Ace Combat 5

Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War is a game for the PlayStation 2 developed by Namco. It is a semi-realistic fighter pilot simulation. It is part of the Ace Combat series of games.

In Europe this game was released under the title Ace Combat: Squadron Leader.

Game premise

With the campaign mode the player takes on the role of the trainee Blaze of the Osea Air Defense Force (OADF). After a routine training mission resulted in the death of two instructors and numerous trainees, Blaze is bumped up to being an active member of the Wardog squadron that includes Kei Nagase (Edge), Alvin Davenport (Chopper), and squad leader Jack Bartlett (Heartbreak One). Strange recon activities by the neighboring nation of Yuktobania cause tensions to rise between Osea and Yuktobania, and the Wardog squadron is sent to investigate.

With the arcade mode the player takes on the role of Mobius 1 from Ace Combat 04 in a more fast-paced game with different missions and objectives than the campaign mode.

Game play

During the course of the game, the player has the opportunity to buy 53 different planes, from those that actually exist to prototypes to fantasy planes. Many planes have alternate paint jobs, gained by meeting certain goals in missions. There are a total of 32 missions in the campaign mode.

The difficulty mode affects how many enemies are in a stage, how smart/accurate the enemies are, how much damage the enemies can take, and how much damage the player's airplane can take. On the hardest difficulty level a single missile from the enemy will down the player's airplane, whereas on the easiest level it takes several missiles.

The player ultimately gains control of a squadron of their own, and must purchase planes for squadron members. When preparing for a mission, the player gets to pick each airplane that each squad member will use. During missions some orders can be given to wingmen, such as whether to actively engage enemies, spread out, and use special weapons.

The player must purchase all airplanes and weapons they want to use — up to 4 (one for each squad member).Players gain money by destroying enemies. Once the mission objectives are complete, the player is awarded bonus money for performing above and beyond the requirements of the mission objectives. With missions that require landing or refueling in mid-air, bonus money can be earned by doing them quickly

The game is only semi-realistic in the sense that the abilities of the airplanes are greatly exaggerated. Some of the most noticeable issues are:

• Hairpin turns are possible at Mach 2
• Some airplanes can carry nearly 100 missiles
• One airplane has a high powered laser

Differences between Ace Combat 04 and Ace Combat 5

There are a number of key differences between Ace Combat 04 and Ace Combat 5. These include:

• AC5 does not have support for more than one player
• AC5 added the ability to arm and control your wingmen
• AC5 does not allow the player to rearm their airplane during missions
• AC5 awards medals for accomplishing various goals
• AC5 does not allow the player to choose their secondary weapon on planes
• AC5 unlocks some planes by forcing the user to "level up" planes by using them repeatedly
• AC5 awards credits to the player even if their wingmen shoot enemies
• AC5 wingmen will destroy mission objective targets
• AC5 allows the user to choose between two missions at points in the game

Aircraft

The following aircraft are pilotable. Other aircraft are in the game, but are not pilotable.

List of missions

Here is a list of missions, in order:

1. Shorebirds – Wardog squadron (Heartbreak One, Edge, Chopper, and Blaze) intercepts a damaged Yuktobanian (or Belkan, under certain theories) SR-71 recon plane. While guiding it back to their base, Yuktobanian fighters arrive and engage in combat.

2. Open War – Wardog squadron takes out unmanned recon planes but once again Yuktobanian fighters arrive and engage in combat. Heartbreak One is shot down. Yuktobania officially declares war on Osea.

3. Narrow Margin – Blaze becomes the squad leader of Wardog squadron. They are called upon to help the aircraft carrier Kestrel escape the harbor it is stationed in, as it has come under attack by Yuktobania.

4. First Flight – Sand Island, home of Wardog squadron, is under attack by Yuktobanian bombers. Archer (Hans Grimm) joins your squadron.

5. Rendezvous – An evacuation of three aircraft carriers, including the Kestrel, to the sea takes place successfully, but just as forces are leaving, enemies arrive. Ballistic missiles destroy two of the aircraft carriers, but the Kestrel survives.

6. White Bird (Part I) – A supply launch to the Arkbird, a space shuttle like craft, is attacked by air and ground forces, as well as long range, and cruise missiles. Wardog squadron destroys most of the attackers, and despite the damage, the launch is successful.

7. Front Line – Wardog squadron, as well as numerous trainees, attack a fleet of Yuktobanian ships. The submarine Scinfaxi launches ballistic missiles, killing many trainees, but is eventually sunk.

8. Handful of Hope – A damaged cargo plane carrying the President of Osea, Vincent Harling, is on a top secret mission and is not transmitting a friendly signal, so it must be navigated through a radar net. Later it is attacked, but manages to successfully land in a field. It is picked up by the 8492nd squadron.

9. Lit Fuse – Wardog squadron assists an amphibious assault unit to establish a foothold in Yuktobania.

10. Blind Spot – Wardog squadron destroys fleeing airplanes including fighters, cargo planes, and jamming aircraft.

11a. Chain Reaction – Wardog squadron protects Apito International Airport, in Osea, which is under attack by bombers and tanks.

11b. Reprisal – Gas has been spread in the town of Bana in Osea. Wardog squadron flies specially fitted airplanes with a neutralizing agent. Afterwards, the terrorists try to escape via a lengthy car chase, throwing out items to try to lighten the load, which the player can destroy for more points, but the helicopters that were to pick them up are shot down.

12a. Powder Keg – Wardog squadron destroys a series of underground ammo dumps while dodging guerilla fire from the surrounding forest.

12b. Four Horsemen – Wardog squadron takes out a series of radar sites then destroys a chemical base and various weapons facilities.

13. Demons of Razgriz – The submarine Hrimfaxi, capable of launching ballistic missiles, is sunk by the Wardog squadron. The Wardog squadron starts being called "Razgriz" by some enemy squadrons; a reference to a legend that is made several times throughout the game.

14. Ice Cage – Sea Goblin helicopters arrive to liberate a prisoner of war camp. After Wardog squadron takes out the surrounding defenses, Edge gets shot down.

15. White Noise – Wardog squadron rescues Edge, despite fierce air opposition, including jammer aircraft.

16a. Desert Arrow – Two allied forces attack two separate locations, and Wardog squadron flies air cover for both.

16b. Desert Lightning – Two allied forces attack two separate locations, and Wardog squadron flies air cover for both.

17. Journey Home – Wardog squadron flies in formation over a stadium where the Vice President of Osea gives a speech. The stadium is attacked, but the Wardog squadron successfully defends it and no civilian lives are lost. Chopper is shot down and killed.

18. Fortress – Cruik fortress, on the way to the capital of Yuktobania, is taken out by ground forces with the help of Wardog squadron.

18+. 8492 – Wardog squadron is to be escorted to a refueling tanker following their victory at the fortress. The escorting planes belong to the 8492nd squadron, earlier revealed to be part of rival nation Belka's force that kidnapped the president, and the Wardog squadron escapes to the east.

19. Final Option – As the Belkans have gained control of most of the Osean army, the Wardog squadron has to make a hasty retreat from their home, Sand Island. They escape in trainer jets with the help of Pops, but are pursued by the elite Grabacr squadron from Belka. Pops leads the Wardog squadron through a course over (and into) a volcanic island and they escape. Swordsman (Marcus Snow) helps you fake your death by shooting your planes down after you eject.

20. Ancient Walls – Swordsman joins the Wardog squadron as they set up with the aircraft carrier Kestrel. They launch to rescue Osean President Harling in an ancient castle and are successful.

21. Solitaire – A mine where nuclear weapons are stores is the target of a recon mission for Blaze alone. He avoids a radar net to take a picture of a mine, and get some incriminating evidence with respect to Belka. Wardog squadron starts calling themselves Razgriz squadron.

22. Closure – The mine where nuclear weapons are stored is destroyed by the Wardog squadron.

23. Ghosts of Razgriz – One of the nuclear weapons from the mine is being disarmed by a group of college students. Wardog squadron secures the surrounding area and takes out four planes from the elite Ofnir squadron. It is revealed that Captain Jack Bartlett (Heartbreak One) is still alive.

24. White Bird (Part II) – The Arkbird, now in Belkan hands, is destroyed by the Wardog squadron.

25. Heartbreak One – Bartlett has rescued Yuktobanian Prime Minister Nikanor from prison. He, much like Osean President Harling, was imprisoned by Belka. With help from the Wardog squadron they escape via a nearby airfield.

26. Sea of Chaos – President Harling and Prime Minister Nikanor set out to reveal to the world that the entire war was set up by the Belkans and they should stop fighting. The Yuktobanian naval fleet and the Osean naval fleet are meeting head on. Wardog squadron helps destroy the Yuktobanian naval fleet that is under control of the Belkans.

27. Aces – The Kestrel is sunk by a massive attack, but manages to launch the Razgriz squadron to take out a control facility developed by a Belkan arms manufacturer. Captain Hamilton, once stationed at Sand Island, is killed.

27+. The Unsung War – The SOLG, the Sub Orbital Linear Gun which resembles a massive satellite, is about to crash into Oured, the capital of Osea. Before taking it out however, the Razgriz squadron defeates the combined forces of the elite Ofnir and Grabacr squadrons.

List of major characters

• "Blaze" is the callsign of the player, his real name is never revealed. Blaze rises from trainee to squad captain of the Wardog squadron after Bartlett is shot down.
• Nicholas Anderson, 61, is the captain of the aircraft carrier Kestrel.
• Captain Jack Bartlett, 42, callsign "Heartbreak One", is the leader of the Wardog squadron. He has been a Captain in the Osean army for many years. Additionally, he helped Pops after they were both shot down over enemy territory. During the events of AC5 he is shot down but works behind enemy lines to rescue Prime Minister Nikanor.
• Peter Beagle, 56, a.k.a. "Pops", is a mechanic for the Wardog squadron, but was a very accomplished ace many years prior when fighting for the Belkans.
• Alvin Davenport, 29, callsign "Chopper", is a member of Wardog squadron. He is shot down and killed flying cover for the Osean vice president's speech in November International Stadium (Journey Home).
• Albert Genette, 32, is a photojournalist assigned to Sand Island. He covers many of Wardog squadron's battles and turns them into living legends.
• Hans Grimm, 19, is a trainee pilot who ends up taking the fourth spot in Wardog squadron after Bartlett is shot down. He has a brother who is part of the ground forces.
• Allen Hamilton, 28, is a Captain in the OADF, but more importantly he is second in command at Sand Island. He is killed while fighting against Wardog squadron (Aces).
• Vincent Harling is the president of Osea.
• Kei Nagase, 23, callsign "Edge", is the female pilot in the Wardog squadron. She remains dedicated to protecting Blaze after seeing Bartlett shot down. She is shot down during a mission to rescue Osean POWs (Ice Cage), but is rescued shortly thereafter. (White Noise).
• Seryozha Viktrovich Nikanor is the prime minister of Yuktobania.
• Orson Perrault, 48, is the commander of the Sand Island base. He is duped into thinking that Wardog squadron are spies, forcing them to escape with Pops' help (Final Option).
• Marcus Snow, 34, callsign "Swordsman", is leader of Kestrel's air wing. He joins the Wardog squadron after helping them fake their deaths (Final Option).

External links

• Ace Combat 5 official site
• Ace Combat Series Forum
• Ace Combat 5 Fansite