Arcade Mode

Arcade Mode, also known as Ace Combat: Operation Katina, is a gameplay mode exclusive to Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War. Arcade Mode features unique gameplay not present in the game's campaign mode; each mission starts with a very short timer, which increases for each enemy unit the player destroys, and the player has limited ammunition, but can earn more by destroying specially-marked units. The missions are split into four branching paths that allow the player to select a less or more difficult route.

The story of Arcade Mode is distinct from the main campaign of Ace Combat 5. Instead of playing as Blaze during the Circum-Pacific War, players take control of Mobius 1 and participate in the ISAF's Operation Katina during the 2006 Free Erusea uprising. Some missions take place in locations previously featured in Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies.

Gameplay

Overview

Arcade Mode gameplay

The objective of each mission is to fill a destroyed target quota. Each stage has limited time; 20 seconds are added to the timer for destroying an enemy. The player begins each mission in the F/A-22A Raptor with a relatively small payload of 20 missiles, four XMAAs, and unlimited guns. Destroying enemies marked with an "M" will award extra missiles, while destroying enemies marked with an "S" will award extra XMAAs. The difficulty is locked to Normal and cannot be changed.

At the end of "AREA 02-A", the player can decide between two branches for the next three missions. At the end of "AREA 05-A/B" (which have no enemies and are just landing and mid-air refueling minigames, respectively), the player can decide between two more branches for the final two missions, for a total of four unique "levels" (routes) and 16 unique missions. The higher routes are easier than the lower ones; for example, "AREA 07-A" asks the player to destroy 18 enemies in 90 seconds, while "AREA 07-D" asks the player to destroy 22 enemies in 60 seconds. The final mission of each route—"AREA 07-A/B/C/D"—features a Mission Update where the player must shoot down a squadron of X-02 Wyverns.

Scoring

The player is awarded points for the enemies they destroy. At the end of each mission, 100 bonus points are added for each second remaining on the timer. Unlike campaign, Arcade Mode provides a single Clear Rank for an entire run. Achieving the highest rank, SSS, requires earning high scores in each mission. The final score breakdown is as follows:

• E: 0–14,999
• D: 15,000–29,999
• C: 30,000–44,999
• B: 45,000–59,999
• A: 60,000–74,999
• AA: 75,000–89,999
• AAA: 90,000–104,999
• S: 105,000–119,999
• SS: 120,000–134,999
• SSS: 135,000+

Rewards

The X-02 Wyvern in the Arcade Mode hangar

Completing one Arcade Mode route unlocks the F/A-22A Raptor (if the player has not already completed "Journey Home") and its SP color in campaign mode, as well as awarding the MOBIUS 1 trophy on the PlayStation 4 version of Ace Combat 5. Completing any Arcade Mode route with an SSS rank awards the player with the RIBBON trophy on the PlayStation 4 version of the game.

Completing all four Arcade Mode routes allows the player to use any aircraft they have unlocked in the campaign mode in future Arcade Mode runs. Regardless of the aircraft selected, the player will always start each run with 20 missiles, four special weapons, and unlimited guns, and can destroy "M" and "S" units to earn more missiles and special weapons, respectively. The Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War Perfect Guide notes that most of the Arcade Mode missions have enemy aircraft and suggests that choosing an aircraft with long-range air-to-air weapons, such as the X-02 and its XLAA, could help with achieving higher scores, while aircraft like the A-10A may struggle. The guide book also notes that the ADF-01 FALKEN's TLS, while initially limited to four shots, is very powerful and could also help with achieving higher scores.

Development

Director Kazutoki Kono stated that Project Aces wanted to include both Arcade Mode and VS Mode in Ace Combat 5, but they only had time to develop one of the two. He "really wanted to include both, but it just wasn't possible." Thus, they developed Arcade Mode for Ace Combat 5 and reintroduced VS Mode in Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War.