View source for Ace 2 (video game)

{{Short description|1987 video game}}
{{Use British (Oxford) English|date=January 2018}}
{{refimprove|date=October 2017}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Ace 2
| developer = Cascade Games
| publisher = {{Video game release|UK|Cascade Games}}{{Video game release|NA|Artronic Limited}}
| platforms = [[Commodore Plus/4|Plus/4]], [[Commodore 64|C64]], [[ZX Spectrum]], [[Amstrad CPC]], [[DOS]]
| released = {{Video game release|UK|1987}}{{Video game release|NA|1987}}
| genre = [[Combat flight simulator]]
| modes = [[Single-player video game|Single player]], [[Multiplayer video game|multiplayer]]
| designer = Ian Martin
| programmer = James Byrne, Nick Fitzsimons, Roger Taylor
| artist = James Hartshorn, Damon Redmond
| image = Ace 2 flight simulator cover.jpg
}}
'''''Ace 2''''' (stylized as '''''ACE 2''''' as acronym for '''''Air Combat Emulator''''') is a [[combat flight simulator]] video game developed by Cascade Games for various [[home computer]]s released in 1987, and a sequel to ''[[Ace (video game)|Ace]]''. The player takes the role of a fighter jet pilot on modern day missions in the Middle East. The display shows the plane's instrumentation and cockpit view.
The game received mixed reviews from critics, with some praising the game for its new control scheme and introduction of multiplayer, while others criticized it for being oversimplified compared to its predecessor.
== Gameplay ==
Compared to its predecessor, the game is much more simplified in terms of controls and is now largely focused on dogfighting between two enemy jet fighters.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://archive.org/stream/thegamesmachine-magazine-01/TheGamesMachine_01#page/n76/mode/1up|title=The Games Machine Magazine Issue 01|website=archive.org|access-date=2017-07-28}}</ref> While being optimized for two players, it also supports singleplayer play against an AI controlled jet.<ref name=":0" />
Flight controls were simplified to just the joystick and pressing the keyboard to increase or decrease the throttle.<ref name=":0" /> A map of the area can be called up at any time, showing the position of the player and the enemy.<ref name=":0" />
== Reception ==
{{video game reviews
|CVG=80%<ref name=CVGRev />
|rev1 = ''[[The Games Machine]]''
|rev1Score = 83%<ref name=":0" />
|rev2 = ''[[Zzap!64|ZZap!64]]''
|rev2Score = 81%<ref name=ZzapRef />
}}
''[[The Games Machine]]'' said that it was "an excellent two-player head-to-head combat game", and calling it "very fast, very playable, and, more often than not, very tense".<ref name=":0" />
''[[Zzap!64|ZZap!64]]'' called the game "fun" despite being "oversimplified", and saying it was a "good game in its own right" despite the fact that fans of the original might be disappointed.<ref name=ZzapRef>{{Cite web|url=https://archive.org/stream/zzap64-magazine-030/ZZap_64_Issue_030_1987_Oct#page/n97/mode/2up|title=ZZap!64 Magazine Issue 030|website=archive.org|date=October 1987 |access-date=2017-07-28}}</ref>
''[[Computer and Video Games]]'' said "the fiddly controls are kept to a bare minimum".<ref name=CVGRev>{{Cite web|magazine=Computer and Video Games|publisher=[[EMAP]]|issn=0261-3697|issue=72|url=https://archive.org/stream/computer-video-games-magazine-072/CVG072_Oct_1987#page/n27/mode/2up|title=Ace II|access-date=2017-07-28}}</ref>
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:1987 video games]]
[[Category:Amstrad CPC games]]
[[Category:Cascade Games games]]
[[Category:Combat flight simulators]]
[[Category:Commodore 16 and Plus/4 games]]
[[Category:Commodore 64 games]]
[[Category:DOS games]]
[[Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games]]
[[Category:Video game sequels]]
[[Category:Video games developed in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:ZX Spectrum games]]