Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War

Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War serves as a direct prequel to Ace Combat 04 and tells the story of the Belkan War, which in the series' fictional world precedes the events of the first PS2 entry and is referenced there as a dark chapter of history. The player takes on the role of a mercenary pilot, and over the course of the campaign, through their behavior in combat and dialogue choices, aligns with the approach of either the Knight, who follows the rules of engagement and spares civilians, or the Mercenary, who pursues profit regardless of the consequences — this affects other characters' reactions as well as the story's ending, making it one of the few entries in the series with such a pronounced element of moral choice.

The combat system introduces what's called Ace Style, which gradually leans toward one of several styles based on the player's approach to combat — precise hits, defensive maneuvers, or aggressive close-range fire — unlocking different bonus abilities and special weapons. Visually, this is one of the most advanced entries on PS2, with a dense atmosphere driven by a darker narrative tone than earlier episodes, complemented by a striking orchestral score that heightens the drama of battles over the mountainous terrain of Belka and the tragedy of a civil war between former allies.

Within the series, Belkan War is often cited as one of the best-written entries thanks to its elaborate supporting cast of pilots and their fates, which retroactively tie into later games set in the same world. The narrative framework, in which journalist interviews with ace pilots from both sides of the conflict punctuate the individual missions, gives the whole campaign the feel of a genuine historical retrospective. For players coming from earlier entries, it offers a natural culmination of the storyline and stands among what pushed the PS2 generation of Ace Combat furthest in terms of storytelling, which is why it's still often recommended as one of the series' absolute peaks.

Why play it: For fans of the series, Belkan War is recommended as one of its peaks thanks to its elaborate cast of pilots and the journalistic narrative framework that gives the campaign the feel of a genuine historical retrospective.