I'm not gonna lie. I started Ace Combat Zero out of pure boredom something like seven or eight years ago. In my mind it was a middle of the road series that was some Call of Duty shit. How could I not believe so? It was a series about jet fighters shooting at each other in the air.
Ace Combat in my mind was just some ultra jingoistic military romp about saving America from the Russians like every other game about military shit.
I had never been more wrong about anything in my life.
I couldn't stop playing Ace Combat Zero. I finished it in one sitting at 3 AM crying like a BABY because it was so GOOD. It was a really engrossing story that was actually about friendship and the horrors of war and making salient points about eradicating borders. Some real human shit.
But that's not even the best part. There is a real progression of your skills as a fighter fighting for peace that are anime as shit:
And then it's just absolutely fantastic music, great gameplay, huge increase of stakes, you just feel like you're the one who can put an end to the war, while still making you understand that it's not just about you.
And then there is the final battle:
I won't spoil it but this was one of the best thing I've experienced. The music, the stakes, the fight, the context, the emotional impact of everything you've experienced going into this one single fight. It was perfect.
And that's what Ace Combat is. It's a game where there are feelings put into the fight. There is emotional resonance into what it is doing. Another series that is pulling it off well is the Yakuza series, well Ace Combat is kinda like that. It even has the potential to hit even harder depending on what you prefer.
Honestly Ace Combat should be way more popular if you're into this. I recommend Ace Combat 7 as a first game, it's a great revival of the series released on PS4/XB1/PC.
Ace Combat in my mind was just some ultra jingoistic military romp about saving America from the Russians like every other game about military shit.
I had never been more wrong about anything in my life.
I couldn't stop playing Ace Combat Zero. I finished it in one sitting at 3 AM crying like a BABY because it was so GOOD. It was a really engrossing story that was actually about friendship and the horrors of war and making salient points about eradicating borders. Some real human shit.
But that's not even the best part. There is a real progression of your skills as a fighter fighting for peace that are anime as shit:
- There is an area called the Roundtable that has seen its fair share of conflicts over the years, it's a legendary place where the "Ace" gets chosen from the people who survive this skirmish
- You surviving it and downing so many jets nets you the nickname of "Demon Lord of the Roundtable" (how cool is that?)
- Now other Aces wants to fight you after learning your reputation
- Other squadrons are shitting their pants just hearing your nickname
And then it's just absolutely fantastic music, great gameplay, huge increase of stakes, you just feel like you're the one who can put an end to the war, while still making you understand that it's not just about you.
And then there is the final battle:
I won't spoil it but this was one of the best thing I've experienced. The music, the stakes, the fight, the context, the emotional impact of everything you've experienced going into this one single fight. It was perfect.
And that's what Ace Combat is. It's a game where there are feelings put into the fight. There is emotional resonance into what it is doing. Another series that is pulling it off well is the Yakuza series, well Ace Combat is kinda like that. It even has the potential to hit even harder depending on what you prefer.
Honestly Ace Combat should be way more popular if you're into this. I recommend Ace Combat 7 as a first game, it's a great revival of the series released on PS4/XB1/PC.
