is a 1997 combat flight simulation video game developed and published by Namco for the PlayStation. It is the sequel to Air Combat and the second in the Ace Combat franchise. The player controls one of 24 different fighter jets through 21 different missions with certain objectives to fulfill, such as protecting a base from enemy fire, intercepting a squadron of enemies, or taking down an aircraft carrier.

Conceived by Namco designer Masanori Kato, Ace Combat 2 was created out of Kato's dissatisfaction with the original Air Combat, feeling from a technical standpoint it was severely lacking. Along with a small group of others, Kato set out to create a follow-up that greatly improved on the original, featuring improved graphics, a variety in missions, and providing a true sense of flight for the player. Missions were created to be exciting and fun to play, with the gameplay itself being designed to mimic the typical style of arcade games.

Ace Combat 2 was a commercial success, selling over 500,000 copies in Japan by May 1998. It was commended by critics for its gameplay, graphics, variety in missions, and improvements over its predecessor. Some also called it one of the best flight-sim games on the PlayStation. The lack of a multiplayer mode and its high-difficulty level were the subject of criticism. A remake for the Nintendo 3DS, Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Legacy, was released in 2011.

Gameplay

thumb|left|In-game screenshot, showing the player targeting a squadron of enemies. The player's fuel meter is shown at the top-left.

Ace Combat 2 is a combat flight simulation game but it is presented in a more arcade-like format than other flight-sim games of the era. The player controls one of 24 different fighter jets through 21 different missions, each having different objectives to complete; these include intercepting a squadron of enemies, destroying a specific aircraft carrier, or protecting a base from enemy fire. Completing missions awards the player money which can be spent on new aircraft in their personal hangar. The idea for the game came from Kato's dissatisfaction with the outcome of Air Combat, which he saw as incomplete from a technical point of view. later released in North America on August 21 and in Europe on October 24. The game was re-released as a budget title in Japan on July 29, 1999, as part of Sony's The Best budget label.

Music

The soundtrack for Ace Combat 2, composed by Kohta Takahashi and Nobuhide Isayama along with contributions from Hiroshi Okubo and Tetsukazu Nakanishi, was heavily inspired by Top Gun and largely features funk rock music. While the soundtrack was originally going to be a continuation of Air Combat<nowiki>'</nowiki>s upbeat rock sound, Takahashi wanted the music to be 'stimulating' and intense to convey a sense of anxiety, while making sure it had its own distinct flare to prevent it from sounding too similar to Top Gun. The composers also made sure it reflected the designs and objectives of each mission. this direction was further explored for the soundtrack of Ace Combat 3: Electrosphere. Most of the sound effects were directly taken from a sound effects CD one of the composers had, while others were entirely original.

| Allgame= 3.5/5

| CVG= 5/10

| EGM = 8.375/10

| Fam = 30/40

| GSpot = 7.5/10

| IGN= 9/10

| NGen = 4/5

| rev1 = Dengeki PlayStation

| rev1Score = 95/100, 90/100,<br/>95/100, 95/100

| rev2 = Electric Playground

| rev2Score = 9/10

Ace Combat 2 was a commercial success; in May 1998, Sony gave the game the "Gold Prize" award for selling over 500,000 copies in Japan. It won several awards from video game publications, including the "Silver Hall of Fame" from Famitsu, Next Generation said it was an excellent follow-up to Air Combat, with Famitsu adding that it made for one of the best sequel games the company had put out on the PlayStation. Assault Horizon Legacy features a complete revamp of the game's storyline, alongside the addition of cutscenes, voice acting and remade level designs.

Notes

References

  • Official Japanese website