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 Eagle, F/A-18C Hornet, and several second and third generation fighters 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.
The game contains many references to the Arthurian legend, in the form of aircraft, weapons, structures and locations.
Read more about this topic: Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War
Famous quotes containing the word introduction:
“My objection to Liberalism is this—that it is the introduction into the practical business of life of the highest kind—namely, politics—of philosophical ideas instead of political principles.”
—Benjamin Disraeli (1804–1881)
“We used chamber-pots a good deal.... My mother ... loved to repeat: “When did the queen reign over China?” This whimsical and harmless scatological pun was my first introduction to the wonderful world of verbal transformations, and also a first perception that a joke need not be funny to give pleasure.”
—Angela Carter (1940–1992)
“For better or worse, stepparenting is self-conscious parenting. You’re damned if you do, and damned if you don’t.”
—Anonymous Parent. Making It as a Stepparent, by Claire Berman, introduction (1980, repr. 1986)