Project Aces developed Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War as a combat flight action game for the PlayStation 2, with Namco publishing the title in 2006. The game serves as a prequel to earlier entries in the Ace Combat series, placing its story in the fictional Strangereal universe during a conflict between the Osean Federation and the nation of Belka in 1995. Players take on the role of Cipher, a legendary mercenary pilot who earned the title Demon Lord of the Round Table, flying through intense aerial missions across enemy territory. What sets this entry apart from others in the series is its strong narrative focus. The game tells its story through debriefing interviews with former enemies and allies, who reflect on the war and on Cipher himself. This approach gives the campaign a sense of history and weight that few flight games match. Project Aces pairs this storytelling with fast, satisfying jet combat across a wide variety of environments, making it one of the most memorable entries in the franchise.
Updated: Jun 22, 2026
Screenshots

2.9 GB · PS2 ROMs
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Specifications
| Platform | PS2 ROMs |
|---|---|
| Genre | Action |
| File Size | 2.9 GB |
| Release Year | 2006 |
| Developer | Project Aces |
| Updated | Jun 22, 2026 |
Overview
Project Aces developed Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War as a combat flight action game for the PlayStation 2, with Namco publishing the title in 2006. The game serves as a prequel to earlier entries in the Ace Combat series, placing its story in the fictional Strangereal universe during a conflict between the Osean Federation and the nation of Belka in 1995. Players take on the role of Cipher, a legendary mercenary pilot who earned the title Demon Lord of the Round Table, flying through intense aerial missions across enemy territory. What sets this entry apart from others in the series is its strong narrative focus. The game tells its story through debriefing interviews with former enemies and allies, who reflect on the war and on Cipher himself. This approach gives the campaign a sense of history and weight that few flight games match. Project Aces pairs this storytelling with fast, satisfying jet combat across a wide variety of environments, making it one of the most memorable entries in the franchise.
The game offers 18 main missions spread across the Belkan War, each placing players in the cockpit of a military jet as they battle enemy aircraft, destroy ground targets, and protect allied forces. Players can choose from a large roster of aircraft including real-world fighters like the F-15C Eagle, the Su-27 Flanker, the F-22A Raptor, and the MiG-29A Fulcrum. A mercenary ranking system tracks performance across all missions, awarding different ranks based on play style, from Knight to Mercenary to Soldier, with each rank affecting how the story unfolds and which named ace squadrons the player faces in the sky. Special weapons give each plane a distinct combat role, ranging from long-range missiles to spread bombs and air-burst rounds. The Ace Style system shifts enemy behavior and dialogue based on how aggressively the player fights, adding real replay value across multiple runs. A two-player versus mode rounds out the package. Ace Combat Zero delivers a tightly crafted, story-driven aerial combat experience that stands as one of the finest games on the PlayStation 2.