Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies

About

Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies is a fast-paced air combat game set on PlayStation 2. You control a fighter jet through 18 missions ranging from bombing runs to free-for-all dogfights. Choose from aircraft like the F-22 Raptor and SR-71 Blackbird, each with distinct handling and weapons. Progress unlocks upgrades for armor, missiles, and radar. The single-player campaign focuses on aggressive combat loops, while multiplayer lets you battle friends in team or solo matches. The game’s story follows a pilot codenamed Mobius 1 during a war sparked by an asteroid disaster and Erusean invasion. Though the plot takes a backseat to action, later missions hint at the human cost of conflict. Community reviews highlight tight controls and satisfying dogfighting mechanics, with Metacritic users averaging 8.5/10. The jet customization and varied mission types keep replayability high, though the narrative remains secondary to its adrenaline-driven gameplay.

Storyline

The continent of Usea was struck by an asteroid, causing the death of half a million people. The neighboring Erusea used this as an opportunity to invade and occupy almost all of Usea. Based on its eastern coast, the Independent States Allied Forces (ISAF) try to regain ground an engage the Eruseans in aerial battles. An elite pilot using the codename Mobius 1 is sent on a number of missions to fight Eruseans and help ISAF to win the war. While performing those missions, Mobius 1 begins to learn about the impact war has on civilians, and the pilots of the opposing side.