Well, that's embarrassing! I actually meant The Belkan War. Time to go edit that post.
And I got REASONS.
Ace Combat 5 was a big improvement over 04 in a lot of respects (and Shattered Skies was the most revolutionary single entry in the series). It was with 5 that they started to really double down on the character-based stories: ridiculous amounts of awesome animation, lots of voiceover stuff, and a storyline that wasn't half bad. They also massively amped up the soundtrack; 04 mostly had one piece for each level with a few leitmotifs for key encounters, but 5 had an immense, rich, and varied score for a variety of occasions that was well tailored to the situation in the game. There were also a lot more planes to fly, and planes are cool. And there were more levels.
Except...well...
5's story emphasis felt deeply dissonant with the gameplay to me. In a lot of ways, the endless yammering about fighting for peace seemed ridiculous when the player character and his allies end up slaughtering enormous amounts of enemy soldiers. That voice acting also became a problem, because it came up everywhere. Chopper especially just wouldn't. Shut. Up. About anything. He'd be talking about the most inane garbage in the middle of a mission and would get whiny if he was told to shut up and exhibit a shred of knowledge about basic military discipline. Nagase, Grimm, and even Snow weren't that much better. Wardog Flight wasn't a military organization, it was a bunch of friends who happened to be soldiers. The fact that a lot of the voice actors were only 'okay' was also a problem, because even a slightly off delivery can really grind my gears, and there were a bunch of those.
Hm, I didn't really see a dissonance problem. Killing for peace is only a contradiction if you don't acknowledge your own methods, and I do think 5 is aware of that. Hell, the inspiring terror part is definitely a part of 5 too, with your squad being branded the Demons of Razgriz. I also think a theme of 5 is being confronted with a reality that contradicts your perception. Now it's been awhile since I played it, but isn't 5 the game that you essentially get framed and are on your own? So much for traditional loyalty. Nagase also has this crush on Spike Spiegel, then it's revealed at the end that he's back with his old flame. Chopper is shot down and killed in a non-combat mission that was supposed to be inspirational.
Another problem was that the game was, frankly, really easy. On the one hand, they added a few more tunnel flights, which I suppose made things difficult for people who weren't that good at the game in the first place. But there weren't really any new mechanics to test the player, and the AI was only marginally improved over 04.
True, but if I'm pegging the right game, there's a mission in 5 where you are essentially fleeing the battlefield (after you are framed?) and run into an entire squad of Ace pilots coming to kill you ( the ones who framed you I think?). The game continually nudges you to run, from what your squad says to the ridiculous difficulty spike it represents. But it allows you to stay and fight if you want. I did, and I think that was the most intense experience I've had in AC. After I shot all them down I just short of floated to the objective in disbelief. Great memory. Another great memory: Trying to find Nagase on the ground while hearing her breathing heavily, running from soldiers firing her on the radio. "I know Blaze will come for me!" Also local squadrons joining you for the final mission humming the Unsung War tune.
And the soundtrack, although it wasn't nearly as big as 5's, still contains some of the best music in the series. The piece "Zero", in particular, is my favorite Ace Combat track ever. It's set to the biggest and best boss battle. It's an awesome riff on an already excellent piece from 5, "The Unsung War". And it's got some really good guitar parts.
You've inspired me to play Zero again, though, if only to hear this song again. Unsung War is the opening track on my gym mix. >_>
I'll keep a lookout for the reasons you detail. Also sorry for the vagueness as it's been over a decade since I played these games.
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