Ace Combat 5
The Unsung War
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Game Information
Release Date: October 25, 2004
Developers: Project Aces
Publishers: Namco, SCEE
Platforms: Playstation 2
Genre: Arcade, Combat Flight Simulator
Players: 1

Synopsis
With more than 50 different licensed planes and an intense storyline extending over 30 missions, players will be put to the ultimate test, including air-to-air combat, air-to-ground fighting, air-to-sea assaults, rescue, recon and much more. Incorporating ultra-realistic beautifully rendered in-game graphics and cinematics along with unparalleled game play; ACE COMBAT 5 goes a step beyond the traditional air combat gaming experience. One of the exciting new features to the sequel includes Wingman Command, where players can issue directives to their wingmen mid-mission to carry out coordinated group attacks. Additionally, the in-game radio communications with the squadron and enemies adds to the realism and intensity of the dynamic battle sequences. In the game's premise, it is September 23, 2010 on distant Sand Island, a small island in the Ceres Ocean that divides the two superpowers, Osea and Yuktobania. An entire military base is on red alert--the 108th Tactical Fighter Squadron intercepted an unidentified aircraft and the entire squadron was decimated. You are a fighter pilot, part of the new squadron that's been called into action to protect your nation of Osea. Now, the story begins to unfold.

Plot
The game starts out when pilots from Sand Island had been attacked by enemy fighters of Yuktobania. While still in training, Pilots Blaze, Chopper, and Edge are assigned to Wardog Squadron led by Captain Bartlett. During a mission, Bartlett is shot down and ejects from his aircraft but was yet to be found. So he was then determined "MIA". Later on, Nagase is then promoted to lead the Wardog Squadron but declines the offer and states than instead of her, the group should follow under Blaze. Once the Wardog Squadron got situated, they proceeded to defend their country Osea against the enemies of Yuktobania. After eliminating Yuktobanian forces in Cinigrad, Wardog Squadron is informed of one of Yuktobania's flagships known as the Scinfaxi that is able dispatch aircraft and launch ballistic missiles had been detected in the ocean where Wardog Squadron and a couple of rookies were fighting off enemy fighters. As the Scinfaxi commenced launch of their ballistic missiles against Wardog Squadron, Yuktobanian forces were unaware that the Arkbird was providing aerial support of shooting a laser beam at the ballistic missiles being launched from the Scinfaxi. After the Arkbird failed to shoot down multiple ballistic missiles, the rookie pilots were killed and the Arkbird shot it's laser directly on the Scinfaxi which prevented it from diving beneath the surface and Wardog Squadron was able to destroy it. Later on, Osea was notified of another flagship called the Hrimfaxi. Wardog Squadron is again sent out on a mission to destroy the Hrimfaxi which Wardog Squadron has to stay below a certain altitude before reaching the Hrimfaxi and as well as destroying any submarine that is in their view before the submarines notify the Hrimfaxi of their location and emerges under the water. After destroying one of the submarines, all forces including the Hrimfaxi is notified of Wardog Squadron. Before the Hrimfaxi starts to dive, it is critically hit from Wardog Squadron and begins to surface again. With the inability to dive, the Hrimfaxi then dispatches UAVs and launches ballistic missiles towards Wardog Sqaudron. As the Hrimfaxi is at its critical stage of being destroyed, staff aboard the Hrimfaxi begins stating that they weren't the "Razgriz" but called Wardog Squadron the title "Demons Of Razgriz". Later in the campaign, the so-called "Razgriz Squadron" is being escorted by a squadron known as the 8492nd Squadron, which lead the Razgriz Squadron into a trap to be shot down. Later on, Razgriz Squadron are then determined to shoot down the "Arkbird since they have been classified as fugitives by Osea and have no sort of allies but the Razgriz Squadron and a guy named "Pops". After successfully destroying the Arkbird, Razgriz Squadron has one final mission to complete, and that mission is to destroy Yuktobania's super-weapon "SOLG" (Strategic Orbital Linear Gun). With their intent to destroy the SOLG, Razgriz is intercepted by the 8492nd Squadron which consists of both the Ofnir and Grabacr Squadrons which their intent is to stop the Razgriz Squadron once and for all, but fail to do so which leads to the destruction of the SOLG.

Gameplay
The gameplay is really addicting and action-packed for those players that favor air simulator games. A new feature that players will notice that in Ace Combat 5, they will be able to communicate with their squad mates by answer "yes" or "no". Players will have to fight against naval, ground, and air forces of all types. Players will be able to pilot a total of 53 different planes which are classified into different types. If a plane is classified as a "fighter", then that plane is good for air-to-air combat. If it is classified as an "attacker", then that plane is more suited for air-to-ground battles. On certain missions, players will have to fly below a certain altitude in order to not be caught by the enemy's radar system or else the mission fails. Players will also earn a rank after completing a mission which is determined by the score they earn for that mission. And by doing landing and refueling missions, players will earn an extra amount of cash. Players will also experience fighting multiple types of super-weapons that the enemy intents to use against the player and their allies. At a certain point in the game, the player will be able to choose aircraft specifically for their squad mates. And as well as give them orders during a mission that they will either provide cover or attack nearby enemies.

Graphics
The graphics in Ace Combat 5 are just as good as the graphics in Ace Combat 4. The planes in the game have that great realistic look to the planes in real life, so are the custom designs as they are really clean and symmetrical. The explosions upon impact are great and players can easily see while in theater mode that when they destroy an enemy, they can see part of the enemy they destroyed fall apart. In cockpit view, players can easily see the meter of their altitude without it fading into the bright sky which is better compared to previous installments. The terrain of the areas the player flies in are very diverse in which players will fight in mist, dry, and snowy terrain which gives the player a more diverse flying style. The cut scenes in the game are very detailed to the character's faces and have their own unique body type that can be distinguish amongst them. On some cut scenes during a mission, players can see the water move and splash around when the enemy hits or is submerging from the water.

Controls
Ace Combat 5 features a wide array of controls to function the gameplay so new players will have to practice the controls to at least get a feel for them. For returning players, Ace Combat 5's controls shouldn't be much of a difference than Ace Combat 4. The control's functions haven't really had a change so by having played the previous installment, the controls are nothing new. The mobility controls will vary depending on the mobility stat for the player's aircraft, if the mobility is very high, players won't have to yaw on the analog stick hard since the plane will maneuver more quickly. If the plane doesn't, then the player will have to then. If the player is having trouble stabilizing their altitude, the player can easily switch to autopilot by holding down both the accelerator and decelerator buttons. Players can also change the controls of the standard controls between verse and inverse which is just the opposite of each other.

Extra Information
Grabacr is an alternate name of Nidhoggr, a giant serpent from Norse mythology. In the Prose Edda, it was described as one of three giant snakes that chewed on the world tree Yggdrasil, along with Fafnir and Jormungandr.

Ofnir is Icelandic for "Woven".

The Scinfaxi and its sister ship, the Hrimfaxi, take their names from Norse mythology, where the Skinfaxi and Hrmfaxi are the horses of Dagr (day) and Nott (night).