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Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War
North American boxart
Developer(s)	Namco (Project Aces)
Publisher(s)	Namco Bandai
Series	Ace Combat series
Aspect ratio	480i (SDTV)
Platform(s)	PlayStation 2
Release date(s)	JP March 23, 2006 NA April 25, 2006 EU September 15, 2006 AUS September 14, 2006
Genre(s)	Flight simulator
Mode(s)	Single-player, multiplayer
Rating(s)	ESRB: T (Teen)
Media	DVD

Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War (エースコンバット・ゼロ　ザ・ベルカン・ウォー, Ēsu Konbatto Zero Za Berukan Uō^?) is a semi-realistic flight simulator developed by Namco for the PlayStation 2 video game console. It is part of the Ace Combat series of games. In Europe the game was released under the title Ace Combat: The Belkan War.

Contents 1 Introduction 2 Story 3 References 4 External links

[edit] Introduction

The game takes place in 1995, 15 years before the events of Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War, revolving around the conflict between the nation of Belka and the Allied Forces; a multinational military alliance with forces from the nations of Osea, Yuktobania, Ustio, and Sapin among others. Several characters from Ace Combat 5 make an appearance in Ace Combat Zero, but they appear in tertiary roles. The player plays as a mercenary pilot, callsign "Cipher", hired by the country of Ustio, which was invaded by Belka.

The game features primarily older versions of fighter aircraft seen in its predecessor game, such as F-15C, F/A-18C, and several second generation aircraft like the Saab 35 Draken. The player will go up against enemy ace squadrons who feature enhanced weaponry and combat prowess. Players who destroy everything without regard to hostility will receive the Mercenary rank, players who instead spare neutral targets will receive the Knight rank, and those that strike a balance between the two will earn the Soldier rank. These ranks will affect which enemy ace squadrons a player will face throughout the campaign. A split-screen versus mode is included with the game, but no online feature exists. A notable, if unfortunate, difference with previous and following game of the series is that the player does not have the ability to choose the aircraft his wingman will be flying, but is able to choose his SP weapon.

[edit] Story

The Principality of Belka has launched an invasion on the nearby Republic of Ustio in an attempt to seize the newly discovered resources required for its economy. This triggers The Belkan War, between Belka and the coalition forces consisting of the nations of Osea, Sapin, Yuktobania, and Ustio itself. Ustio, having only recently seceded from Belka, loses most of its territory. As a last hope, the Ustians hire mercenary pilots to serve in their air force. Two of the mercenaries know by the callsigns Cipher and his wingman Pixy (who gave his name as "Solo Wing" on his paperwork, but whose real name is Larry Foulke).

Cipher and Pixy succeed in driving the Belkans from Ustio along with the coalition forces. However, when the coalition forces begin to push into Belka, Pixy starts to question the validity of the invasion. This uncertainty comes to a head when Belka detonates several nuclear weapons on its own soil to fend off the advancing coalition forces. In the confusion of the nuclear blasts, Pixy commits an act of treachery by firing upon Cipher's aircraft. He then flees, and Cipher is ordered to pull back into friendly territory.

A short time after, a ceasefire treaty is signed between the Belkans and the coalition forces. However, a coalition of disillusioned pilots and soldiers from Osea, Sapin, Ustio and Belka do not support the treaty; they form a terrorist organization called A World With No Boundaries, that seeks to erase the concept of borders between countries and create a unified world. The rest of the game is spent fighting these terrorists.

The final battle in the game is fought over the Avalon Dam in Belka, where Cipher and his replacement pilot PJ are sent to destroy an enemy base capable of launching intercontinental ballistic missiles. During the battle, PJ is shot down by Pixy, now a defector to the organization. After Cipher engages in a battle with his former wingman, he is victorious and succeeds in putting an end to A World With No Boundaries.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Ace Combat

• Ace Combat Zero Official Site
• Ace Combat Zero Official Site (Japanese)
• Namco Ace Combat Zero Site
• Namco Ace Combat Zero Site (Japanese)
• Ace Combat series wiki
• The Electrosphere - AC Database
• Ace Combat Series wiki

v • d • e Ace Combat series Air Combat · Ace Combat 2 · 3: Electrosphere · 04: Shattered Skies · 5: The Unsung War · Advance · Zero: The Belkan War · X: Skies of Deception · 6: Fires of Liberation · Xi: Skies of Incursion