The Ace Combat series is pretty silly when you think about it.
Ace Combat 5 ends when your squadron, named the "Ghosts of Razgriz" after an in-universe fairy tale, join forces one last time to stop the falling debris of a giant super-weapon from falling over to the neighboring town and killing everyone. This super-weapon was previously hijacked by a shadow organization of resentful ultra nationalists that somehow tricked two of the world's largest nations into waging an all-out war against each other by secretly kidnapping the president of the world's largest superpower.
Sounds weird, right? Now get a load of what happens in Ace Combat Zero. In that game, the titular "Belkan War" ends after Belka completely obliterates its own soil with nuclear bombs just to spitefully bring the war to a stalemate. However, soon after, a secret terrorist organization steals their nuclear super-weapon and threatens to completely destroy the world to eradicate the concept of war and borders so you're sent on a covert mission to stop them.
If that wasn't enough, then your former war buddy turned enemy who joined this exact organization appears out of nowhere in this snowy wasteland, hijacks an experimental plane equipped with lasers and cluster explosives, kills your best friend and then challenges you to a fight to the death that must be fought in a plane jousting match that will decide the fate of the world.
The funniest thing about all this is.... That these are actually some of the best moments in the entire series. Yeah, no joke. I understand that all that sounds incredibly convoluted and raunchy on paper, but the funny thing about this series is that it doesn't really matter how strange and silly it is; it just works regardless. The Ace Combat games are a wonderful exercise on how games can utilize every aspect of the medium to elevate moments far beyond their conceptual basis. That is why context matters in Ace Combat, because its not enough to know what happens in these games; you need to experience it for yourself.
But of course, there'd be no point to this article if I didn't at least try to explain every detail in the game's presentation that makes these moments succeed at what they're doing. So why don't we start with Ace Combat 5, the prime example of how wonderful the world of plane combat really is.
Ace Combat 5's final mission is a long and well-earned spectacle that's divided into two parts: "ACES" and "The Unsung War". The first part is Mission 27 "ACES", which has your team fighting the last forces of the "Grey Men", the game's ultimate antagonists. This fight involves a large scale assault at night that ultimately concludes in a tense chase through the narrow tunnels of an underground facility. The second half of the mission is "The Unsung War", where you must stop the falling debris of the super-weapon you just destroyed from annihilating the city below.
Both of these missions serve an important purpose in regards to the pacing of the game, as they offer a cathartic finale to the game's lengthy storyline. Throughout Ace Combat 5, you are constantly fighting a war without meaning that prolongs needless suffering and cruelty. However, once you discover who were the real masterminds behind the war, you get a supremely satisfying series of events where all sides join together in one heroic attempt to foil their plans for destruction. These two missions are the culmination of that build up.
"ACES" is the mission that builds on that feeling of catharsis you get from seeing everyone join together to fight against one common foe. After a long game where it seems like everything is uncertain and cruelty is the only answer, there's nothing more hopeful than joining forces with your former foes to rid the world of the conspiracy that brought it to chaos. It is supremely satisfying to chase down these ruthless and single-minded villains, not just because you enjoy the challenge of chasing them down in a narrow tunnel, but because they represent the antithesis of the peace you're trying to create.
Then, once you think everything's over, the game throws one last mission at you to wrap the bow around the whole experience. If "ACES" was the payoff to the game's long build-up, then "The Unsung War" is the release of the drama the game's been building up. This final mission gives the player one last fantastic spectacle that gives the game a striking lasting appeal.
It's not a difficult mission by any means, since you're mostly flying through empty space and fighting a squadron that's not difficult to take down. However, the game is carefully paced to give the player the tense challenge in the previous mission and the spectacle on the next. The final mission of Ace Combat 5 is more about looking back through the whole experience and enjoying the climax with a powerful and solemn air of suspense and anticipation.
The stakes are higher than ever and the end is near, but you can't sit back and relax just yet. On the beautiful red streaks of dawn, your squadron hangs by the looming thread of suspense that is literally falling from the sky. Yet, this feeling of suspense does not overshadow the powerful and hopeful tone of the game's ending, which pushes the player one last time to finish what they've started.
As you reflect on the journey, you are accompanied by the "Ghosts of Razgriz", the squadron you've led throughout the whole game. Ace Combat 5's signature mechanic is the ability to control a team of wingmen who can attack enemy aircraft or cover you from oncoming missiles. They'll be your only companions against the onslaught of foreign armies trying to take you down, and for that reason, you grow attached to this cast of unique characters.
Ace Combat 5's storytelling works right alongside its gameplay design to present a cast of characters that's not just well defined and fun to fly along with, but also one that the player has a personal attachment to. Their sacrifices, successes and failures matter to you as a player because they've been with you the whole journey. They grow as characters just as the player becomes better at playing the game.
So when the final mission comes, you have a moment to reflect your long journey with them. There is much that was lost throughout the course of the war, friends and squadmates that will never return, but its still up to you to end the war and deliver the finishing blow. That aspect adds a lot to the solemn and winding ending of the game. It is the moment where your motivations as a player and those of your mates as characters come together in one last act that is sure to save the world from destruction.
And this decisive moment is coated with the weird sensibilities and artistic trappings of Ace Combat's world-building and storytelling. By far, the most unique aspect of Ace Combat 5 as an action game is its fascination with the lore of its own alternate earth, the fictional world known as "Strangereal". Though its history, culture and geography of Strangereal isn't too different from that of our own world, it is still brought to life thanks to the small details that make it come to life. One of these small details is the fictional short story "A Blue Dove for the Princess", which has a key thematic role in the storyline of the game.
The fairytale narrates the epic tale of a dove who escapes the comfort of its home to find a miraculous cure that could revive his precious princess. The book introduces the mythical figure of "Razgriz", who lives an ambivalent and cyclical life. When Razgriz first appears, they abuse their power to bring death and famine upon the land. After their demise however, Razgriz is reborn as a great hero that gives life and peace to the world.
In a shocking twist, the game uses the fictional Razgriz legend as the metaphorical basis for its own story. Essentially, the story of the game is a metaphor for the legend of Razgriz. Early on, you use your power to further the war and bring death to soldiers and innocents alike, but after a turn of events, your entire squadron is hunted down and presumed dead. Once its time to return to the spotlight, your squadron is reformed as the "Ghosts of Razgriz" as one final attempt to set things right and return peace to the world.
And all these symbolic parallels come to a head in the final mission, where you finally feel like you've embodied the role of the hero. Mission 27 is where the journey comes full circle and the player goes from furthering the cause of the war to ending it, thus embodying the figure of Razgriz. The moment you destroy the SOLG and prevent its descent has a cathartic fairy tale quality to it that wouldn't have been achieved without these symbolic parallels.
By far, the most important stylistic element that makes this scene come together is its accompanying score, which is one of the most fulfilling musical compositions in a videogame. "The Unsung War" is the final song that plays in Mission 27+ and it re-incorporates the musical motifs of the game's score in one final, explosive crescendo that culminates the journey as a whole.
This song starts with the solemn atmosphere of the start of the mission, but soon transforms it with a winding crescendo that leads into a choir. The song continues to change the mood from solemn to triumphant. As the orchestra adds more layers of instruments and melodies into the song, the track has fully transitioned into a striking orchestra. This catharsis is felt completely when the song proudly evolves into the game's heroic main theme.
The Unsung War's main theme is accompanied by a latin chant that rhapsodizes about the story of Razgriz, piece by piece. Though this detail is easy to miss, the intent is clear just from listening to the song. This track adds so much weight to the mission alone that it elevates the game's climax to an unforgettable degree.
So, in short, Ace Combat 5 successfully utilizes visuals, music and storytelling to elevate itself to a degree where its quirky narrative becomes an unforgettable and gratifying journey. However, the spectacle of Ace Combat 5 's final mission is also a good parallel to the utter brilliance of Ace Combat Zero's final boss fight.
Ace Combat Zero's final mission, named after the game's subtitle, uses a lot of the same techniques as Ace Combat 5. Gameplay mechanics are employed alongside wonderful presentation, symbolic storytelling and awe inspiring music to elevate a scene to unforgettable levels. However, what makes Zero stand out is the different ways in which it uses those exact same techniques to adapt itself to Ace Combat Zero's more narrow focus on telling a more personal, self-contained tale.
For instance, while the squad commands from Ace Combat 5 make a re-appearance, they no longer control a full team of wingmen. In fact, you only ever have one wingman alongside you the whole game: your partner and your buddy "Solo Wing Pixy". Much like the last game, these gameplay mechanics create a unique bond between you and Pixy which is made far stronger thanks to his smarter and more active AI when reacting to his commands.
What's different this time however is that, unlike the Wardog Squadron, Pixy isn't always going to be with you. Ace Combat Zero's ending isn't a triumphant reunion of allies, but a bitter final fight between two friends. The Belkan War has twisted Pixy to the point where he's given up listening to reason and would rather betray you and disappear on his own to find his own ways to end the war. Though Pixy's gameplay slot is filled by another character, it doesn't quite feel the same because you've become so accustomed to Pixy as a character thanks to the gameplay and storytelling.
And all of this makes Pixy's return feel so conflicting, because despite having returned from oblivion, he's no longer going to be the wingman you trusted. Pixy has a new purpose now: to fight you and bring an end to the world's borders through nuclear annihilation. Thanks to how well reinforced Pixy was as a gameplay tool and friendly character, this final boss fight brings out so many mixed feelings from the player. On one hand, you feel betrayed by your friend; on the other, you feel obliged to carry out your duty to save the world from him. This wonderful melting pot of emotions can only exist thanks to Ace Combat Zero's brilliant use of game design to enhance its storytelling.
Moreover, the conflicting feelings of this fight are only intensified by the tangible challenge and threat that Pixy poses as a boss fight. His craft moves quickly and dodges your missiles easily if you don't time them properly. Likewise, his movements are swift and fluent, giving you little room to catch up and plenty of opportunities for him to become the hunter. Pixy's weaponry is no slouch either, as he packs an intimidating long range laser that can annihilate you in seconds as well as cluster explosives that can take you by surprise if you're not paying attention.
And even when you do manage to catch up to him and land a few shots, Pixy continues to change his pattern of attack to make sure you're always on the edge of your seat when fighting him. When firing a laser isn't enough to take you down, he brings out the cluster explosives; when that won't do the trick, he will put you under a timer to deliver the finishing blow. Out of all final bosses in the series, Pixy is less of a spectacle and more of a fight between equals; a final test to determine your skill at playing the game.
And all throughout this fight, you're treated to the wonderful, passive-aggressive taunting from your friend to throw you off. The game strikes a fine balance between a tragic, tense fight and a playful rivalry in this last mission, calling out to the player's inherent competitive spirit and provoking them so they can rise up to prove once and for all who is the superior ace pilot.
Another element that's wonderfully incorporated into the careful balancing act of different tones and conflicting emotions is the epic proportions of Ace Combat Zero's symbolic parallels with Arthurian legend. Among these references you can find broad allusions to "The Round Table" and King Arthur's holy sword "Excalibur".
More importantly however, the protagonist of the game is treated as a mythical Arthurian figure who now has to face off against Pixy, who flies in the "ADFX-02 Morgan". Ace Combat Zero tries to establish a clear parallel between the events in the game and the conflict between Arthur Pendragon and Morgan le Fay, the latter of which is an ambivalent figure that is both Arthur's ally and his greatest nemesis, much like Pixy's development throughout the game.
Ace Combat Zero also manages to sneak in some biblical and Norse references into its subtext as well. The main character, named "Cipher", is often paralleled with the fallen angel Lucifer, which is befitting considering his title of "The Demon Lord" and his squadron designation, the "6th Air Division, 66th Air Force Unit". This same squadron he belongs to is called the "Galm Team", which is a reference to the Norse demon hound that guards the gates of hell.
The entire game is full of references to Arthurian myth that give the game a romantic tone, putting the story akin to a fable of Strangereal's past with ambiguous meaning and epic proportions. These literary allusions do more than just give the game a unique stylistic flair like Ace Combat 5, but instead add extra depth and meaning to the narrative that makes it feel epic in scope without losing that very raw and personal intimacy that drives the plot forward. This final fight is cathartic because you get to play the tragic and monumental final confrontation of the mythical hero.
And the staging of this legendary scene is simply phenomenal. The aesthetic choices that set Ace Combat Zero apart from 5 are noticeable and they fit the scene quite well. This hefty, legendary and Arthurian final battle is set on the fitting backdrop of a cold, lifeless wasteland that indicates a perception of decay and tragedy. Only the powerful light of dawn breaking through the clouds illuminates the world as you make one final stand to save the world.
Much like Ace Combat 5, music takes center stage in elevating the aesthetics of the scene, perhaps to even greater heights than before. The mission's accompanying theme "Zero", composed by Keiki Kobayashi, is perhaps the most evocative final boss theme of the series. The titular track takes you on a journey through the evolving emotional peaks of the fight against Pixy.
The song starts out slow with a foreboding prelude as you process the shock of Pixy's reappearance. Before long, the theme continuously layers new elements into the mix combining electronic instrumentals, swooping brass orchestrals and the ever-present Spanish Guitar accompaniment that makes the fight feel like a stylistic and aggressive dance.
As the beat continues, Zero begins to introduce and layer the game's musical motifs into the mix, starting with Ace Combat Zero's main theme, then followed by Pixy's core theme and finally concluding with a cathartic reprise of the Razgriz chant from Ace Combat 5. This progression of melodies is its own self-contained story about the events of the game, taking you through the memories of the Belkan War, focusing on Pixy's character and then culminating with the heroic return of Razgriz, the great hero who symbolizes heroism and triumph throughout the series.
All these melodies are brought together with the clashing tones of the instrumentals, which continuously add new elements into the mix such as choir, strings and percussion to make a dynamic score. The instrumentals rhythmically convey the intensity and flowing emotions of the scene as the melody progresses, giving the player a strong motivator to stay on their toes throughout the fight. I'd say "Zero" carries the power of the scene almost entirely and it is most definitely one of the best musical compositions for any videogame.
It is not enough to describe how the song feels like however, so I definitely recommend listening to it yourself, especially if your first time listening to it happens inside the game. Ace Combat Zero is very deliberate about the way it layers all these elements together to create one very iconic fight that caps off the experience with the highest note you can think of.
So why does context matter anyways?
At the end of the day, it is not just one of these elements that make these scenes stand out, but all of them together. The Ace Combat series isn't shy about doing weird things with its story, but it still makes them come together because it effectively uses its gameplay and presentation to make these moments interesting and memorable for the player. It may not have lofty political commentary like Metal Gear, but it has plenty of sincerity to compensate. It's stylistic trappings are so earnest and well put together that it doesn't matter how silly it all sounds, it just works perfectly when you're in the scene experiencing it for yourself.
Usually, games are desperate in seeking for validation, shying away from crazy ideas because they might be perceived as silly or outdated. However, a series like Ace Combat proves that context does matter; it proves that you can make moments like these work so well because of their earnestness at conveying a memorable moment. It doesn't look for ways to subvert or deconstruct these moments and instead presents these moments with all the honesty and glamour they deserve. It gets away with concepts that sound silly on paper by carefully crafting a powerful scene around them.
Have been able to convince you why these games are so good and worth playing? Perhaps not, but that's exactly the point. It's not enough to rhapsodize about the quality of these games, you have to seek them out and play them for yourself. You have to experience these moments and discover, much like I once did, how impressively crafted, creative and stylish the world of Ace Combat is.
After all, Ace Combat is not just a series about planes. It could be about anything else and still be as impressive because it goes above and beyond the call of duty to tell epic stories through the context of its gameplay, pacing and framework. The talent behind this quirky action series is well worth checking out. If nothing else, then just for the opportunity to live through moments like these for yourself.