Ace Combat Xi: Skies of Incursion is a game for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad developed by Namco and published by Namco Networks America. It was released on December 3rd 2009 on the App Store. Skies of Incursion takes place during the same time period as Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception but from a different point of view, the story follows the Falco Squadron instead of the Gryphus Squadron. The games Flagship is currently the XFA-24A Apalis.
Gameplay
In Ace Combat Xi the player takes the role of the fight lead of the experimental "Falco" squadron. The are 5 missions in the game (9 as of update 1.1.3). They are all simple missions where the player has to destroy all the Targets. There are three difficulty levels in the game, Easy Normal and Hard. 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 aircraft can take. On the Hard difficulty level, a single missile from the enemy will deal approximately 75% damage to a standard aircraft, whereas on the easiest level would deal about 20%. Another difference found is that it seems that the aircraft have to be closer to the target, similar to the Close Range Assault added to Ace Combat: Assault Horizon. Falco One, the main character, is Aurelia's second-best pilot, since the Southern Cross is the best in the country. Some of the elements in this game such as aircraft sounds to In game voice was reused from Ace Combat X: Skies of deception
Story
In 2020, Leasath invades the peaceful country of Aurelia, capturing about 60% of it's territory in the first few days. A team called "Falco Squadron", flying experimental aircraft is formed, and single-handedly must delay this invasion. First, the squadron engages bombers and fighters over their home base, Phuku Lagolla. The enemies are downed, allowing the squadron to assist friendlies across the country. The base Sallqa is the last defensive position the Aurelians have between Leasath and Griswald, forcing Falco Squadron to go there and fend off attacking enemies while protecting the miniscule Aurelian forces. The base is saved and Leasath's advance loses it's momentum. Leasath desperately looks for a different angle of attack, and finds it at Challwa, the largest Aurelian naval port. They send an invasion force but this is destroyed by Falco 1, sending the Leasath forces back to the ocean. Leasath commanders become frustrated and send a massive bomber formation to destroy Base Sallqa. Falco squadron is again rushed here and shoots down the bombers before they can destroy the base. It is around this point that Leasath recognizes Falco's importance and sends the elite "Chimera Squadron" to Air Space Z2K, an area near Griswall where brutal aerial battles take place. Chimera manages to shoot down enough Aurelian aircraft to convince the Aurelian commanders to send Falco Squadron to the area. Falco Squadron arrives and decimates the Leasath forces. Finally Chimera Squadron arrives. After fierce dogfighting, Falco Squadron is victorious, leaving Leasath decimated. Aurelia decides to go on the offensive, sending Falco Squadron behind enemy lines in order to destroy enemy supplies in anticipation of Aurelian attacks. Despite being seen later on in the operation, Falco destroys all Leasath supplies, greatly hindering Leasath operations. Aurelia, feeling optimistic, decides then to send out their entire fleet, currently blockaded in Port Patterson. With only Falco Squadron as escort, the fleet sets out. Heavy resistance is encountered but Falco sinks all enemy ships and the fleet evacuates safely. Falco follows the fleet out to sea. Suddenly, at dusk, the Gandr, a giant flying prototype of the Gleipnir arrives. Before Falco can react, it sinks the entire Aurelian fleet with it's SWBM. Falco engages the Gandr. Chimera Squadron arrives, but Falco shoots them down, evades SWBMs, damages the Gandr and finally detonates an SWBM in the midst of launching. The Gandr is destroyed, as is the Chimera Squadron. This however does not compensate for the fact that the entire Aurelian fleet was sunk, while Base Sallqa was purged from existence (most likely by the Gleipnir). Falco Squadron is disbanded, and soon 95% of Aurelia, including Griswall, has been captured by Leasath.
Expandability
Ace Combat Xi is expandable, with the ability to purchase and download new aircraft, and new missions, which are released in updates (all cost $0.99 each). The latest version is 1.1.3. It comes with 5 new downloadable aircraft and 3 new missions (plus a bonus mission that can be purchased). Downloadable aircraft are:
1.1.0
- MiG-21-93 Fishbed
- MiG-29A Fulcrum (Second official Aircraft of the Falco Squadron).
- MiG-31 Foxhound
- F-1
- F-2A Viper Zero
- Rafale M
- F-117A Nighthawk
- F-35C Lightning II
- F-22A Raptor
1.1.5 (Latest Version)
Aircraft
There are a total of 15 aircraft in Skies of Incursion. 5 come with the game, 2 of them having to be unlocked and the other 3 available by default. The other 10 can be purchased in game or from the app store.
Available at start
- XFA-24A Apalis Official aircraft of the Falco Squadron.
- YR-302 Fregata
- XR-45 Cariburn
Unlockable
- XFA-27 - Unlockable after beating game on Easy
- ADF-01A/F FALKEN - Unlockable after beating game on Normal
NPC Aircraft
List of missions
Original
Added with Update v1.1.0
Added with Update v1.1.1
- Special: Extra Mission/Air Combat Challenge (purchase only)
Trivia
- The game only has 9 missions (counting the one added with the v1.1.1 update) making it the Ace Combat game with the least amount of missions (Ace Combat: Northern Wings is second with only 10 missions.)