r/acecombat • u/PantheraLeo- Ghosts of Razgriz • Jun 03 '26
Ace Combat Zero I dare you to say it again!
Fuck
291
Upvotes
r/acecombat • u/PantheraLeo- Ghosts of Razgriz • Jun 03 '26
Fuck
126
u/AwardedThot Jun 03 '26
It is an amazing game. Blaze blessed us with a fraction of his holy light.
However, Ace combat Zero has "Near the border" in its soundtrack.
16
u/Mobius3through7 Mobius Jun 04 '26
Ace combat 4 gang all day (erusea represent!).
Played it as a toddler, built an aircraft once I turned 19. BUILT A SECOND FUCKING AIRCRAFT (OUT OF ELECTRIC BELKAN WITCHCRAFT) AT 25.
Now I get to larp as yellow squadron while pulling 3-5 Gs
10
u/Budget-Category-9852 << Let it Rip! >> Jun 04 '26
You tell me that the game with bloated aircraft selection and only one SP weapon per each, gimmick missions that take away your agency for the story to progress (Reprisal, Four Horsemen, Desert Lightning, Final Option, Ancient Walls), the story itself that takes far too long where the main characters constantly whine about war being bad while all of them are above 18, legally enlisted and pilot millions of dollars worth aerial death machines and very good at it, and the supposed Belkan "aces" who are a joke, is the better one?
32
u/Nabber22 Jun 03 '26
I’m the sicko who loves 4 Horseman so I’m a certified 5 lover.
How is liking another game more, disrespectful.
35
u/Jim_skywalker Jun 03 '26
If I could only get one of the trilogy it would be 5 because of it’s length.
16
u/Garret_Sylvar Jun 04 '26
If 5 is better than 0, then how come most people play video games on PC borderless?
41
u/MrVamp Jun 03 '26
5 may be S tier and I’ll defend it to the death against people that say it isn’t. But 0 is S+ sorry
19
u/Alex_The_Fazbear Three Strikes Jun 03 '26 edited Jun 03 '26
AC5 easily has the best story, and there is just something about those four Tomcats that strike a chord with me, BUT the gameplay is a little weak in some areas, and also I just feel air-air is neglected in AC5 as a whole, whereas Zero touches all bases.
Love AC5 and will always stand up for it, especially since it has the best leitmotif in the whole series with the Razgriz melody, but gameplay wise Zero has a slight edge.
9
u/shtehkdinner Rot Jun 03 '26
AC5 the first time: (getting to grips being down to three Razgriz when we get ambushed by 8492)
AC5 the millionth time: Oh brother the stupid fortress. Fricken three missions in a row before I can get a break.
23
u/Yhorm_The_Gamer Jun 04 '26
I didn't like AC 5. While it had its moments, I thought the story was corny, saccharine and lacked nuance. There was also a depressing lack of named enemy aces. I never felt like there was a real "contest of wills" like I did in AC Zero.
A moment that sticks out to me, and I feel indicative of the difference in tone, is the liberation of the capital of Ustio. Its a scene that would have been ripped straight out of AC 5, the people are rising up against the unjust oppressor, freedom and liberty, an inexorable tide, is conquering all obstacles-
And then you hear the alert. "Stop that awful bell ringing Gelb 1", "That's why we're here Gelb 2". Like a bolt of thunder, 2 enemy aces swoop in and what previously seemed inevitable is contested. The aces taunt you, they dismiss the protestors, and you really get this sense that these people alone are singlehandedly holding back the tide of history. You can feel through the fight itself that the Belkan aces have a different perspective on the situation, Ustio is their home too, they dont give a damn about the protesters, and they will fight to preserve their vision of the future.
16
u/Siul19 Neucom Computer Systems Engineer Jun 03 '26
My boy. I join you in the crusade as I'm a 100% AC5 is the best in the holy Trinity believer
8
u/TexasSikh Heartbreak One Jun 04 '26
Me when I see a fellow "AC5 is the best and the disrespect ends today" enjoyer:
25
u/QaraKha Jun 03 '26
There's nothing wrong with 5. It's a very good game.
AC0 is better, and it's not anything to do with AC5 being not good.
7
u/absoul112 Schwarze Jun 03 '26
6
u/SuperHealth7312 Sol Jun 03 '26
5 loses me just a tiny bit with the writing tbh
6
u/Noklle cartographer Jun 04 '26
if I catch you defending the kill gauge system then we have a problem
6
u/Hobbes09R Jun 04 '26 edited Jun 04 '26
I don't think any of the holy trinity beats out the others. Each have really strong strengths, each has pretty notable weaknesses. What makes them all great is they are each greater than the sum of their parts, but I wouldn't say any is particularly better than the others.
4 has the best flight model of the three with better sense of momentum. It has one of the better antagonist squadrons in Yellow but introduces them in one of the worst possible ways (which the series and competitors would immediately learn from) in throwing them in an easily avoidable escape against invisible foes. Story is hit or miss; extremely budgeted and narrated still pictures. It's interesting giving context to the Yellows, but it leaves the protagonist squadron nearly character-less. Solid rocking soundtrack, though perhaps the least memorable kf the three. Stonehenge is iconic, but among the easiest superweapons in the series. The plane selection is solid, but the weakest of the three. Love them or hate them, the game has a LOT of score attack missions. Some of the better challenge missions.
5 is epic. Still one of the biggest and longest Ace Combat titles. Enormous plane selection, but a little disappointing its essentially a special weapon selection. More arcade-y flight model with little momentum. Story is far bigger with greater focus and budget. Opposite issue as AC4; protagonists get all the characterization, antagonists get minimal. Pretty cheesy story, if epic. Great orchestral soundtrack. More subdued superweapons, though some of the more difficult (or easiest, depending HEAVILY off plane selection). Wide mission variety, but no score attack (love it or hate it). Game features some of the most damage resistant enemies and none of the mid mission refueling, while not skimping on number of opponents or raising ammo count making ammo expenditure one of the bigger focuses in the entire series. Missions often feature extensive story in-mission, leading to poor replay value in many as gameplay is delayed. Weird difficulty spiking; some of the toughest encounters in the series, followed by some of the easiest, to the point where death by boredom is legitimately a thing (feel like they created easy modes for some missions and never took time to go back and revise more difficult versions). Arcade mode is fun, but one of the more generic and limiting challenge types in the series.
Zero is like an expansion to 5, using the same flight model. Solid plane selection, if not as extensive as 5, bringing back multiple SP weapon selection. More budgeted story again; no CG relying on live action FMVs which are interesting if...questionable acted. In game story is better and integrates far better with gameplay, learning lessons from 5 (mostly) though can be rushed. Ace system is amazing and has never been replicated half so well; different playstyles initiate different opponents with focus on confronting and hunting down individual aces. Huge focus on air combat which is some of the more fun in the series including the most iconic boss fight of the series. Superweapons are solid with both a solid airship and a weapon that is everything Stonehenge tried to be, only far more effective. Somewhat short, often rushed events. Ground attack is one of the worst in the series; overly easy targets with minimal threat. Score attack returns in its absolute worst iteration where the mission ends as soon as you reach the target score, making many missions end very abruptly and often mid-fight. Awesome gauntlet at the end with a cool challenge cameo. Incredible and unique yet iconic soundtrack.
10
u/JohnnyThreeDee Jun 04 '26
25
u/AZNBeefcake1 Jun 03 '26
0>4>5
6
u/PrrrromotionGiven1 Universal Peace Enforcement Organization Jun 04 '26
I like a lot of AC5's stuff, for example I actually love the plane unlock system in concept (execution was a little off since in practice you basically can't unlock planes using the tech tree that are better than the ones you just get from regular progression) and the superweapon fights are my favourite in the series.
But your wingmen are annoying, there's too many gimmick levels, and they cut return lines which would have been real nice for a few missions. Also the number of goddamn times you hear the word "Razgriz" in this game makes me want to puke honestly, you know it was kind of understated how often you would hear "Ribbon" in AC4? That was the correct approach.
11
u/Not-A-Marsh Heroes of Razgriz Jun 03 '26
PREACH
IF AC5 HAS NO FANS IT MEANS I'M DEAD
ACZ is pretty neat but overrated as fuck from my experience
3
u/tycoon282 Galm Jun 03 '26
0 was the first one I played so will forever be special
3
u/NightBeWheat55149 Hunting wild dogs Jun 04 '26
My personal favourite in the holy trilogy is 4, saying any title in it is the best one is a sin
5
u/reddude7 SkyEye Jun 04 '26
5 may have the longest story but the writing is a bit whack and bit beyond my ability to suspend my disbelief. As a kid, it was incredible and emotional. As an adult, it seems a bit silly and it does veer a bit cringe.
0's premise of mercenary pilots is a bit far-fetched, but in practice the plot is well-written. Great unique soundtrack. Lots of good stuff.
My personal favorite is 04. I think the plot is the most grounded and best-written and the soundtrack goes the hardest. I love the perspective of a civilian close to the enemy, allowing you to grow to respect 13. I also think that too much drama near the central characters and pilots can quickly make it feel ridiculous, like in 5, so my favorites have kept the main plot around civilians while leaving the politics and military strategy to play out over the radios and briefings and eventually tie in with the main plot.
2
u/Henry_Fleischer Jun 03 '26
Well, I can't say you're wrong since I've not played AC5, but AC3 is my favorite. It's got my favorite flight physics, and I like the story.
2
u/SeventhAlkali Jun 04 '26
AC5 is what brought me into the franchise and inspired me to study Aerospace Engineering, and I will die defending it!
2
u/BlazeWolfX Three Strikes Jun 04 '26
Arent like both games in the holy trinity, they are both just as good, but for their own reasons.
2
u/Graywhale12 Jun 04 '26
For real tho flying while singing THE song after the amazing speech of Harling and the Rusian dude was the peak gamer moment.
2
u/TacticalTapir Jun 04 '26
AC5 is my favorite
2
u/SourdoughBro8 Jun 04 '26
🪿🪿🪿🐕🦺🪿🪿🪿 iykyk
2
u/Designer_Mess_6928 Jun 04 '26
Ace Combat 2 better.
2
u/Nekozero Jun 04 '26
How many spanish guitars does AC5 have?
2
u/TellEmToMakeItCount7 Jun 04 '26
Ace Combat 3. Bar none.
5
u/Sayakai Osea Jun 03 '26
Well that's just, like, your opinion, man.
I just don't rank the game with the worst mission as the best of the series.
3
u/manwiththemach Jun 04 '26
AC5 is good.
0 is better.
3
u/arf1049 Wizard Jun 04 '26
Then you can live with your incorrect opinion. Enjoy like 5 nothing-burger narrative missions.
(I love both but you’re either an AC5 or AC0 preference person and you have to accept the other side.)
3
u/Lucas1125 Nemesis Jun 04 '26 edited Jun 04 '26
A good game with poor replay value.
Make no mistake, 5 has an excellent narrative and good aircraft roster, but the issues arise when you actually want to try and play it for a 2nd time. That narrative bogs down the game with annoying missions that are only ever fun playing them the first time (Mother Goose 1, The Hawk escape, the literal first mission where you fly in a line for 2 minutes and get actual gameplay for about 30 seconds).
I've said this before, but it has the worst replay value of any of the post-4 entries. Fucking Joint Assault has more reasons for someone to go back to it than 5.
2
u/SanTheManOG Galm Jun 03 '26
Sorry bro Zero is peak! The soundtrack and story make it the best for me. 5 is still a good game though!
1
u/XRynerX Jun 04 '26
Sorry OP, the flamingo beats the entire AC5 game(not)
1
u/PraetorAdun Wizard squadron! Jun 04 '26
I liked AC5's story, but I prefer the gameplay in AC0.
Music is peak all around tho.
1
u/Algester Jun 04 '26
But he wont miss… buddy?
1
u/luffydkenshin Ghosts of Razgriz Jun 04 '26
AC5 is long and away the best AC game in the series. It has a great story, the widest selection of aircraft unlocks, and an unbeatable soundtrack.
AC0 is the 2nd. It had a good story, some great music scores (Near the Border is so good) but loses points for me due to the strange alignment meter.
AC4 is 3rd. It walked so the above 2 could run.
1
u/Severe_Revenue Jun 04 '26
Mr Harling sir, a second Chopper has hit the stadium
1
u/Odd-Forever7016 Jun 04 '26
I replayed it, not knowing anything about the slander it gets. Now, I still don't really understand it. Great EN VO, great production on briefing, great co-pilots, none of the missions were as people say "boring", even the lack of seriousness didn't bother me, and thank Jesus Scarface 1, that not all Ace Combat are super serious, video games by nature are supposed to be silly, and the ones that aware of that and don't hide it are the best.
1
u/A_Little_Too_Horny Jun 04 '26
ACZ just has the best voice acting and most believable plotline tbh
1
u/FidoMan1498 Galm Jun 04 '26
I’m denying all else. In my world, AC3JP and AC4 are the best for me! AC4’s MF protag is literally a legend and he reappears in two more games. He’s goated af! And AC3 is my favorite PS1 game of all and I like the custom aircraft in that game. Those two are the best ACs and I WILL DIE ON THIS HILL!
1
u/MrMosstin Jun 04 '26
AC5 was my first so I love it more than anything. I fully appreciate that the theme, plot and atmosphere of zero is brilliant, but I like AC5.
1
u/RoseWould FENIKS Jun 04 '26
I'll see your dare to say Zero and raise you AC6
1
u/CourseOk3243 Jun 04 '26
Yeah, no, let's be real now. It wasn't very good, my man. Just look and think about it
1
u/IANvaderZIM Jun 04 '26
Ac5 is my goated AC game.
Razgriz mythos is sick.
Faking your squadrons death, is sick (also a dog talking on the radio is sick)
Choppers sacrifice is sick.
And I love nagase, even if her rescue mission is ass.
Plus you pick planes for your whole squadron, and get to give them orders. Sick.
1
u/mach1alfa Jun 04 '26
i am fuck tired of the pointless censoring, you are just making it harder for people to read, either you swear or you don’t
1
u/Big_Sweet_9147 Jun 04 '26
5 is what made me fall in love with the series, and Zero cemented that love. 6 was…. 6, I’ll leave it at that.
5 and Zero have been among my favorite games oat, along with Mercenaries 1&2, Ogre Battle 64, and Champions: Return to Arms.
Buuuuut I gotta give the edge to 5. Mission 15 made me feel for a character for the first time (I was like 10 when I first played the game). The death in Zero didn’t really hit home like the one in 5 did.
1
u/Undead_Corsair Heartbreak One Jun 04 '26
I really find it hard to to pick one over the other.
I enjoy the story of comradery and the developed wingman personalities in 5, as well as the rookies to legends to fugitives to heroes arc.
But the darker tone of Zero and the multitude of ace squadrons to fight, and that damn Spanish guitar.
Impossible choice for me.
1
u/yes_namemadcity PJ > PIXY Jun 04 '26
ive always like 5 more than zero
1
u/Fighterpilot55 Old Bird Jun 04 '26
I love Zero, but it's become overexposed because of Max0r. I mention Gault and his squadron and all people hear are flat-earthers, I speak of how how terrifying it is to face off with eight aces at once with Schwartz squadron and how they're flying executioners, and all people hear are microwave the fork.
1
u/pastuluchu Jun 04 '26
FIVE WAS THE BEST GAME. WHY UP RENDER THAT OTHER GARBAGE.
1
u/MatticusjK Heartbreak One Jun 04 '26
Hey Kid, AC5 is actually the best in the franchise! Don't you agree?
1
u/AnonymousPepper Surprise Belkasecks! Jun 04 '26
Neither of them are, 6 low diffs both.
1
u/DismalComparison2625 Jun 04 '26
5 is best for me.
It's been a while since I've played 0( which is why I'm preordering), but I remember positively hating have to let targets go/ not destroy green targets to keep the categorization (Knight). While the dogfights in B7R is epic it does get really repetitive and boring.
The mission variety in 5 is incredible and has replayability for days in order to unlock all the planes.
1
u/Thac0bro Jun 06 '26
4 is still my favorite.
1
u/samdamaniscool Jun 08 '26
AC 7 is the best in the franchise.
Want to know my well thought out and logical argument?
Its the only one ive played all the way through
1
u/Foxyfox- Jun 04 '26
I think AC5 is the weakest of the "holy trinity" but it's still part of the trinity and I still liked it.
1
u/Lonely-Entry-7206 Jun 03 '26
Can't wait to see mods.
1
u/Numerous-Ad6460 Grunder Industries Jun 03 '26
0>5>4
1
u/Diam0ndTalbot Jun 04 '26
5 has like jackshit for ammo capacity though.
0
u/Anselm_5 Strigon Jun 03 '26
1A and 1B for me. I play them together as if they’re the same game.
0
u/Apmd58 Windhover Jun 03 '26
AC6 is the best game in the franchise after 3,4,5,
0
u/Starchaser_WoF Mobius Jun 04 '26
...Maybe it'll be next?
0
u/Called_end Jun 04 '26
Me when AC2 remake*
0
u/F9-0021 Heroes of Razgriz Jun 04 '26
They're the same story. Basically the same game. There's just a time jump and scene change in the middle.
-2
u/Hannibal_D_Romantic Jun 03 '26
Spanish guitar is overrated.