<s>
is	O
a	O
2006	O
combat	O
flight	O
simulation	O
video	O
game	O
developed	O
and	O
published	O
by	O
Namco	O
for	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
2	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Part	O
of	O
the	O
Ace	B-Application
Combat	I-Application
series	O
,	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
first	O
released	O
outside	O
of	O
Japan	O
by	O
the	O
newly	O
formed	O
Namco	O
Bandai	O
Games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Set	O
in	O
the	O
Ace	B-Application
Combat	I-Application
series	O
 '	O
fictional	O
universe	O
of	O
Strangereal	O
,	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
story	O
takes	O
place	O
before	B-Application
the	O
events	O
of	O
most	O
other	O
entries	O
in	O
the	O
series	O
,	O
and	O
follows	O
the	O
actions	O
of	O
"	O
Galm	O
Team	O
"	O
,	O
a	O
mercenary	B-Application
fighter	O
squadron	O
led	O
by	O
the	O
player	O
character	O
"	O
Cipher	B-Application
"	O
,	O
as	O
they	O
fight	O
to	O
repel	O
an	O
enemy	O
invasion	O
during	O
the	O
titular	O
Belkan	B-Application
War	I-Application
,	O
a	O
World	O
War	O
II-esque	O
conflict	O
that	O
was	O
mentioned	O
but	O
not	O
elaborated	O
upon	O
in	O
previous	O
entries	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Ace	B-Application
Combat	I-Application
Zero	I-Application
,	O
like	O
the	O
rest	O
of	O
the	O
Ace	B-Application
Combat	I-Application
series	O
,	O
has	O
a	O
more	O
arcade-like	O
format	O
compared	O
to	O
other	O
flight	O
simulation	O
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Its	O
mechanics	O
are	O
a	O
mixture	O
of	O
features	O
from	O
its	O
predecessors	O
,	O
Ace	B-Application
Combat	I-Application
04	I-Application
:	I-Application
Shattered	I-Application
Skies	I-Application
and	O
Ace	B-Application
Combat	I-Application
5	I-Application
:	I-Application
The	I-Application
Unsung	I-Application
War	I-Application
,	O
with	O
the	O
addition	O
of	O
a	O
unique	O
reputation	O
system	O
that	O
affects	O
the	O
player	O
's	O
progression	O
and	O
how	O
the	O
story	O
is	O
told	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Ace	B-Application
Combat	I-Application
Zeros	I-Application
gameplay	O
is	O
split	O
into	O
a	O
single-player	O
campaign	O
mode	O
and	O
a	O
two-player	O
versus	O
mode	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
mechanics	O
themselves	O
are	O
a	O
mix	O
of	O
features	O
from	O
Ace	B-Application
Combat	I-Application
04	I-Application
and	O
Ace	B-Application
Combat	I-Application
5	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
introduces	O
the	O
fictional	O
ADFX-01	O
Morgan	O
superfighter	O
(	O
which	O
resembles	O
the	O
cancelled	O
PZL-230	O
Skorpion	O
attack	O
aircraft	O
)	O
,	O
but	O
players	O
can	O
also	O
access	O
the	O
ADF-01	O
FALKEN	O
from	O
Ace	B-Application
Combat	I-Application
2	I-Application
(	O
the	O
Morgan	O
's	O
successor	O
)	O
and	O
the	O
X-02	O
Wyvern	O
from	O
Ace	B-Application
Combat	I-Application
04	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
revives	O
Ace	B-Application
Combat	I-Application
04s	I-Application
aircraft	O
customization	O
system	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Another	O
returning	O
feature	O
from	O
Ace	B-Application
Combat	I-Application
04	I-Application
is	O
the	O
ability	O
to	O
withdraw	O
from	O
the	O
battlefield	O
to	O
re-arm	O
at	O
an	O
allied	O
airbase	O
during	O
long	O
missions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Zero	O
retains	O
Ace	B-Application
Combat	I-Application
5s	I-Application
wingman	O
command	O
system	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
During	O
most	O
campaign	O
missions	O
,	O
the	O
player	O
can	O
issue	O
orders	O
to	O
the	O
AI	B-Application
wingman	O
using	O
the	O
DualShock	O
controller	O
's	O
D-pad	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
unique	O
element	O
of	O
Ace	B-Application
Combat	I-Application
Zero	I-Application
is	O
the	O
Ace	O
Style	O
system	O
,	O
a	O
reputation	O
system	O
that	O
greatly	O
affects	O
gameplay	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
horizontal	O
bar	O
with	O
three	O
boxes	O
marked	O
"	O
Mercenary	B-Application
"	O
,	O
"	O
Soldier	O
"	O
,	O
and	O
"	O
Knight	O
"	O
is	O
shown	O
in	O
mission	O
debriefings	O
,	O
and	O
depending	O
on	O
the	O
player	O
's	O
conduct	O
,	O
the	O
bar	O
will	O
slide	O
toward	O
one	O
of	O
these	O
three	O
boxes	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
player	O
's	O
Ace	O
Style	O
determines	O
radio	O
chatter	O
,	O
which	O
enemy	O
ace	O
squadrons	O
the	O
player	O
encounters	O
,	O
and	O
which	O
FMV	B-Application
cutscenes	O
play	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mercenary	B-Application
Aces	O
are	O
pilots	O
who	O
destroy	O
the	O
opposition	O
without	O
mercy	O
and	O
are	O
not	O
concerned	O
about	O
their	O
own	O
allies	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Ace	B-Application
Combat	I-Application
Zero	I-Application
is	O
set	O
in	O
the	O
series	O
 '	O
fictional	O
universe	O
of	O
Strangereal	O
,	O
where	O
Earth	O
has	O
entirely	O
different	O
nations	O
,	O
geography	O
,	O
and	O
history	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Unlike	O
most	O
other	O
entries	O
in	O
the	O
series	O
,	O
Zero	O
is	O
set	O
before	B-Application
the	O
1999	O
Ulysses	O
incident	O
,	O
where	O
an	O
asteroid	O
struck	O
the	O
Earth	O
,	O
sparking	O
mass	O
destabilization	O
and	O
international	O
tensions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rather	O
,	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
story	O
is	O
set	O
during	O
the	B-Application
Belkan	I-Application
War	I-Application
in	O
1995	O
,	O
when	O
the	O
Principality	O
of	O
Belka	B-Application
,	O
suffering	O
from	O
an	O
economic	O
crisis	O
,	O
invades	O
several	O
of	O
its	O
immediate	O
neighbors	O
(	O
most	O
of	O
which	O
were	O
former	O
provinces	O
of	O
Belka	B-Application
itself	O
)	O
on	O
the	O
continent	O
of	O
Osea	O
after	O
the	O
discovery	O
of	O
valuable	O
resources	O
in	O
their	O
territories	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Belka	B-Application
is	O
opposed	O
by	O
the	O
Allied	O
Forces	O
,	O
an	O
international	O
military	O
coalition	O
consisting	O
of	O
the	O
Osean	O
Federation	O
,	O
Sapin	O
,	O
Yuktobania	B-Application
,	O
and	O
other	O
Osean	O
countries	O
and	O
former	O
Belkan	O
territories	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
One	O
of	O
the	O
first	O
countries	O
to	O
be	O
invaded	O
,	O
Ustio	O
,	O
is	O
quickly	O
overwhelmed	O
and	O
hires	O
mercenaries	B-Application
for	O
their	O
defense	O
;	O
the	O
campaign	O
follows	O
one	O
of	O
these	O
mercenary	B-Application
units	O
,	O
the	O
"	O
Galm	O
Team	O
"	O
squadron	O
led	O
by	O
the	O
player	O
character	O
,	O
a	O
fighter	B-Application
pilot	I-Application
that	O
goes	O
by	O
the	O
callsign	O
"	O
Cipher	B-Application
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Cipher	B-Application
's	O
wingman	O
,	O
Larry	B-Application
Foulke	I-Application
,	O
goes	O
by	O
the	O
callsign	O
"	O
Pixy	B-Application
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
's	O
plot	O
is	O
told	O
in	O
retrospective	O
,	O
in	O
the	O
form	O
of	O
a	O
television	O
documentary	O
about	O
Galm	O
Team	O
and	O
the	B-Application
Belkan	I-Application
War	I-Application
,	O
broadcast	O
a	O
decade	O
after	O
the	O
events	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
1995	O
,	O
Belka	B-Application
launches	O
an	O
invasion	O
of	O
its	O
neighbors	O
,	O
and	O
much	O
of	O
Ustio	O
,	O
a	O
resource-rich	O
country	O
bordering	O
Belka	B-Application
,	O
falls	O
to	O
Belka	B-Application
's	O
advance	O
and	O
the	O
might	O
of	O
its	O
air	O
force	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Ustian	O
government	O
hires	O
mercenaries	B-Application
to	O
offset	O
the	O
Belkan	O
advantage	O
;	O
one	O
of	O
these	O
,	O
Galm	O
Team	O
,	O
consisting	O
of	O
mercenary	B-Application
fighter	B-Application
pilots	I-Application
Cipher	B-Application
and	O
Pixy	B-Application
,	O
turns	O
the	O
tide	O
of	O
the	O
war	O
and	O
narrowly	O
saves	O
Ustio	O
from	O
total	O
defeat	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Ustio	O
is	O
liberated	O
with	O
the	O
help	O
of	O
Galm	O
Team	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
Allied	O
Forces	O
soon	O
begin	O
their	O
counteroffensive	O
into	O
Belka	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Cipher	B-Application
gains	O
recognition	O
after	O
successfully	O
destroying	O
a	O
Belkan	O
anti-aircraft	O
laser	O
installation	O
,	O
but	O
Pixy	B-Application
becomes	O
disillusioned	O
with	O
the	O
war	O
when	O
Galm	O
Team	O
is	O
ordered	O
to	O
support	O
the	O
indiscriminate	O
bombing	O
of	O
a	O
Belkan	O
city	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Unable	O
to	O
stop	O
the	O
Allied	O
advance	O
,	O
the	O
Belkans	O
detonate	O
seven	O
nuclear	O
weapons	O
on	B-Application
their	I-Application
own	I-Application
soil	I-Application
in	O
a	O
desperate	O
attempt	O
to	O
halt	O
the	O
Allied	O
invasion	O
,	O
killing	O
thousands	O
of	O
civilians	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
a	O
ceasefire	O
is	O
ordered	O
by	O
the	O
Allied	O
Forces	O
,	O
Pixy	B-Application
deserts	O
Galm	O
Team	O
,	O
nearly	O
killing	O
Cipher	B-Application
in	O
the	O
confusion	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Debates	O
ensue	O
among	O
the	O
Allied	O
Forces	O
over	O
territory	O
,	O
and	O
ultranationalist	O
and	O
anarchist	O
defectors	O
alike	O
,	O
including	O
Pixy	B-Application
,	O
form	O
"	O
A	B-Application
World	I-Application
With	I-Application
No	I-Application
Boundaries	I-Application
"	O
,	O
a	O
Posadist	O
terrorist	O
organization	O
intent	O
on	O
erasing	O
national	O
borders	O
,	O
believing	O
they	O
are	O
the	O
primary	O
cause	O
of	O
conflict	O
and	O
strife	O
;	O
to	O
bring	O
about	O
their	O
utopia	O
,	O
they	O
plan	O
to	O
use	O
nuclear	O
weapons	O
against	O
nations	O
across	O
the	O
world	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Galm	O
Team	O
successfully	O
destroys	O
the	O
launch	O
control	O
mechanisms	O
,	O
but	O
PJ	O
is	O
killed	O
by	O
Pixy	B-Application
flying	O
a	O
laser-armed	O
prototype	O
aircraft	O
linked	O
to	O
the	O
ICBMs	O
,	O
which	O
Pixy	B-Application
activates	O
before	B-Application
challenging	O
Cipher	B-Application
to	O
a	O
final	O
duel	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
a	O
protracted	O
dogfight	O
,	O
Pixy	B-Application
is	O
shot	O
down	O
by	O
Cipher	B-Application
,	O
disabling	O
the	O
ICBMs	O
and	O
ending	O
the	O
terrorist	O
threat	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
With	O
the	O
end	O
of	O
the	B-Application
Belkan	I-Application
War	I-Application
,	O
peace	O
returns	O
to	O
the	O
Osean	O
continent	O
,	O
but	O
Belkan	O
nationalists	O
secretly	B-Application
plot	I-Application
their	I-Application
revenge	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Cipher	B-Application
is	O
mentioned	O
to	O
have	O
vanished	O
after	O
the	O
conflict	O
,	O
with	O
no	O
records	O
of	O
his	O
fate	O
,	O
personal	O
information	O
,	O
or	O
current	O
whereabouts	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
documentary	O
ends	O
with	O
an	O
interview	O
with	O
a	O
reformed	O
Pixy	B-Application
,	O
who	O
is	O
revealed	O
to	O
have	O
survived	O
being	O
shot	O
down	O
and	O
is	O
now	O
fighting	O
for	O
the	O
ISAF	O
during	O
the	O
Continental	B-Application
War	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
musing	O
on	O
his	O
experiences	O
,	O
Pixy	B-Application
thanks	O
Cipher	B-Application
for	O
serving	O
alongside	O
him	O
,	O
and	O
expresses	O
his	O
hopes	O
that	O
they	O
will	O
meet	O
again	O
.	O
</s>
