Ace Combat 2 Cheats & Cheat Codes for PlayStation

Originally releasing in the Spring and Summer of 1997, Ace Combat 2 is the second game in Namco’s action-flight-sim series. It follows the original Air Combat and is the predecessor to Ace Combat 3: Electrosphere. It is the first game in the series to rename the franchise to Ace Combat after the original’s different naming conventions. Like other games in the series, Ace Combat 2 is an arcade-style flight-sim game that mixes semi-realistic flight-sim gameplay with fast and frantic shooter action. While not quite an on-rails shooter or traditional shmup, Ace Combat 2 sits comfortably between the flight-sim and shoot ’em up genres.

The team at Namco (now Bandai Namco) behind the game would begin development on Ace Combat 2 shortly after the release of Air Combat on the PlayStation. Following Air Combat‘s success, lead designer Masanori Kato sought to make a follow-up that made better use of the PlayStation’s hardware. As such, Ace Combat 2 would end up being one of the more visually-impressive titles of the era and still stands as one of the PlayStation’s more technically-impressive games. Ace Combat 2 would go on to become a massive critical and commercial success, selling over 500,000 units just weeks after its release. Additionally, the title has a strong critical reception and reputation as one of the PlayStation’s best titles in the early half of the console’s life cycle.

The game would receive a remake on the 3DS, Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Legacy that retconned most of Ace Combat 2‘s story. Accordingly, Ace Combat 2 is one of the only games in the franchise with a narrative not belonging to the series canon.

Ace Combat 2 Premise

Like other games in the series, Ace Combat 2 is an arcade-style flight-sim game with an emphasis on action. Controls are much more simplistic than what players would find in a true flight-sim and are more accessible. While the action isn’t as fast and frantic as what one might find in Sega’s After Burner, Ace Combat 2 occupies a happy medium between being a shooter and a flight game. Players can complete missions and earn credits based on their performance (determined as a Rank). After, players can use these credits to upgrade their aircraft, buying newer and more powerful jet fighters.

Players begin each mission with a full tank of fuel, which acts as a sort of timer to indicate how long players have. If you run out of fuel, it’s Game Over. Additionally, players have limited amounts of ammunition and ordinance, requiring strategic targeting and use of resources. The better players perform in a mission, the more likely they are to earn a higher rank. Accordingly, higher ranks net the player better rewards and access to the game’s most powerful aircraft.

The game takes place in the year of its release, 1997, and features a semi-realistic plot centering around military conflict. The structure of available missions varies from seeking out and destroying targets to escort and defense missions. While there are only two difficulty options present at the game’s outset, players can unlock additional difficulty modes and the ability to replay any mission.

Ace Combat 2 Main Characters

The story and mission structure of Ace Combat 2 doesn’t feature “characters” in the traditional sense. Instead, players can look to the game’s aircraft as the main draw of the game. Each of the following aircraft becomes available after meeting certain conditions, whether through purchasing them in the player’s hangar or completing special objectives on higher difficulties and earning medals. The full roster of available aircraft (from least to most-powerful) in Ace Combat 2 includes:

• A-4
• F-4
• KF-C7
• A-6
• F-16
• X-29A
• A-10
• MiG-29
• F-14
• F-117A
• R-M01
• EF-2000
• F/A-18E
• Su-35
• YF-23A
• YF-22
• MiG-21
• SF-35
• Su-25
• TND-F3
• MiG-31
• SF-39
• F-15S
• XFA-27

Games in the Ace Combat Series

Though it has since fallen somewhat by the wayside, the Ace Combat franchise retains a core following of fans thanks to its excellent and approachable flight-sim gameplay. Across 8 mainline games and a plethora of spin-off titles, the Ace Combat series is still renowned for being one of Bandai Namco’s more important franchises. Interestingly, recent leaks indicate that Bandai Namco is working on Ace Combat 8, though the company has yet to make an official announcement regarding the title’s existence. Games in the Ace Combat series include:

• Air Combat (1995)
• Ace Combat 2 (1997)
• Ace Combat 3: Electrosphere (1999)
• Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies (2001)
• Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War (2004)
• Ace Combat Advance (2005)
• Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War (2006)
• Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception (2006)
• Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation (2007)
• Ace Combat Xi: Skies of Incursion (2009)
• Ace Combat: Joint Assault (2010)
• Ace Combat: Assault Horizon (2011)
• Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Legacy (2011)
• Ace Combat Infinity (2014)
• Ace Combat 7: Skies Unkown (2019)

Ace Combat 2 Cheats & Cheat Codes

Namco’s Ace Combat 2 has a few unlockables players can earn by beating the game. Additionally, there are some Game Shark codes that players can take advantage of.

Ace Combat 2 Unlockables

Music Test

Players can unlock a Music Test option in the main menu after meeting certain conditions. First, successfully beat Ace Combat 2 with a rank of Captain or higher. After beating the game with one of the higher rankings players will have access to the music player in the options menu. This option allows players to relisten to any of Ace Combat 2‘s 28 music tracks.

Free Mission Mode

After clearing the “Kingpin” mission, players will unlock the Free Mission option in Ace Combat 2‘s menus. This mode allows any previously cleared mission to be replayed.

XFA-27 Fighter

There is a secret fighter jet that players can unlock by completing the following steps:

• Beat Ace Combat 2 on Normal mode to unlock Hard difficulty
• Play through Ace Combat 2 on Hard mode and reach the “Dead End” mission
• In the “Dead End” mission, locate and destroy the four YF-23As in the special Fox Force Four squadron just south of the target’s location. After defeating the YF-23A aircraft and completing the mission, players will earn the XFA-27 Fighter and a special medal.

View All Aircraft

After beating Ace Combat 2 with a rank of General or higher, players will unlock the option to view all the game’s aircraft from the main menu.

Lock Replay Camera

Players can lock the perspective of the Camera during mission replay videos by pressing Square (□)

Alternate Camera Viewpoints

While selecting a mission, highlight “Mission” and press Select. This unlocks three new viewing angles for the camera.

Ace Combat 2 Game Shark Codes

Players with a Game Shark peripheral for their PlayStation can utilize any of the codes below to alter Ace Combat 2‘s gameplay. Alternatively, players using an emulator can input any of the following cheats into the emulator’s “Cheat” menu.

Ace Combat 2 Cheat FAQs

How do you unlock the XFA-27 in Ace Combat 2?
To unlock the XFA-27, players first need to beat the base game on Normal difficulty. This unlocks the Hard difficulty for subsequent playthroughs. While playing the game on Hard difficulty, make it to the “Dead End” mission and locate the squadron of YF-23A fighters. Destroy the whole squadron and beat the mission to unlock the XFA-27.

How many missions are in Ace Combat 2?
There are a total of 21 separate missions in Ace Combat 2.

How many aircraft are in Ace Combat 2?
There are a total of 24 different aircraft players can use in the game.

The image featured at the top of this post is ©Ace Combat 2 cover artwork.