ever achieved.
6 is underrated for sure, it's gameplay and the overall "in-game" story are great. The only miss for me is it's performance, although, you do get used to it after some time. (And of course that cutscene story lol) I do have a video covering 6, be sure to check it out! Once emulation gets better I think more people will get exposed to it.
@@JarboeGaming ive actually been emulating it on my stream as of yesterday. Xenia Canary handles it fantastically. It starts out a little bit rocky but the emulation stabilizes in M1 and asidr from a couple of quirky audio bugs (sometimes audio cuts out and music loops weirdly) the game feels like butter.
AC/Z is probably the most greatest Air-to-air game that lived up to his name even after so many years has pass. The gameplay mechanic where it's implemented the knight-soldier-mercenaries status really makes you think at least once on how to actually behaved during the mission
The story is so good unlock cod American good everyone els evil ace combat always feels neutral that no side is good or evil and it just feels like a real world and real war just with syfy thrown in and it sticks with me zeros story and shattered sky’s like the opening “ I was only a child when the stars fell from the sky but I remember how they built a cannon to destroy them”
Now… for those of you that pay close attention to the lore, think on this. This is the beginning of the Razgriz story. Cipher is, in my opinion, the depiction of the dark demon that rises up and rains death and destruction on the land, weather it be of his doing or through the actions taken because he can’t be stopped. Even though the game’s made to give you the option to be one of three styles of Ace, it’s possible that the Mercenary style is the true, cannon play-through of the game that sets the story up for every event that takes place later in the series
Answering the title… easy no, I enjoyed the game but coming off of #5, the levels are diabolically shorter and the story is so faded that you complete more than 50% of the game in like 30 minutes 😂 High quality video as always
4 is my favorite story wise, hell, 4 is my favorite video game story full stop. Zero is my favorite gameplay wise, can't beat those MPBM's. I liked the aircraft trees in 5 though it did suck being locked to a single special weapon per aircraft. Especially the first 4 missions, three of which are entirely air to air and the special weapon the F-5C has is UGB's
I got Balkan war on day 1 and it is my number 2 my favorite aspect was the new morality system and fighting memorable characters. To this day it’s one of my favorite games. But the story of unsung war is still my most favorite
I love all the AC games but for me the best one is AC 5 squadron leader and my 2 favourite missions were the one where you had to fly formation over the the football stadium with the cocky one can’t remember his name but he ends up crashing and dying when he crashes into the Stadium and then you start the mission with just the 3 of you I know it sounds sad and stupid but I did have a lump in my throat and the last mission where you had to shoot and blow up a satellite that’s falling to earth…..well actually all missions are brilliant but I think its those 2 that have the best cut scenes well actually the story line is bloody epic
to me, AC zero was the culmination of all that came before gameplay wise. the story is good but the actors range from good to mediocre. but the reputation system means youll be replaying it over and over. in short, it enjoyble and undoubteblly Ace combat.
I've never finished Ace Combat Zero, in spite of having it since it was released. It's just too difficult for me. Just the same, I love the series and in spite of not finishing it, it's still one of my top picks. I still play it on occasion.
A lot of people criticised that you destroy Excalibur the next mission after it's revealed, but I think that's just good story telling. They've just exposed their anti-missile defence system as a devastating offensive weapon. That makes it a priority target, and one that isn't easily defendable. So it just shows that Belka was getting desperate, and as the story goes on it's because they had good reason to be.
I would say zero is the top three Ace-combat , games for me and it’s actually one of the games that motivate me in pursuing a goal of trying to fly for the US military.
This was my first AC game that I played. I hope for a remaster of the trilogy. You know I just thought about it, I think ADFX-02 Mordred sound better, you know? the Knight of Treachery.
I have not played this one I missed out to I played 4 6 and 7 but I know zero has the best quotes in any video game “ do you see any borders from here what have borders given us” “just look at the view there’s not much difference between them country’s from up hear” “ the will of the people is a powerful thing if you have a reason to fight this battle is over”
my first AC game was 7 and since then I've went back and played 4 5 zero and 6 but zero really stood out to me despite all of them being amazing in their own right also I find it funny how they went from themes of anarchism in zero to patriotism in 6
Journey Home mission was Personal as was Final Option; On second thought Final Option was Most Unique and Adventures in the Whole Series ! Escaping a Faction that finds you Traitorous IN Trainer Jets 🤩 Only other Mission like that imo was Grand Flight in X2 Joint Assault !! Flying a Freaking 747
@@mrandrossguy9871final option sucks for me, having to get close with pops or else you'll die, but the thing is pops is too slow and feels like a slog sometimes Agree about journey home tho, it's the closest we get of The Round Table/Comona like mission
Zero is my personal favorite ace combat game followed by a tie between 4 and X then 7. Zero just hits so many different points for me and even now has great replability. I enjoy it's darker tone but its still hopeful in the end. X on the psp is also worth a look, its the only other ac game that's really close to 4 in gameplay but adds mechanics from later gamed. Also has alot of teases for AC3.
For Me, this will always be my Number 1 if nothing drastically better comes out of course it is a personal opinion but it combines so many good elements of Previous and future AC games that it is hard to overlook this Gem in the series it has its flaws yes but nothing is perfect AC Zero will be for me always one if not the best AAC i was able to play
Out of the trilogy, Zero is the best. It really nailed what they learned from 4 and 5 and a proper swan song for the PS2 era games. The music is top notch, so much so I imported the album from Japan. The story was more meaningful to me than 5.
AC7 brought me to the Ace Combat series but ACZ made me take root here as a fan the story is marvellous yet the gameplay doesn't lag behind it entices your heart and make it flutter to see Pixy go against you or you losing PJ and it also brought back my eternal love for the F-15 series of fighters it is almost the same way I loved the IJN Yamato yet Yamato I like is because of her horrendous flaws and quite honestly... stupid history filled with stupid decisions.... I just love a masterpiece and a shitfuck that just looks majestic
imo the game is right up there with ace combat 4. zero has the multiple moral ways to play, and differing cutscenes as a result. but nothing has yet matched the scale of ace combat 4 - that just seems like so many huge battles on bigger maps than any other of the games.
AC0 was my first AC and the one that made me fall in love with the series. I really enjoyed everything, the gameplay, the soundtrack, the story - this one especially because it shows how gritty and terrible war is, to the point I disliked AC5's story because it tried to paint the image of a "cool war" which, after AC0, didn't land for me. Still, really appreciate your retrospective, it did bring memories.
A couple days ago i finished my latest Ace Combat full playthrough up to AC7 and i feel like Belkan is clearly the best Ace Combat to date, at least for me. Electrosphere is a great ride but leaves you with god tier blueballs on every ending, so you kinda end up feeling like a clown mercenary. Shattered Skies is okay but the gameplay is somehow worse than Electrosphere's, missiles miss point blank, enemies constantly pull 360 degree moves in 0.1 secs like the x49/u4054 in AC3, yaw controls barely register, aircrafts feel as if they were made of bricks and i really didn't connect with the dude writing the letter or yellow 13 and his squad, they were just targets. Unsung War was great but i feel like they tried to hard to get on the player's feelings, it got pretty emotional at the end though so i guess they got me. Skies of Deception is a pretty straightforward "defeat the baddies" game, but hey it's a PSP game and it's more than enough. Assault Horizon is a videogame. Skies Unknown feels like a compilation of the best of each Ace Combat but with a shitload of UAVs on top of it, it was good but not good enough to surpass Belkan War.
To all my new and returning viewers: let me know if you prefer longer-form content like this, where I get a little more detailed and show full cut scenes along with more bits of un-narrated gameplay.
I felt that this struck a nice balance, but it still ended up being quite lengthy.
Would love to hear your thoughts.
Thanks!
Obviously do not know about others but this longer, video-essay format hits just right.
Love it bud, you should do a video of this style for Encounters in Space or another Ace Combat game
New viewer here, I think your videos would be better if you cut down on the long and unnecessary stretches of gameplay and cutscenes with no commentary/critique. You don't need to show people that already played the game, or people that haven't for that matter, gameplay or cutscenes without a purpose behind showing it.
@@TheManeymon Thanks for the feedback, appreciate it!
New viewer here. I think you struck a good balance here. Ace Combat 5 The Unsung War is my favorite in the whole series. I think it nails everything just right. My second favorite would be Ace Combat Zero followed by AC 4 Shattered Skies. The ps2 games of this series just got it right everytime, great stuff. AC 7 Skies Unknown is also good and feels like a natural continuation of the ps2 games. Looking forward to the AC 5 video.
That last battle with Pixy I swear was pure art. The music, the dialog. I was yelling at my TV ''Damnit Pixy don't make me kill you!'' Great game. The whole PS2 franchise was amazing
I think thats the kind of feeling they want to convey in the final battle, thats why Pixy is taunting you and pushing you since he deep down knows he is doing something wrong and you are the only one who can stop him.
I remember my first time beating him. I was down to my last missle. We charged each other went belly to belly and I launched the missle straight into his air intake
LoL I only had the mir-2000-5 low-medium Tier And Needed something like the Su-37
On Very first Playthrough 😅
But I think I still beat it
it even makes up for some of the stupid expo dialogue. such as: Actually, it's questionable if he ever did exist. But thanks to some old friends in the military, I was able to track down several individuals who knew him.
damn that's was me too when i yelling in front of my tv where my my dad and my mom shock when heard i was yelling. (PLEASE STOP PIXY DONT MAKE ME DO THIS, YOU ARE MY BEST FRIEND AND BROTHER IN ARMS)
Belka probably has the record for the most amount of friendly kills
BELKA DID NOTHING WRONG
@@asherwiggin6456 #JusticeforBelka it’s about time we cleared Belka’s name
@@asherwiggin6456pax Belka!?
But there's now, I think it's called Crimson or something
That's on us.
In the final battle with Pixy, Eagle Eye has no idea that it is Pixy you are fighting. Eagle Eye only refers to Pixy by the plane name Morgan. Meaning, that what Pixy said to Cipher, is between Pixy and Cipher. I can only imagine what Cipher's responses to Pixy would be based on your Ace Style at the time. There is a lot of backroom lore about the Belkan War that people should look up. AC:Z is the Cipher of the Ace Combat series, though Ace Combat 1 takes place during this conflict.
And just a bit of trivia Larry Foulke is voiced by Yuri Lowenthal, who voiced Saskue Uchida in the Naruto series.
And Spiderman
Yuri Lowdnthal almost voices every male character from the 2000s. He's like half the male npc's in fallout New Vegas, the original Ben 10 and a whole bunch of other stuff.
And also Persona 3 and 4 as the MC in P3 and Yousuke in P4
Yuri Lowenthal??? OHHHH THOSE ACES WHO PLAY GENSHIN IMPACT ARE WAITING 4 OUT OF 7 YEARS TO FACE THAT MF AGAIN!!!
@@shanedoesyoutube8001? Context
Zero is without a doubt my number one favorite Ace Combat ever.
Yes, the answer is yes. Played all AC games 4 and after even the psp / gba stuff. Zero is far and away the best. The storyline is gripping, the gameplay is flawless, the music is incredible
Pixy also has cut dialog for hoffnung where he pretty much experiences a PTSD attack. it makes his actions a little bit more nuanced in the next mission.
Pixy had a similar experience when Osea and Belka went to war years before zero. He probably had flashbacks which caused his ptsd. Hell, maybe his famous buddy line is a way for him to cope.
Can one find this cut dialogue?
Source? To any of this discussion?
@@jamesstutts1681 I think it came to them in a dream
ua-cam.com/video/EjaxwB8pTXA/v-deo.htmlsi=F8cIXhJDsYIawAmu Not that hard to find. You guys are slow in the head.
"...I can only imagine the feelings and emotions it must invoke for those who played this oh so many years ago."
"Tears." Tears is your answer. Come back in more than a decade. Every interview, not just the last one; the respect of the Knights, the fear of the Mercs, every one made me grit my teeth. The climax of "Zero" coming in as the Morgan report comes in, makes me lost in the past, the first time. The impact of the chorus of "The Unsung War" coming in; fresh, yet nostalgic from 5's release almost two years prior. This is a form of art so compounded; music, atmosphere, acting, narrative, and nostalgia, that it is so hard to replicate that I struggle to articulate it. The closest thing I can point to that's more commonly known is when "Vigil" from Mass Effect 1 is used later, but even then, as appropriate as each use is, they use it more often, maybe too often. "Zero" is a masterpiece, both song and game.
Zero is the peak of the franchise for me, it’s the best example of why I love Ace Combat so much
Even though the game gets a bit silly and dramatic sometimes, I really feel like the anti-war themes of this game just rings more true as time passes.
I mean war does look good in a video game, just look at cod and halo. In reality it’s a terrible experience that nobody wants to have.
This game brings best of both worlds, miss the grounded and serious tone of 04 while also miss the anime-like dramatic and silliness of 5? Zero has it all
I wouldn't call it anti-war cause most of the time you're literally blowing shit up in a fighter jet lmao. but it's definitely pro-peace in it's themes
Yes. It is the perfect mix of 4's grounded writing and 5's theatrics. You should play 5 btw. Zero is a direct prequel to it.
Agreed. I hope for and look forward to a video on it by JarboeGaming. Because while 5 can be a bit over the top at times, it really does deserve a place in memory. Honestly, I'm not sure what order would be best to play them in, if you've never had contact with any of them before. I think if I could tell myself in the past... I might do 4 (to establish the question of who Mobius 1 is), 5's operation Katina, then Zero (so there is weight to what is coming) and then 5. Because that mostly settles things. 7 is something of an optional follow on, but a good one.
@@Sorain1 Great thing about Ace is it was made to be accessible to everyone no matter if you're new or not. Even though its the same canon, each game is a self containing story that requires no experience with the series to enjoy.
In my opinion people should play ACZ before AC5, the narrative makes much more sense that way.
i disagree@@victuz
@@victuznot really, 5 first then Zero
Also Zero's flight model are based on 5 and there's full tutorial to get used on the physics
Nothing will ever get me to tear up faster than hearing that acoustic guitar near the end followed by: "yo buddy, still alive? And thanks friend... See you again." Pixy you magnificent bastard.
That final "Yo buddy, you still alive?", the goosebumps are the same after 18 years. The pilots' testimonies are one of my favorites storytelling devices in the series. Weidly enough I didn't love it at first. Back in those holy trinity years my favorite was AC5 story, but Zero grew on me after a few years. Now is my second favorite after AC4... and that damn music.... it has been playing on my music player for almost 20 years.
I pray for the day we'll get a remastered version of the Holy Trinity, it has been so many year re-living those stories through youtube videos and 420p trailers.
Excellent video.
Can’t wait for your perspective of my personal favourite AC game:
Ace Combat 5: Squadron Leader/Unsung War.
There was a lot of small details they did to different countries versions of the game, for example, the Box Art on the American version featured the F-14 Tomcat, the French Version featured the Dassault Rafael and the UK version featured the Eurofighter Typhoon.
5 will be the next AC game I cover, looking forward to it.
@ JarboeGaming
Looking forward to it, it had the most impactful and beautiful music in the series, part of the AC5 soundtrack was played at the 2020 Olympics.
And the Razgriz symbolism throughout the series becomes prevalent from previous games after seeing them in 5
AC5 was the peak of the series IMO. Right up there with AC4. I don't know why AC0 is so beloved to be honest. It's not a bad game, but it's almost like AC Fan Fiction. It threw everything it could think of into the game. I feel some find that "cool". Me? It seems like a mess without a strong identity.
@@JarboeGamingplease use captions in the game
About a year ago I replayed it for the first time in over a decade. I actually teared up through the end
God, I need to replay this game again. Awesome video, it wasn't too long ago since I played this but good memories have still been brought back, thank you.
I still remember the sound of flamenco spanish guitar
The mission where Pixy tries to kill us. I feel like he knew that we would be his opponent after that. It was his only shot to get rid of Cipher, but wasn't able to get rid of him.
I saw it at Pixy lashing out at Cipher, and using arrival of those Belkan fighters as a getaway
I do think Zero is the peak of the series, the standard that has to be strived for by subsequent games. It have it's issues and other games have aspects that are individually better, but no other game in the series blends all the aspects so masterfully, especially between narrative and gameplay.
Narrative-wise it's about on par with 04 and maybe 3, on presenting a nuanced perspective on war (they're the only ones that does this unfortunately), other conflicts in the series are mostly straightforward, if not cartoony (cough... AC5). Meeting and fighting various rival aces, hearing their thoughts, it lends to the idea that your actions (from the Ace style) matters even if it doesn't seem like much.
Pixy's and PJ's dynamic is what made me love this game even more, PJ is AC5's idea of "peace" personified and Pixy is the realist who criticize such naive ideals; yet it is Pixy who fell into the trap of extreme idealism and it is PJ that persevered and died with his ideals intact, who became the true unsung hero. The game earned it's anti-war messages, unlike a certain game that directly follows this story.
Gameplay-wise they carried off all the "improvements" from AC5 and trimmed off the fat, enemies are less tanky making the gameplay more faster paced closer to the series' roots of AC2 and 04, boresight target select is a welcomed feature, return lines from AC04 is back for the bigger missions, and the plane list is one of the best the series has ever seen; gone are 5's boring repetitive strikes on damage sponge targets, times when the game punishes you from being too good at the game, running out on ammo because you killed respawning enemies too quickly and not even have the reprieve from a return line, there's no more grinding on a specific plane to unlock something you actually want to get (if you want it).
It also helps that the themes of this game are so unfathomably cool; Arthurian legend, knights in fighter jets, flamenco guitars, a mercenary story inspired by Area 88, how did they come up with this and actually pulled it off is a wonder.
It's honestly hard for me whether to pick Zero or 4 as my number one favorite from the series, ACX as my 3rd and AC2 as my 4th. I highly recommend trying ACX as it's pretty underrated even among Ace Combat fans; branching missions that affects the big mission according on which order you tackled them, massive plane list, and the first time the series implemented plane upgrade part modification.
Not to mention the introduction of Assault Records where we get to learn some of the backstories of the enemy aces we shot down.It's small but it really helps to humanize the enemy and add a bit of lore to the story.Honestly,I consider Zero to be my favourite Ace Combat game of all time due to the narrative, dialogue,how humanized the enemy are including those who were interviewed,fighting enemy Ace squadrons and more.And the music.It's really good in my personal opinion.
Eh to each is own unfortunately.
I Like 5 better as it’s Just more Colorful with Adventure And Length !
Understandable though with Zero as “Less is more” (or just Better) however Just like MechWarrior2 Mercenaries it’s just too Gritty or Mature which can be even boring to me at least Probably players with ADHD😂
I only like how Zero Brought Back 2player And Weapons !
Also Refined and polished Ace5s graphics even though Zero is Literally Same Engine and Graphics, I guess as to emphasize being a Prequel to Only 5 ?
@@mrandrossguy9871 Did I offend you?I'm sorry.
@@ahmadhadi177 it's the famous mr andross. If you watch an Ace Combat vid he'll be there. Due to language barrier he comes off as imprudent, but he got plenty of valid points.
In other words, don't worry what you said I wholeheartedly agree with.
@@mrandrossguy9871 I like the J35 Draken and sadly it's not in AC5 (๑´̥̥̥>ω
its right behind AC4.
I thought it was strange that we did not see Bristows face. Actor called off that day or maybe because he was in jail they did not want to glorify him.
tough to complete on the solider path. Mercenary path is canon.
Dah fuq?
The transition from Pixy's last interview to the credits is so satisfying.
I still absolutely adore the fact that Larry Foulke, the man we see being interviewed multiple times and the first character we ever meet in this game...
... is actually the *FINAL BOSS.*
The one who doesn’t show his face?
@@benconway9010 We DO see his face though...
The one we don't see is the prisoner, iirc
Well, something interesting is that if you pay close attention throughout the story, Larry is foreshadowed to be Pixy just a few times. Idk if it was intentional or not, but Project Aces finished it that way
@@JohnSmith-ip6kcin the very first scene, it is explicitly said that the person being interviewed is "solo wing pixy" and that "he is a colleague of the man I seek" refering to cipher. His callsign is pixy which is what your wingmate callsign is. I haven't watched the video yet but i don't know what part is subtle...
@@nurrohmatadiputra5378 I disagree. in the second cutscene, Larry is only presented visually during the reporter’s mentioning of the name “Solo Wing”. Larry’s never actually named as the pilot Solo Wing, but that’s how the game eludes to Larry being Solo Wing Pixy. It’s all just not-so-subtle foreshadowing
really like the presentation and the commentary of your content
Zero brought me to the series, and I will always hold it as my personal favorite.
This AC is best AC and it isn't even close!
The game blew my mind back then. The cut scenes with real actors, the card collection system, secondary weapons and of course the Spanish guitar.
A niche title like Ace Combat being this well rounded in terms of presentation and expanding on game features was not what I expected in 2006 when I took it home as a rental. I still own a copy and I'm looking forward to the day I get to play it again.
“…I can only imagine the feelings and emotions it must invoke for those that played this oh so many years ago.”
I cried bro. I fucking cried. When I heard Pixy’s last line, 40:23 “Will he see this video? Give him a message for me. Yo buddy, you still alive? And thanks, friend. See you again.” That message felt like it was *for* me 18 years later from when I first picked up the game as a kid in 2006. Hit me in the feels like a truck.
Message received, Pixy. Thank you for everything. I’ll be seeing you.
Pixy was unforgettable. 1000/10 would like to get betrayed for a reasonable cause. It is my peak Ace Combat because its about betrayal and as usual, humanizing your enemy despite them being the villain. You get to understand both sides of the coin. This is what makes me like Japanese games and anime.
My 2nd on the list would be Ace Combat: Assault Horizon. I'm totally fine with the DFM modes because it is closely accurate to reality simply getting closer as if you're doing hipfire on a maneuverable target that missiles couldn't deal with. Helicopters too Iove the sexy Apache but others don't and its understandable why they hate that game much.
Well... that was a trip down memory lane i didnt expect to have today, thanks for that, buddy
Zero is defiantly my most loved Ace combat game, and it will be hard to top that mantle. But I still think 5 was one of the best. I enjoyed the story/progression system. And the fact you had to hunt down parts for the Falken, coupled with a fantastic story and sound track to boot.
As the flamenco guitar plays.. appropriate to the rhythm of the dogfight intensity...
the two Galm dance up in the sky.. back and forth, left and right, giving and receiving shots and missed missiles ..
And the final moment when two need to go head to head to kill each other..the Demon rise above...
All that with a nuclear missile above their head and the flamenco music..
EPIC!
I had played 2, 3, 04, Zero, Infinity and 7. And I have to say that Zero is the one that I like the most. Awesome soundtrack too. I had played this game from start to finish several times, for me, this game represents what Ace Combat is. Pure emotion!
Great job on this video, thanks for sharing!
Lol, I'm struggling with pixy after having completed the previous two games this month, and after this it's off to AC6 and 7.
In fact, today is my birthday. A victory sure would be nice.
That last interview with pixy always hits hard on the feels specially that last yo buddy still alive
It felt so F'ing awesome that we, as a player, as Cipher, being called THE DEMON LORD OF THE ROUND TABLE.. damn
I remember picking this game up at gamestop for $4 when I was probably 8 or 9 years old... I will never forget how much entertainment this game brought me and how iconic it was in my childhood
I'm so glad to see The Trilogy of AC games cycle through UA-cam and people are still discovering these amazing titles. I truly wish Project aces made like a (Halo MCC) version of Ace combat titles, so you can play remaster versions of the games or updated. Like for their 30th Anniversary they make a ACC (Ace Combat Collection) release, with behind the scenes footage or at least documentary or stories about the staff who made these games and the research they did. I know it'll be impossible without running into license issues with all the airplanes used in previous titles. I figured it would be a neat idea.
I like this game to the point I beat it on Ace Difficulty with the Draken, which I hated piloting at first, It really made me happy to absolutely demolish the game with a starter plane, getting to the point of noticing AIs patterns based on the planes they used and etcetera.
I just will never advise anyone to go for all medals, it will be exhausting considering you pretty much gotta replay all missions in Ace difficulty.
A fellow Draken enjoyer 🤝
It is honestly a shame that this plane only appeared 3 times in the series and one of them is totally unplayable now.
I remember my first time playing Zero in my childhood and immediately went for the funny looking but cool dorito jet.
It was more of a self challenge run, when I first played Zero, the Draken felt terrible to pilot, by the end I pretty much got used to it to the point I beat the Gauntlet map with it too.
My first impression was terrible, but it did not hinder me as much as I thought it would, sure I knew some fights I would be better off speeding off in the distance instead of doing loops to catch enemies, but it does feel good when you manage to check your skill to this extent and realizing you probably can now use most planes in the game without much issue.
But we all know the Su Terminator is the MVP of Zero :D
@@shira_yone
am i the only f5e enjoyer? i am fairly certain i completed the bonus mission and shot down mobius 1 in that thing which was a grind but fun
27:04 F-15 pixy
I've been waiting for this buddy! 🎉
Hope you enjoy, moving forward I'm thinking coverage of AC games will be in a longer format like this, allows for so much more!
@JarboeGaming Please do! They are nice video to listen to in the back. Also I have to give you props for setting the atmosphere really made me feel like I was watching a documentary! 👏👏👏
My first fight against Pixy was pretty much unforgettable. I was still riding the high of beating the trench run, and then PJ started his whole celebration. I felt good for the kid, as he obviously had a tough time in his previous team, not being taken seriously.
But then something started to worry me: Where was Pixy?
And then it hit me. Or, more accurately, it hit PJ.
The unbridled rage I felt at PJs death, alongside the betrayal I felt towards Pixy pretty much carried me through the fight. I would not stop until I brought that bastard down.
I was pretty much roleplaying as a Knight the entire playthrough, so in my mind I felt as if I had to strip Pixy of his wings. He didn’t deserve them anymore. He was a danger and must be brought down for both my honor and the honor of my fallen comrade. Of course I still felt a tinge of guilt and sadness for my once friend, now turned enemy, but that was put aside the moment he first drew blood.
The relief I felt when I finally brought his plane down is a feeling I have hardly gotten from any game since.
At minute 27:00, during that cutscene while looking at the XB-0 being destroyed, you can actually see Pixy's plane doing a flyby over the XB-0 if you pause in the right moment, its pretty fast to notice it at first, I personally thought it was either Cipher's or PJ's plane when I first played, but its pretty nice detail
For me zero has the best final fight although unsung war is my favorite of the trinity. Also the narrative and the soundtrack are pieces of art.
Zero always brings me back to my childhood, what an amazing game.
Great Commentary
Lovely Game
Amazing Climax
Thank You
11:53 liked how Silber Squadron was basiclly a reborned veteran fighting in a new war with recruits in F-16's and himself in an F-4, along with that The Round Table OST is pretty awesome to listen to even if its Schwarze Squadrone and Huckebein
The guy playing Larry in the cutscenes (not the voice) was other "kid on a bike" in the movie In the Mouth of Madness.
i see the title, i see ac zero, i comment: yes.
Yo buddy, still alive ?
And thanks friend, see you again.
GIVES ME SHIVERS
Even after my first playthrough, it did the same! Incredible.
Zero is hands down my number 1, and it may never be dethroned in my lifetime.
Zero's story doesn't explain the buildup to the conflict in Usea (ace combat 4). It's a direct prequel to 5, whose events are influenced by the Belkan War.
Having beat AC4, 5 and Zero on Ace I can say that they final level was among the hardest in the series.
4,5 and Zero definitely earned being called the trinity of Ace Combat. 4 is the start of the modern AC games, 5 and Zero added onto it.
40:38 thank you for appreciating the importance of this 🙏🏼
I’ve really enjoyed this and your AC5 video!
Six will be the next AC game covered! About to start my playthrough
Zero reminds me of snake eater. They are both Prequels, but the peak of the art for both Ace combat and metal gear respectively.
My favorite Ace Combat game
If I had seen this video yesterday, I would have agreed with you.
But I've been on a retrospective journey with Ace Combat and... 6 blows the holy trinity out of the water. The music may not be as insane, and the cutscene plot mid be a little snooze worthy, but everything else is absolutely immaculate beyond a point that any other AC has ever achieved.
6 is underrated for sure, it's gameplay and the overall "in-game" story are great.
The only miss for me is it's performance, although, you do get used to it after some time. (And of course that cutscene story lol)
I do have a video covering 6, be sure to check it out! Once emulation gets better I think more people will get exposed to it.
@@JarboeGaming ive actually been emulating it on my stream as of yesterday. Xenia Canary handles it fantastically. It starts out a little bit rocky but the emulation stabilizes in M1 and asidr from a couple of quirky audio bugs (sometimes audio cuts out and music loops weirdly) the game feels like butter.
9:51 bro Ace combat made Flashing lights before Graduation 🗣️🗣️🔥
AC/Z is probably the most greatest Air-to-air game that lived up to his name even after so many years has pass. The gameplay mechanic where it's implemented the knight-soldier-mercenaries status really makes you think at least once on how to actually behaved during the mission
The story is so good unlock cod American good everyone els evil ace combat always feels neutral that no side is good or evil and it just feels like a real world and real war just with syfy thrown in and it sticks with me zeros story and shattered sky’s like the opening “ I was only a child when the stars fell from the sky but I remember how they built a cannon to destroy them”
Now… for those of you that pay close attention to the lore, think on this. This is the beginning of the Razgriz story. Cipher is, in my opinion, the depiction of the dark demon that rises up and rains death and destruction on the land, weather it be of his doing or through the actions taken because he can’t be stopped. Even though the game’s made to give you the option to be one of three styles of Ace, it’s possible that the Mercenary style is the true, cannon play-through of the game that sets the story up for every event that takes place later in the series
ace combat zero stories is the best to made player to feel the main charactor is real legendary ace.
It's been decades that I have played an Ace combat, and any type of flight simulator game.
Answering the title… easy no, I enjoyed the game but coming off of #5, the levels are diabolically shorter and the story is so faded that you complete more than 50% of the game in like 30 minutes 😂
High quality video as always
4 is my favorite story wise, hell, 4 is my favorite video game story full stop. Zero is my favorite gameplay wise, can't beat those MPBM's. I liked the aircraft trees in 5 though it did suck being locked to a single special weapon per aircraft. Especially the first 4 missions, three of which are entirely air to air and the special weapon the F-5C has is UGB's
I got Balkan war on day 1 and it is my number 2 my favorite aspect was the new morality system and fighting memorable characters. To this day it’s one of my favorite games. But the story of unsung war is still my most favorite
yes , end of video, lmao , great video as always
For me, this is PEAK Ace Combat.
Also helps that I am an unashamed F15C - Eagle fanboy.
Masterfully done.
I love all the AC games but for me the best one is AC 5 squadron leader and my 2 favourite missions were the one where you had to fly formation over the the football stadium with the cocky one can’t remember his name but he ends up crashing and dying when he crashes into the
Stadium and then you start the mission with just the 3 of you I know it sounds sad and stupid but I did have a lump in my throat and the last mission where you had to shoot and blow up a satellite that’s falling to earth…..well actually all missions are brilliant but I think its those 2 that have the best cut scenes well actually the story line is bloody epic
Ah! A fellow knight! Well met, friend
to me, AC zero was the culmination of all that came before gameplay wise. the story is good but the actors range from good to mediocre. but the reputation system means youll be replaying it over and over. in short, it enjoyble and undoubteblly Ace combat.
They need to remaster the Holy Trinity for modern consoles and PC's.
I'm on my 3rd playthrough of it. Doing Ace difficulty. Trying to get all the ace styles
I've never finished Ace Combat Zero, in spite of having it since it was released. It's just too difficult for me.
Just the same, I love the series and in spite of not finishing it, it's still one of my top picks. I still play it on occasion.
zero will always be my favorite ace combat series
There are rumors that people believe that Cypher, The Demon Lord of the Round table, is actually the pilot of the very first game as well, Air Combat.
This is one of the greatest game i ever played. ❤❤ love ace combat.
A lot of people criticised that you destroy Excalibur the next mission after it's revealed, but I think that's just good story telling.
They've just exposed their anti-missile defence system as a devastating offensive weapon. That makes it a priority target, and one that isn't easily defendable. So it just shows that Belka was getting desperate, and as the story goes on it's because they had good reason to be.
I would say zero is the top three Ace-combat , games for me and it’s actually one of the games that motivate me in pursuing a goal of trying to fly for the US military.
Username checks out
I hope you'll make that goal a reality buddy. 🫶
Excellent video!
Btw, is this a remastered AC Zero? Where do you get the game? Thank You
AC5 has, by far, the best character building.
This was my first AC game that I played. I hope for a remaster of the trilogy.
You know I just thought about it, I think ADFX-02 Mordred sound better, you know? the Knight of Treachery.
Project Aces needs to just remaster the 4,5,0 trilogy in the AC7 engine and bundle them together
The big XB-0 is epic but we can't use it 😢.
The Good thing is we can use morgan and flaken😊
I have not played this one I missed out to I played 4 6 and 7 but I know zero has the best quotes in any video game “ do you see any borders from here what have borders given us” “just look at the view there’s not much difference between them country’s from up hear” “ the will of the people is a powerful thing if you have a reason to fight this battle is over”
my first AC game was 7 and since then I've went back and played 4 5 zero and 6 but zero really stood out to me despite all of them being amazing in their own right also I find it funny how they went from themes of anarchism in zero to patriotism in 6
Zero is indeed, peak ace combat
Ace Combat 5 is my favorite in the Ace Combat Franchise it just hits me the most emotionally
Journey Home mission was Personal as was Final Option; On second thought Final Option was Most Unique and Adventures in the Whole Series ! Escaping a Faction that finds you Traitorous IN Trainer Jets 🤩
Only other Mission like that imo was Grand Flight in X2 Joint Assault !! Flying a Freaking 747
@@mrandrossguy9871final option sucks for me, having to get close with pops or else you'll die, but the thing is pops is too slow and feels like a slog sometimes
Agree about journey home tho, it's the closest we get of The Round Table/Comona like mission
Zero is my personal favorite ace combat game followed by a tie between 4 and X then 7. Zero just hits so many different points for me and even now has great replability. I enjoy it's darker tone but its still hopeful in the end.
X on the psp is also worth a look, its the only other ac game that's really close to 4 in gameplay but adds mechanics from later gamed. Also has alot of teases for AC3.
When you say “Great Replayability”
You’re talking about the The Quality of the Replay Viewer ?
Or just Hard to get Boring smh
My childhood ❤
For Me, this will always be my Number 1 if nothing drastically better comes out of course it is a personal opinion but it combines so many good elements of Previous and future AC games that it is hard to overlook this Gem in the series it has its flaws yes but nothing is perfect
AC Zero will be for me always one if not the best AAC i was able to play
Out of the trilogy, Zero is the best. It really nailed what they learned from 4 and 5 and a proper swan song for the PS2 era games. The music is top notch, so much so I imported the album from Japan. The story was more meaningful to me than 5.
AC7 brought me to the Ace Combat series but ACZ made me take root here as a fan
the story is marvellous yet the gameplay doesn't lag behind
it entices your heart and make it flutter to see Pixy go against you or you losing PJ
and it also brought back my eternal love for the F-15 series of fighters
it is almost the same way I loved the IJN Yamato
yet Yamato I like is because of her horrendous flaws and quite honestly... stupid history filled with stupid decisions....
I just love a masterpiece and a shitfuck that just looks majestic
imo the game is right up there with ace combat 4. zero has the multiple moral ways to play, and differing cutscenes as a result. but nothing has yet matched the scale of ace combat 4 - that just seems like so many huge battles on bigger maps than any other of the games.
AC0 was my first AC and the one that made me fall in love with the series. I really enjoyed everything, the gameplay, the soundtrack, the story - this one especially because it shows how gritty and terrible war is, to the point I disliked AC5's story because it tried to paint the image of a "cool war" which, after AC0, didn't land for me. Still, really appreciate your retrospective, it did bring memories.
AC5 is for those who all-in for anime-like silliness and the "war is bad" message said right on your face
Im a big fan of 7 but I’m not sure why they couldn’t quite capture the Zero magic again.
A couple days ago i finished my latest Ace Combat full playthrough up to AC7 and i feel like Belkan is clearly the best Ace Combat to date, at least for me.
Electrosphere is a great ride but leaves you with god tier blueballs on every ending, so you kinda end up feeling like a clown mercenary.
Shattered Skies is okay but the gameplay is somehow worse than Electrosphere's, missiles miss point blank, enemies constantly pull 360 degree moves in 0.1 secs like the x49/u4054 in AC3, yaw controls barely register, aircrafts feel as if they were made of bricks and i really didn't connect with the dude writing the letter or yellow 13 and his squad, they were just targets.
Unsung War was great but i feel like they tried to hard to get on the player's feelings, it got pretty emotional at the end though so i guess they got me.
Skies of Deception is a pretty straightforward "defeat the baddies" game, but hey it's a PSP game and it's more than enough.
Assault Horizon is a videogame.
Skies Unknown feels like a compilation of the best of each Ace Combat but with a shitload of UAVs on top of it, it was good but not good enough to surpass Belkan War.
My god that description is now my favorite for it "Assault Horizon is a videogame."
It was peak lore for sure
In terms of pure gameplay, personally I think ACX and Infinity were the peak, but as a package, ZERO is the absolute peak for me.
There needs to be a remake of this game