Ace Combat 2

About

Ace Combat 2 drops you into the cockpit of a mercenary pilot fighting to dismantle a military coup in the fictional continent of Usea. Over 30 missions, you’ll bomb enemy strongholds, disable mass destruction weapons, and take down elite rebel pilots. Each victory unlocks new aircraft upgrades and equipment, letting you tailor your loadouts for dogfights or ground strikes. The PlayStation hardware shines with sharper graphics and improved sound design, while dual shock support adds depth to flight controls. A larger roster of planes and expanded customization options give each mission more strategic weight. The campaign follows the Scarface Squadron’s push to retake Usea from the NA-P2700 regime, with missions ranging from oil refinery raids to intercepting experimental bombers like the XB-10 “Big Bad Mama.” Two major operations, Alphaville and Bellissima, split the final push, culminating in a city-wide assault on rebel HQ. While the story leans into late ’90s geopolitical tropes, the focus stays on the thrill of aerial combat. Players who stuck with it in 1997 praised its escalating difficulty and the satisfaction of mastering different flight patterns.

Storyline

In May of 1997, a number of prominent heads of state in the continent of Usea were away on a diplomatic task with an unknown objective, rumoured to be about the impact of the Ulysses 1994XF04 asteroid in a year's time. During this period, a high-ranking military corps, codenamed "NA-P2700" staged a coup d'état, rapidly establishing their hegemony over the entire continent. Their quick advancement led them to capture several high-importance areas in each sector, as well as a weapon of mass destruction known as an "Extra Powerful Cruise Missile". As a last measure, the pro-government troops, known as Unified Command, call upon the services of the 92nd Special Tactical Fighter Squadron "Scarface", a group of mercenary fighter pilots led by an ace called Scarface One. With hardware and logistics support, the Scarface Squadron sets out to fight the Usean Rebel Forces and liberate Usea. With the assistance of the Scarface team, the government forces engage in full combat with the URF, slowly reclaiming various territories across the continent. The mercenaries strike various high-importance parts of the rebel forces' infrastructure, such as air bases, oil refineries and naval ports. During their advance, they engage numerous rebel aces, including a group of ace pilots known only as "Z.O.E.". As well, they engage a number of prototype vehicles controlled by the Usean Rebel Force, such as the Dragonet-class submarine and the massive XB-10 "Big Bad Mama" experimental bomber. After retaking most of Usea, Unified Command launches a large-scale invasion operation to gain strategic superiority. In order to confuse the rebels, the mission is divided into two major operations, "Alphaville" and "Bellissima". The operations end with the destruction of many vital URF targets and sites, granting Unified Command the upper hand in the conflict. Eventually, the government forces push the remnants of the coup back into their headquarters at the city of St. Ark. Prepared to end the coup d'état once and for all, the Scarface Team is dispatched to destroy the surviving rebel forces within the city, as well as their central HQ. The mission ends in success, and St. Ark is freed from the URF. At this point, the story concludes with the Normal ending.