Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War

 PlayStation 2
  • Publisher: Namco
  • Release Date: Apr 25, 2006
Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War Image
Metascore
75

Generally favorable reviews - based on 45 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 82 Ratings

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  • Summary: Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War thrusts players back in time, 15 years before the events of "Ace Combat 5," and reveals the events that led up to the last chapter of the franchise. Players will take on the role of a mercenary hired to fly for Ustio, a small country bordering Belka, and faceAce Combat Zero: The Belkan War thrusts players back in time, 15 years before the events of "Ace Combat 5," and reveals the events that led up to the last chapter of the franchise. Players will take on the role of a mercenary hired to fly for Ustio, a small country bordering Belka, and face off against rival pilots throughout the game. Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War introduces rival pilots to the series' traditional dogfighting action. Players will encounter highly skilled enemy pilots that they will engage throughout the course of the story. Adding even more tension to the game's dramatic air battles, these rival pilots utilize advanced battle tactics to attack the player while directing their own squadron. [Namco]… Expand
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 26 out of 45
  2. Mixed: 19 out of 45
  3. Negative: 0 out of 45
  1. eToychest
    95
    The amount of intricate detail found on the planes is astounding, as the developers obviously put a lot of time and effort into making the aircraft as realistic as possible.
  2. Deeko
    85
    The story is engaging and well-presented although its themes are a bit overused.
  3. Games Master UK
    81
    Multi-player adds afterburners to this pretty, nifty, slick acrobatic shooter. Good stuff. [Oct 2006, p.66]
    All this publication's reviews
  4. GameSpot
    79
    Ace Combat Zero may not do anything particularly different or better than its predecessors, but it still delivers some excellent dogfighting and a good story tying it all together.
  5. netjak
    70
    What a horrible, horrible waste. The game had it all. Slick presentation, a decent, yet completely predictable story, fun gameplay, and even branching to add levels of replayability. And then someone cast that all aside because of their stupid need to have their own version of the final trench run mission, combined with the fact that they have no idea how to create a good boss.
    All this publication's reviews
  6. VideoGamer
    70
    Suffers slightly due to its similarities to previous games in the series, but the package is as slick as ever.
  7. Edge Magazine
    50
    Namco’s design process seems so addled by the multiform calls for improvement – the aforementioned mission design, multiplayer modes (which remain entirely offline), storylines and sheer content volume all trailing expectations – that it’s momentarily lost its focus. [July 2006, p.88]
    All this publication's reviews

See all 45 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 19 out of 27
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 27
  3. Negative: 1 out of 27
  1. SeanO.
    Sep 12, 2006
    10
    I am a huge fan of the series and I can't stop playing this game. I have already played through it 4 times and i still want to keep I am a huge fan of the series and I can't stop playing this game. I have already played through it 4 times and i still want to keep playing it. Best Ace Combat yet.… Expand
  2. LennyMota
    Mar 30, 2006
    10
    The Ace Combat Series is the best Flight SIm game you would ever have. The storyline in this game is so Dramatic, it would make you thinkThe Ace Combat Series is the best Flight SIm game you would ever have. The storyline in this game is so Dramatic, it would make you think that you were involded in the Storyline's conflict, not to mention the Awesomness of Flying your dream fighter plane. You cant compare this series to any other flight sim game in the market (Air Force Delta= Gay). Trust me. Ace Combat is Amazin!!!!!!!!!!… Expand
  4. SWPixy02
    Oct 13, 2020
    10
    Muy buena historia, personajes queridos memorables, y banda sonora maravillosa.
    En mi opinión, el mejor Ace Combat de la saga.
  5. dandalis
    Nov 1, 2016
    8
    My first Ace Combat game. I had a real blast playing this. Game had a very good abd thoughful story with pretty well done FMV cutscenes. ItMy first Ace Combat game. I had a real blast playing this. Game had a very good abd thoughful story with pretty well done FMV cutscenes. It was a cool touch how they tell you the stories of pilots you fought in the game. Jets had excellent modeling and felt wesome to fly and fight. All the missions were great with few being pretty epic.… Expand
  6. Galm03
    May 18, 2017
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This review will be long, just for the sake of people interested in the game.

    The sixth entry in the whole franchise. This game takes you into the seat of a mercenary known as Cipher, and the game narrates of his efforts during the Belkan War, giving you an in-depth prequel that explains the events that were mentioned in Ace Combat 5. The game itself doesn't change much from the rest, as the mechanics are basically from AC5, which is a bit of a let down. That, and the fact that you can't choose your wingman's plane, anymore, but instead, you choose his special weapons, which is more useful, to a point.

    What the game doesn't have in new mechanics, it has in story and difficulty to spare. You don't have a tutorial mode, which is also a minus on its score, so it requires you to either have played previous AC games, or learn the controls by yourself. But when you master the controls and increase the difficulty up to ACE, the game rewards you. A lot. It presents a difficulty leap from the previous entries, which you'll either love or hate. The average Belkan planes are quite aggressive on their own, and the Ace squadrons only make it more challenging. And when you unlock the bonus mission, you'll understand that this game is not for the weak. Even more when you discover the secret boss.

    The story it's more than a simply "good vs bad", cliched trope that was previously used in AC5. In Zero, you manage to see the reasons of why Belka started the war, and why the Gray Men returned in AC5. The references in this game are a bit more implicit, excluding the WWII ones, and you'll probably have to replay the game several times to understand them, and do some subtle research on your own. The story on its own its quite engaging, and it becomes more mature and grayer than the plots used in the previous two games. And it gives you a huge leap in character building, giving you the records of almost 200 enemy aces, whose stories are seen in the Assault Records, which are updated every time you down an enemy ace.

    The soundtrack is nothing less than superb. More energetic and aggressive than AC5, which had orchestral and more refined tone, fitting for the story setting. The briefings have this 80 's synth bits that also fit the era, reminiscent to the Cold War era, The orchestral tracks are ominous and imposing, and the rock segments are quite really heavy, imitating what AC2 did back in its era, and the final mission has one of the best boss battle themes ever composed.

    Overall, this game is one of the best in the whole franchise. Zero, along with 5 and 4, has its place well deserved in what we AC fans call the "Holy Trinity" tier. It has its flaws. The lack of tutorial, not any particular new mechanic, short gameplay, as it only has 18 missions plus the bonus one, some tedious missions, and minor frame drops in a certain one. That being said, this game is truly a good recommendation.    … Expand
  7. IanC.
    Sep 9, 2006
    7
    Not bad. Fun missions, but could have been longer with more missions. I had a problem with the randomness of the targeting system. I would Not bad. Fun missions, but could have been longer with more missions. I had a problem with the randomness of the targeting system. I would have liked to be able to choose my target a little better.… Expand
  8. JohnnyD.
    Apr 26, 2006
    0
    its pritty good butt the final missions was a huged let down.

See all 27 User Reviews

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Awards & Rankings

46
#46 Best PS2 Game of 2006
23
#23 Most Discussed PS2 Game of 2006
18
#18 Most Shared PS2 Game of 2006