User:Koveras Alvane/List of missions in Ace Combat 3 (uncut)

Following is the list of missions in the uncut original version Ace Combat 3: Electrosphere. Upon its initial release, Electrosphere consisted of 52 missions but due to story branching, only 15 to 19 could be completed in a single playthrough.

Unlike in other games of the Ace Combat series, most missions could be completed with varying degrees of success. The message "Mission Accomplished" was awarded for fulfilling both mandatory (e.g. destroying all targets) and optional mission requirements (e.g. staying within time limit); "Mission Over", for only completing the former; and "Mission Failed", for crashing or being shot down, which led to a game over. Both "Mission Accomplished" and "Mission Over" prompted different dialogue from characters and, after certain missions, unlocked secret levels.

Story arcs


The 52 missions of Ace Combat 3 can be grouped into nine major story arcs, separated by plot-relevant decisions that result in shifts of the player character Nemo's allegiances. These four decision points (marked orange on the chart to the right) are points of no return, which ultimately determine which one of the five possible endings (marked red ) the player will receive. Some arcs are completely linear; others feature hidden missions (9 in total) that either replace the default "core" missions or are inserted between them. Unlike major plot choices, these hidden missions have no effect on the outcome of the game.

UPEO (I)
The player always starts the game as a member of the Universal Peace Enforcement Organization. With only four linear missions, UPEO (I) is tied with Ouroboros (II) for the shortest arc of the game.

In the end of mission 04, the player is presented with the first story-altering choice ("Decide"): whether to desert to General Resource or to remain loyal to UPEO. The former choice leads to the General Resource (I) arc; the latter, to the UPEO (II) arc.

UPEO (II)
The second UPEO arc is played only if the player didn't desert the organization in the end of mission 04.

In the end of mission 09, the player is presented a choice of shooting down Representative Clarkson's plane (or letting it be shot down by other pilots), killing Fiona and everyone else on board, or defending it from SARF and consequently deserting to Neucom. The former choice leads to the UPEO (III) arc; the latter, to the Neucom (I) arc.

UPEO (III)
The third UPEO arc is played only if the player let Fiona Chris Fitzgerald be killed in the end of mission 09. With nine missions, it is the longest completely linear arc of the game.

Completing mission 18 leads to the ending "A Canopy of Stars".

General Resource (I)
This arc is played only if the player deserted from UPEO to General Resource Limited with Abyssal Dision in the end of mission 04. With 10 possible missions (including for hidden ones), it is the largest arc of the game, though only 7 to 8 can be completed in any given playthrough.

In the end of mission 28, the player is presented a choice of deserting with Abyssal Dision again, this time to Ouroboros, or remaining loyal to General Resource. The former choice leads to the Ouroboros (I) arc; the latter, to the General Resource (II) arc.

General Resource (II)
The second General Resource arc is played only if the player didn't desert the organization along with Abyssal Dision in the end of mission 28.

Completing mission 33 leads to the ending "Geopelia".

Ouroboros (I)
This arc is played only if the player deserted from General Resource to Ouroboros with Abyssal Dision in the end of mission 28.

Completing mission 38 leads to the ending "Electrosphere".

Neucom (I)
This arc is played only if the player saved Fiona Chris Fitzgerald's life and deserted to Neucom Incorporated with her in the end of mission 09.

In the end of mission 43, the player is presented a choice of deserting to Ouroboros with Cynthia Bridgitte Fitzgerald or remaining loyal to Neucom. The former choice leads to the Ouroboros (II) arc; the latter, to the Neucom (II) arc.

Ouroboros (II)
This arc is played only if the player deserted from Neucom to Ouroboros with Cynthia Bridgitte Fitzgerald in the end of mission 43. With only four linear missions, it is tied with UPEO (I) for the shortest arc of the game.

Completing mission 47 leads to the ending "Self Awareness".

Neucom (II)
The second Neucom arc is played only if the player didn't desert the organization along with Cynthia Bridgitte Fitzgerald in the end of mission 43.

Completing mission 52 leads to the ending "Sole Survivor".

Endings
There are five ending cutscenes in the game. None of them has a proper title, therefore they are referred by the titles of their respective preceding gameplay missions below.

A Canopy of Stars

 * Preceding mission:
 * Preceding arcs: UPEO (I), UPEO (II), UPEO (III) (17 to 18 missions)

Having defeated both Abyssal Dision's Ouroboros and the treacherous Commander Park, Erich wonders out loud what he and Nemo are supposed to do now. Down below, the remains of the Night Raven wash ashore and Rena emerges from it unscathed. As she takes off her flight suit (not bothered by her Silverstone Disease because it's nighttime), Erich and Nemo's fighters make a low pass over her. Erich calls out to her and she calls back, waving her hands.

Geopelia

 * Preceding mission:
 * Preceding arcs: UPEO (I), General Resource (I), General Resource (II) (15 to 19 missions)

Nemo's XFA-36A Game and the capered Geopelia land side by side on a General Resource airfield. A news report muses about the Geopelias' origin (as neither Neucom, nor Ouroboros are believed to be behind them), as well as on Nemo's identity, as a camera close-up reveals that the Geopelia cockpit is empty.

Electrosphere

 * Preceding mission:
 * Preceding arcs: UPEO (I), General Resource (I), Ouroboros (I) (15 to 19 missions)

As rescue teams recover the remains of Dision's Aurora, a news report reveals that no remains could be found among the wreckage. The reporter muses on whether the flight data records will shed any light on the mystery of the Ouroboros' mastermind who was last observed boarding this plane.

Self Awareness

 * Preceding mission:
 * Preceding arcs: UPEO (I), UPEO (II), Neucom (I), Ouroboros (II) (15 to 17 missions)

Immediately after shooting down the Night Raven, Cynthia and Nemo are contacted by Simon Cohen who asks them to come back to Neucom. Cynthia leaves that choice up to Nemo, who doesn't answer. Back at the Neucom HQ, Simon watches a news report of an unprecedented truce between GR, Neucom, and UPEO who agree to cooperate in rooting out the remaining Ouroboros agents amidst their ranks. As the report ends, Simon commends someone's actions, calling them "a good kid".

Sole Survivor

 * Preceding mission:
 * Preceding arcs: UPEO (I), UPEO (II), Neucom (I), Neucom (II) (15 to 18 missions)

Having defeated Dision, Fii thanks Nemo for always helping her and announces that she will leave both Neucom and piloting behind. Some time later, Fii is in her apartment, watching the news that Dision was a sublimated human. She still grieves for Cynthia but is shocked to receive a video message from her. In it, Cynthia asks Fii not to feel sad about her because she continues to exist in the Electrosphere—and it is beautiful. As the message ends, Fii is overcome with emotion, uncertain whether to cry or to laugh.

Epilogue
The epilogue or true ending of Ace Combat 3: Electrosphere is unlocked by clearing all five regular endings and plays after the final ending that has been cleared. In it, Simon Orestes Cohen contacts Nemo to reveal that he is an artificial intelligence created by Simon to explore various paths leading to the destruction of Abyssal Dision, whom Simon blames for the death of Yoko Martha Inoue. All of the events depicted in Electrosphere are thus revealed to be completely fabricated, and Simon asks Nemo to forget about them, as he now releases him into the real world. As Nemo is being released, Simon cryptically comments that some new game is beginning.

Hidden missions
Some missions are present in the game resources but can only be accessed via a GameShark program. They are not part of any "official" story branch.