History VideoGame / AceCombat3Electrosphere

The third game in the ''VideoGame/AceCombat'' series, released in 1999, and the last to have been developed for the original UsefulNotes/PlayStation.

The world is Strangereal, a [[ConstructedWorld not-Earth]] from the previous games that was first [[WorldBuilding fleshed out]] in this installment. The year is [[TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture 2040]]. In the past few decades, the national governments of Strangereal have decayed beyond repair and were replaced by a global rule of [[MegaCorp Mega-Corps]], chief among whom are General Resource Limited and Neucom Incorporated. Naturally, the two companies' [[CorporateWarfare competition for power is far from friendly]], and the only thing standing between them and an all-out war is the [[FictionalUnitedNations Universal Peace]] [[UnitedNationsIsASuperPower Enforcement Organization]]. Further upsetting the fragile balance of power are: the GR's latest SuperPrototype fighter jet, the Night Raven, and its groomed pilot, the sickly Rena Hirose; the Neucom scientists' questionable experiments on the recently discovered {{Cyberspace}} and BrainUploading; an overzealous military commander's schemes; and a NebulousCriminalConspiracy lurking in the background and pulling every string.

* AnyoneCanDie: [[spoiler: Despite the whole thing being a simulation, many named characters will die in all routes. Dision will always be killed in your hands regardless what route you take while Park can be killed at the end of the UPEO arc. Rena and Fiona only live to the end in the UPEO and Neucom route respectively, with Rena usually getting killed as the FinalBoss[[note]]she's briefly shown being taken out of her destroyed aircraft - alive - in the Neucom ending, but she'll likely be jailed or worse for siding with a terrorist group.[[/note]] while Fiona is offed during the transport mission along with Clarkson or killed during the Ouroboros arc. Erich and Cynthia will be shot down during the early General Resource missions, with the latter winds up being sublimated in the Neucom route while Erich goes AWOL. In the end of the General Resource arc Keith sacrifices himself to kill Dision. If you follow one of the Ouroboros routes, everyone is K.I.A. with Keith biting the dust by performing a HeroicSacrifice during the fight against Rena and Dision killed in the electrosphere. In reality the [[KilledOffForReal original Dision and Yoko were killed by General Resources]], which basically sparked the entire plot.]]

* DeadAllAlong: [[spoiler:Abyssal Dision. Shortly before her death, Yoko Inoue copied Human!Dision's consciousness into the Electrosphere, creating the self-aware AI!Dision, the first ever human to be Sublimated. Before either of them realized it, however, they were killed by a bomb and their laboratory was destroyed along with their research.]]
* DiabolusExMachina: An odd variation. During one of the Ouroboros routes [[spoiler: Rena starts complaining that someone's inside her head, and Dision immediately blames the player character. This isn't helped when Keith suddenly appears and attacks Dision.]] It's not at all clear what's actually going on [[spoiler: although the OmegaEnding reveals that your entire existence revolves around killing Dision.]]

* TranshumanTreachery: This is the modus operandi and rallying cry for those who have "discarded their flesh", that is, the people who have Sublimated. Subverted with [[spoiler:Cynthia]], who is truly in it only for the sake of her curiosity, and she becomes devastated when her plans involve sacrificing [[spoiler:Fiona]].

* SpaceBattle: The only example in the entire series has you controlling Neucom's R-352 Sepia manned starfighter, killing orbital satellites. The controls of a spacecraft in zero-G feel ''entirely'' different than in atmosphere, throwing players out of the loop and forcing them to unlearn everything and adapt in three minutes or else. [[DoingItForTheArt All this for one mission]].

* AllThereInTheManual: Not one, but two: Ace Combat 3: Electrosphere - Mission and World View, which did not come with the game, and the Photosphere, which did. The kicker? The Photosphere is already fully-translated into English, with a SurprisinglyGoodEnglish level of translation.

* PostCyberpunk

* UnitedNationsIsASuperpower: Subverted. The UPEO was established by what's left of the old national governments as a global peacekeeping force meant to police the new corporate order. In practice, it's a PaperTiger that's woefully underfunded [[spoiler:and an unwitting tool for Ouroboros.]]

* KillEmAll: [[spoiler: Every pilot in the game besides you dies in one of the Ouroboros routes.]]

* LensmanArmsRace: Both General Resource and Neucom develop (or, in the case of GR, upgrade) their fleet to better fight one another. The zenith of this is in Neucom's race to copy General Resource's ace-in-the-hole: The X-49 Night Raven. [[OhCrap They succeeded in making eight of them]].

* NoEnding: Which of the MultipleEndings occurs for real [[spoiler:after Nemo is reset by Simon Orestes Cohen]] is never revealed. [[spoiler: But considering the [[VideoGame/AceCombat7SkiesUnknown implications]] what happens after Nemo is released into reality can't be good.]]

* OptionalStealth: The mission "Utopian Dreams" ("Plumber" in the export version) advises you to stay under the radar net as you proceed to the enemy base. It doesn't matter if you are spotted or not, it only determines ''when'' you end up fighting more enemy planes. "Pawns in the Game" (or "ECM") is similar, where you're advised to bomb the facilities under cover of a jamming aircraft and flying up to a specific altitude when it's not doing its thing, but the only difference whether you get detected or not is whether your on-board computer says "mission ''accomplished''" or just "mission ''over''" when you're done.

** The General Resource route has Keith seeking to destroy Dision after the latter betrayed him and offed GR CEO. Later missions have him discussing with Nemo that he refuses to believe that Dision is the same man he knew, [[spoiler: [[DeadAllAlong which is technically true.]]]]

** Likewise Cynthia turns against Ouroboros after learning their true intentions and [[spoiler: Fiona getting killed during an attack]]. She singlehandedly destroys the organization along with Nemo in her quest for redemption.

** In the aptly-named mission [[MeaningfulName Scylla and Charybdis]], you are to protect Fiona and Chairman Clarkson from GR attacks. Later on, Park order you to shoot it down on charges of treason. Shooting them down means killing your heretofore loyal friend, killing your UPEO reinforcement signals treachery to your organization. Take too long though, and [[spoiler: Rena]] will do the job for you.

* SceneryPorn: The maps are quite large and well-detailed for a PS1 game. Best exemplified in one mission where you have to fly in a canyon while trailing a plane with absolutely no dogfighting aside from the occasional helicopter fight.

* TheEndingChangesEverything: The OmegaEnding, revealed by completing all the routes. [[spoiler: Simon contacts you and explains that you're an AI...and that ''all the routes you played through'' were actually a [[LotusEaterMachine simulation he trapped you in]]. It turns out that he blames Dision from stealing Yoko from him, and was using you and the simulation to figure out how to erase Dision's AI-copy. Having seen every possible outcome, Simon decides that Dision's death is a ForegoneConclusion (since you do kill him on each route) and releases a fresh copy of you that has not been in the simulation into the real world to make one of the routes reality. He then deletes the simulation and you entirely.]]

** The final ending, obtained by completing all five story paths, is this. See TheEndingChangesEverything above.
** Another character is revealed to be this as well: [[spoiler: AI!Dision]]. Bonus points of him realizing it while the real one is still alive, and him seeing everything through security cameras, since he doesn't exist in the flesh.

** Erich is a somewhat unique case. He's your one constant wingman throughout the entirety of the UPEO route. Any other route, he's essentially AWOL. The General Resource route at least allows you to explain that absence by shooting him down.

* WithThisHerring: Double subverted. You start with a Eurofighter EF-2000 Typhoon II, a variant of one of the coolest planes of today... however, it's the far future, and by then the Eurofighter is ''severely'' outdated; flying it is kinda like nowadays flying a World War II fighter.

The world is Strangereal, a [[ConstructedWorld not-Earth]] from the previous games that was first [[WorldBuilding fleshed out]] in this installment. The year is [[TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture 2040]]. In the past few decades, the national governments of Strangereal have decayed beyond repair and were replaced by a global rule of [[MegaCorp Mega-Corps]], chief among whom are General Resource Limited and Neucom Incorporated. Naturally, the two companies' [[CorporateWarfare competition for power is far from friendly]], and the only thing standing between them and an all-out war is the [[FictionalUnitedNations Universal Peace]] [[UnitedNationsIsASuperPower Enforcement Organization]]. Further upsetting the fragile balance of power are: the GR's latest SuperPrototype fighter jet, the Night Raven, and its groomed pilot, the [[IllGirl sickly]] Rena Hirose; the Neucom scientists' questionable experiments on the recently discovered {{Cyberspace}} and BrainUploading; an overzealous military commander's schemes; and a NebulousCriminalConspiracy lurking in the background and pulling every string.

* AceCustom: Both Cynthia's and Rena's planes have a customized paintjob. Justified in Rena's case, as she is an IllGirl and requires special equipment just to fly.

* IllGirl: Rena Hirose, who suffers from a disease where her skin's pigmentation does not protect her body from UV rays. She became a General Resource pilot to view the exterior.

The world is Strangereal, a [[ConstructedWorld not-Earth]] from the previous games that was first [[WorldBuilding fleshed out]] in this installment. The year is [[TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture 2040]]. In the past few decades, the national governments of Strangereal have decayed beyond repair and were replaced by a global rule of [[MegaCorp Mega-Corps]], chief among whom are [[GermanicEfficiency General Resource Limited]] and [[JapanTakesOverTheWorld Neucom Incorporated]]. Naturally, the two companies' [[CorporateWarfare competition for power is far from friendly]], and the only thing standing between them and an all-out war is the [[FictionalUnitedNations Universal Peace]] [[UnitedNationsIsASuperPower Enforcement Organization]]. Further upsetting the fragile balance of power are: the GR's latest SuperPrototype fighter jet, the Night Raven, and its groomed pilot, the [[IllGirl sickly]] Rena Hirose; the Neucom scientists' questionable experiments on the recently discovered {{Cyberspace}} and BrainUploading; an overzealous military commander's schemes; and a NebulousCriminalConspiracy lurking in the background and pulling every string.

* GoodGunsBadGuns: This is an ZigZaggingTrope. The GreaterScopeVillain faction manufactures fighters based on American aircraft and use American-style aircraft names like the F-22C Raptor II which is obviously based on the real-world F-22 Raptor, the F-15S/MT Eagle+ which is obviously based on the real-world F-15 Eagle, and the F-16XF Gyrfalcon which is based on the real-world F-16 Fighting Falcon. These American aircraft are usually piloted by the heroes in other media, but are piloted mainly by villains in this game. Meanwhile, the [[spoiler:supposedly]] peacekeeping faction buys [=MiGs=] and Sukhoi aircraft which normally are piloted by villains in other media. To be fair, the peacekeeping faction also does get some aircraft that is manufactured by the GreaterScopeVillain faction as well and EF-2000E Typhoon [=IIs=] which are based on the real-life Eurofighter Typhoon, and the terrorist faction does use some Sukhoi aircraft. [[spoiler:However, the peacekeeping faction gets taken over by the terrorist faction in TheCoup. Further zig-zagging this trope is that if you stay within the peacekeeping faction, you and one other of its pilots start a counter-revolution to get rid of its MoleInCharge.]]

* NGOSuperpower: The Universal Peace Enforcement Organization, [[MegaCorp Neucom, General Resource,]] and Ouroboros.

** There's a special case where you fly an RF-12A2[[note]]futurized [[RealLife/CoolPlane A-12 Oxcart]][[/note]] into the stratosphere via rocket engine and shoot down bombers.

...unless, of course, you live in the [[SarcasmMode insignificantly tiny portion of the world]] that is not Japan, for which the story was remade into a lone pilot working for the UPEO, trying to keep the peace between General Resource and Neuwork. Creator/BandaiNamcoEntertainment currently has no plans to deliver the original ''Electrosphere'' to the outside world, but the release of [[VideoGame/AceCombatAssaultHorizonLegacy a remake]] of ''VideoGame/AceCombat2'' for [=N3DS=] gives us a faint glimmer of hope. Don't hold your breath, though. In the meantime, a fan-driven [[http://projectnemo.net/ Project]] [[http://useatoday.blogspot.com/ Nemo]] has released an [[http://useatoday.blogspot.co.uk/2016/12/ac3-e-ie-discs-22-h-e-v-e-n-n-d-e-r-t-h.html?m=1 unofficial English translation patch.]]

* JustPlaneWrong: While some of Neucom's R-Series planes are plausible (R-201's double-body design has been used since UsefulNotes/WorldWarII), some planes feature some very questionable design choices, such as the R-102/103's protrusion, and the R-211's second nose as well as its forward-swept ''tailplanes''.

** Beat all missions with an S-Rank and ''you'' get to use it. It's a one-hit kill against everything, provided you are outdoors ([[ItMakesSenseInContext some missions take place inside undersea colonies and such]]).

* SceneryPorn: One mission has you flying in a canyon while trailing a plane with absolutely no dogfighting.

[[caption-width-right:350:''"Forget everything you've done until now, and with your own eyes, understand the truth of this world".'']]

...unless, of course, you live in the [[SarcasmMode insignificantly tiny portion of the world]] that is not Japan, for which the story was remade into a lone pilot working for the UPEO, trying to keep the peace between General Resource and Neuwork. Creator/BandaiNamcoEntertainment currently has no plans to deliver the original ''Electrosphere'' to the outside world, but the release of [[VideoGame/AceCombatAssaultHorizonLegacy a remake]] of ''VideoGame/AceCombat2'' for [=N3DS=] gives us a faint glimmer of hope. Don't hold your breath, though. In the meantime, a fan-driven [[http://projectnemo.net/ Project]] [[http://useatoday.blogspot.com/ Nemo]] has released an [[http://useatoday.blogspot.co.uk/2016/12/ac3-e-ie-discs-22-h-e-v-e-n-n-d-e-r-t-h.html?m=1 unofficial English translation patch]].

...unless, of course, you live in the insignificantly tiny portion of the world that is not Japan, for which the story was remade into a lone pilot working for the UPEO, trying to keep the peace between General Resource and Neuwork. Creator/BandaiNamcoEntertainment currently has no plans to deliver the original ''Electrosphere'' to the outside world, but the release of [[VideoGame/AceCombatAssaultHorizonLegacy a remake]] of ''VideoGame/AceCombat2'' for [=N3DS=] gives us a faint glimmer of hope. Don't hold your breath, though. In the meantime, a fan-driven [[http://projectnemo.net/ Project]] [[http://useatoday.blogspot.com/ Nemo]] has released an [[http://useatoday.blogspot.co.uk/2016/12/ac3-e-ie-discs-22-h-e-v-e-n-n-d-e-r-t-h.html?m=1 unofficial English translation patch]].

-->''"Becoming a pilot like I have feels enough like a dream to me. But, recently... I've been thinking—that if the body is nothing more than a container for the mind, then it doesn't actually mean anything to me. I only use my mind when I fly. My body didn't come with wings, but my mind does... and it gave me the sky."''

!! Tropes found in the game:

-->''"Becoming a pilot like I have feels enough like a dream to me. But, recently... I've been thinking—that if the body is nothing more than a container for the mind, then it doesn't actually mean anything to me. I only use my mind when I fly. My body didn't come with wings, but my mind does... and it gave me the sky. At times all I want is to be a winged mind."''