Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Legacy

Lore & Background

The game's plot is similar to that of Ace Combat 2, set in the fictional universe of Strangereal. It details the 1998 Usean coup d'état, fought between the Usean Allied Forces and the Usean Rebel Forces on the continent of Usea. The story begins in 1998, two years after the Belkan War, when conservative extremists in several Usean militaries, including defectors from squadrons like Lancer, Cocoon, Beast, and Skull, engineer a continent-wide coup, forming the Usean Rebel Forces. In response, loyalist nations form the Usean Allied Forces to counter the rebels. By 1998, the Usean Allied Forces, pushed to their last line of defense in the Twinkle Islands, launch Operation Fighter's Honor, a counterattack led by Scarface Squadron.

Reader's Guide

Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Legacy is significant as a handheld remake of Ace Combat 2, updating the classic with contemporary series features such as high-g turn maneuvers from Ace Combat 6 and enemy ace squadron boss battles from Ace Combat Zero. It introduced two new mechanics: Attack Maneuvers and Evasive Maneuvers, which simplify aerial combat similarly to Assault Horizon's Dogfight Mode. The game includes additional aircraft not in the original, like the F-15SE Silent Eagle and Sukhoi PAK FA. Reception was mixed, with a Metacritic score of 71 and GameRankings of 72.28%. Critics praised its visuals and 3D effects but noted a short campaign and lack of multiplayer. The enhanced Legacy+ version added Amiibo support and control updates for the New Nintendo 3DS.

Did You Know?

• The game is a remake of the PlayStation game Ace Combat 2, despite its international title referencing Ace Combat: Assault Horizon.
• The original Japanese version features compatibility with the Circle Pad Pro accessory.
• The enhanced version, Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Legacy+, was released in Japan on January 29, 2015, and in North America and Europe in February 2015.
• The game introduces Attack Maneuvers and Evasive Maneuvers, which simplify aerial combat.