Ace Combat 2

This is the second installment of the Ace Combat Series on the PlayStation game console.

Graphics and Soundtrack
Ace Combat 2 featured an immense jump in graphics technology over the first game. Light sources were added to enhance the 3D experience. Moveable control surfaces and afterburner exhaust made their first appearance in this game. There was also the addition of branching missions and a wingman selection (with minimal control).

The game's soundtrack features an impressive 30 Rock/Electronic song listing, probably geared specifically towards that of "Top Gun". Air/Ace Combat and Ace Combat 2 are the only games of the series to feature this unique blend of Rock/Electronic music. All games after this installment feature symphonic, techno and other types of music.

Game Modes
Ace Combat 2 features three diffent modes of difficulty. Easy, Medium and Hard mode. This game also included a unique option to select "Extra" mode, after beating the game once. This "Extra" mode allowed the player to play through the game with an entirely new set of aircraft, not used in the standard (or original) mode.

Super Aircraft
Extra mode also unlocks the XFA-27; the first of the two Ace Combat super planes, featured within the game. The XFA-27 is the first pilotable super aircraft of the Ace Combat series, while the ADF-01 is the first enemy super aircraft of the series. These aircraft are later seen together in Ace Combat X: The Skies of Deception.

Storyline (prolouge)
Communication mode: Level S

Operation code: TC2012

Communication description:

A coup d'etat broke out in the military corps; general area code NA-P2700. They saw an opportunity during a time when their leaders were away from the country on a diplomatic mission. After the forces occupied the center of administration, they seized control of important facilities in each district. They are expanding their influence while strengthening their fighting power. Their military capabilities include air and sea forces. It has also been confirmed that they are in possession of extra powerful cruise missiles.

To respond to the rebel's forces, the military corps' headquarters made a decision to use the Special Tactical Fighter Squadron, "Scarface" which consists of you, my fellow pilots. We want you to go on this mission and suppress the coup d'etat immediately. You will receive all-out support from our military corps, full cooperation through our intelligence division, and military supplies. The situation is tense, and there is no time to waste. Take on this mission immediately.

That is all.

Storyline
While national leaders are away on a diplomatic mission (perhaps concerning the impending Ulysses strike), a group of the core members of the Elite Military Headquarters Area Code NA-P2700 seize the opportunity to carry out a silent coup d'etat, quickly taking over many strategic facilities and military positions all over the Usean continent. In response, military headquarters dispatches the Special Tactical Fighter Squadron (STFS) "Scarface" to counter the rebellion. The Coup Forces are to present quite a challenge to Scarface in the coming battles--they are fully equipped with air, ground, and sea forces, and intelligence suggests that they may be in control of the advanced SLBM Extra Powerful Cruise Missile. As a secret weapon, the rebels have also trained an elite squadron of ace pilots, the Z.O.E. Squadron.

In an early attempt to quickly silence any possible threat to their mission, the rebels launch a bomber squadron to strike the STFS base on Twinkle Island. However, this force is intercepted and shot down by the STFS aces.

Over the next few weeks, the Scarface Squadron manages to score more and more victories for their cause, including the takeover of the aircraft carrier resupply facilities in Anchorhead Bay, a bombing strike on the enemy ship-building facility in Axel Bay, the capture of Scofield Plant (an enemy arms production factory), the destruction of the Coup Force's assembly facilities for a prototype bomber on the Comona Islands, and the destruction of the enemy's submarine resupply base. Along the way, Scarface Squadron also engages and defeats many of the Z.O.E. squadron's notorious aces.

As the conflict goes on, the STFS manages to push back the enemy lines. To further reinforce their advance, allied forces and the Scarface Squadron are split into two forces to launch simultaneous strikes on enemy targets. These operations are code-named "Alphaville" and "Bellissima". Throughout the next few weeks, both forces achieve many important victories over the enemy.

For instance, the Alphaville force succesfully strikes an enemy missile silo base in Faith Park, and escorts an allied carrier fleet through Peyton Channel, which later engages the enemy mobile fleet in the South Usean Sea. They help to take over the Geothermal Plant on Rocky Island, a vital energy supply facility, then take out the enemy's radar network on Petrol Coast, blinding the enemy and preventing them from viewing and anticipating allied movements.

Meanwhile, the Bellissima force launches a surprise attack on an enemy stealth bomber base in White Valley, take over the Elementary Particle Laboratory, another important energy facility in Altora Desert, and launch a rescue operation on Sandburry Desert to save the crew of an allied AWACS aircraft shot down by the enemy. Finally, they engage in a fierce battle and break through the rebels' last line of defense at Snider's Top, defeating a whole fleet of enemy warships, fighters, and stealth bombers, including a finished unit of the enemy prototype bomber, the XB-10 "Big Bad Man".

Eventually, both allied forces assemble to launch a strike to liberate the enemy-occupied city of Port Edwards, and finally launching a massive offensive to take over the enemy headquarters in St. Ark. However, an enemy Dragonet-class submarine managed to escape from the city before the attack, and threatens a missile attack on St. Ark. The ace pilot, Scarface One, strikes and sinks the submarine, Dragonet 2, and manages to intercept and shoot down the SLBM missile launched by the sub against the North Point capital.

However, STFS intelligence discovers that the rebels' last elite officers are gathering their last forces in an isolated fortress headquarters, known as the Fortress Intolerance on the southeast mountain region of North Point. The fortress turned out to be armed with a full squadron of advanced enemy fighters and extra-powerful criuse missiles, including more SLBM-class missiles. Scarface Squadron launched a massive assault on the fortress, and eventually the ace Scarface One defeated the last of the enemy's elite squadron, the Z.O.E. Commander and his advanced prototype fighter, the ADF-01. In a daring and amazing move, Scarface One entered the fortress and destroyed it from the inside by unloading his weapons on the fortress's missile silo. With the destruction of the fortress, the rebel forces surrendered and the coup d'etat was finally over.

NAMCOLLECTION
In 2005 Namco released Ace Combat 2 as part of the NAMCOllection for the Playstation 2 to celebrate the publisher's 50th anniversary. The aircraft were retextured and several special features were included.

Links To Other Articles
Aces of Ace Combat 2 - information on enemy aces.

Characters of Ace Combat 2 - information about the characters.

Soundtrack of Ace Combat 2 - BGM tracklisting.

Usean Rebellion - an indepth type up of operations.