ACE COMBAT 4 - DISTANT THUNDER Genre - Flight action game ~ Version - 1.4 ~ Created 1~2 August 2002 Game produced 2001 - pal 2 players duel shock compatible memory card 80 KB Walkthrough produced by Michael Radford Last update - 3/10/03 NOTICE - this is the first walkthrough I have done for gamefaqs and I have tried to go into as much detail as possible to help and advise players of this game whatever the difficulty level however if there is anything that I have missed out then please feel free to e-mail at mike8580@hotmail.com I know from experience that when people write these walkthroughs loads of people email and demand you answer there questions like you owe them something so please don't. If you do and it is not in the walkthrough you will be ignored. If you do have a good question and it isn't in the walkthrough just email me and I will do my best to answer it. I have dedicated this walkthrough to all the people at gamefaqs for the great site and the hard work and all the fans of this game. ============================================= CONTENTS i -INTRODUCTION, DISCLAIMER AND VERSION HISTORY ii -THE STORY iii -GAME CONTROLS iv -THE PLANES v -THE WEAPONS vi -THE MISSIONS vii -TIPS AND ADVANCE PLAY MANEUVERS viii-HIDDEN AIRCRAFT AND MODES ix -DID YOU KNOW x -FAQ's xi -THANKS AND CREDIT ============================================ 1. INTRODUCTION, DISCLAIMER AND VERSION HISTORY INTRODUCTION - Ace combat 4 is not surprisingly the forth game in the ace combat series it is a combat flight game where the player takes control of mobius one the leader of an group of eleven aircraft which are not seen until the end. At the start you are in squadron 118 where you are defending you HQ from enemy bombers. The game has a total of 21 aircraft ranging from the very slow F4 to the amazing jets such as the SU 37 and X 02. The game is set on the fictional continent of Ursea where after a devastating asteroid shower on Earth the large country of Eursea invades the rest of Usea. The games controls are simple and allow the player to master them in a few minutes. The Erusens also has an elite flight squad called the yellow squadron who are a squad of five planes with the leader of the group an exceptional pilot known only by his call sign 'yellow thirteen'. DISCLAIMER - this document is copyrighted any and all distribution of this document without express permission from the author will not be tolerated anyone who does so will have legal action taken upon them. Also if this document is sold or any money is made off it without the author's permission will be prosecuted. This FAQ should only appear at the following websites at present www.gamefaqs.com www.neoseeker.com www.ps2guides.coolfreepage.com if you wish to publish this faq please contact me at mike8580@hotmail.com VERSION HISTORY - 4/09/02 (v.0.1) - The guide is up at the moment although none of the missions are up as of yet ==== 6/09/02 (v.0.2) - Put the finishing touches on the missions and the FAQ. Next up will be the story and other smaller features. === 9/9/02 (v.1.0) - That concludes it, the whole guide is up and running, who's the daddy? === 4/11/02 (v.1.1) - It would seem not me, the special named pilots required to unlock hidden planes are apparently wrong and have been removed for review. Thanks to everyone who told me about those. === 18/11/03 (v. 1.2) - Small correction of the FAQ part. Thanks to the people who told me about them === 5/1/03 (v. 1.3) - A few small changes being made. === 3/9/03 (v.1.4) - Large guide overhaul. The planes section has been rewritten and edited fully as well as correcting any spelling mistakes. I have also uploaded the lonerider's flight log, that is worth check. If you want yours uploaded please send them to me, contact details above. === 11/12/03 (v.1.5) - Added a new altitude for Jake Rheinfrank, see below. ============================================ 2. THE STORY -= I recommend strongly you complete the game before reading this as it gives away pretty most all of the story =- The Earth has just survived a devastating meteor shower that has killed half the population. Before the shower the populates of Ursea had built a huge cannon structure called Stonehenge. Taking advantage of the situation the Erusians attack the rest of the continent foreign the ISAF (Independent States Allied Forces) back to the small island known as North Point. While the conquest went on the Erusians captured the city of San Salvasion a young boy who was on his way to school watched as the Erosion fighters destroyed the ISAF planes trying to protect the city one of the Erusian planes shot one down and crashed on the cape where his family lived. He watched as the plane that had shot down the ISAF fighter confirmed the kill, and on the plane was a large number 13 in yellow. An important note is the player is not the same person as the young boy in the movie sequences. When the Erusians had taken control San Salvation they also gained control of the super cannon Stonehenge, even though it was built to shoot down asteroids the cannon could also be used as an anti-aircraft weapon, knowing this the Erusians could destroy any aircraft and take complete control of the mainland. Now the ISAF have relocated their HQ to a small island called North Point where there is no room to retreat and if they are destroyed there the Erusians have won. Slowly though the ISAF regain land forcing the Erusians back towards there country, as they retreat the ISAF can attack Stonehenge where it is destroyed however the Yellow Squadron attack and the super elite pilot Yellow 13 loses his wingman yellow 4. The ISAF continue to advance until they enter Eusea and take over there capital, however yellow squadron come back and the players pilot Mobius 1 fights them eventually destroying yellow 13 and stopping the war. But the Erusians had one more trick up there sleeve as they revealed a secrete weapon called Megalith. The Mobius Squad fly in and Mobius one destroys it to finish off the Erusians and end the game. ============================================ 3. GAME CONTROLS Left analogue stick - bamk or pitch the plane Move it down to pitch up Move it up to pitch down Move it left to bank left Move it right to bank right (Not the most challenging thing in the world) Move the Right analogue stick to look around this gets more handy later on and in harder modes Cross - fire Vulcan cannon Circle - fire missile or secondary weapon Triangle - zoom in Square - displays the map. Apply pressure to zoom in. L1 - air brakes L2 - Jink left L3 - N/A R1 - accelerate R2 - Jink Right R3 - N/A Select - Switch to secondary weapon Start - Pause / Unpause =================================================== 4. THE PLANES Here are all the planes and there stats I apologies for no pictures- +++++++++++++++ F-4E Multi-role --- UGBM Napalm bomb --- This is the first plane you will fly in the game. This plane is actually okay for a starting plane. The handling and speed will easily be enough for you to match or out match the compotation. Overall - 5/10 - Starting aircraft +++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++ F-5E Multi-role --- UGBS Rocket Launcher --- Although it is fairly fast and well armed, this plane is more or less the same as the F-4. It may be quite tempting to get as it is the first new plane of the game, but try to hold on to your money as the next planes worth shelling out for. Get it? Shelling? I know planes don't shell but, erm, moving on. Overall - 6/10 - Starting aircraft +++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++ F-16C Multi-role --- UGBS XMAS --- This plane is fast, well armed and small enough to dodge anything thrown at it. You should buy this plane as soon as you get it to replaced the older F-4. Overall - 7/10 - Starting aircraft +++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++ A -10 Bomber --- UGBL XMAS Cluster bomb --- A fantastic bomber for the money that you are paying. This maybe the slowest plane in the game, but it is also the most armored, specially designed to be protected from AA artillery. You have a massive payload and you will find yourself using this bomber time and again throughout the game. +++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++ MIR 2000 Fighter --- UGBS XLAS --- Although it is the best air to air fighter that is available at the moment as you progess through the next few missions you will see that you have wasted your money if you opted for buying it. Overall - 5/10 - Mid game aircraft +++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++ F-14A Air superiority fighter --- XLAA UGBM --- An excellent air superiority fighter used for heavy dogfights. I recommend buying this for Shattered Skies. And completely ignore it's bombs it is not a bomber and you tend to get shot down. Overall - 8/10 - Mid game aircraft +++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++ TND - ID5 Multi-role --- Bomblett Despenser Precision Bomb XLAS --- Although it is a multi-role aircraft it is best used as a bomber. However, it is not as good as the A-10 so try to avoid it. Overall - 5/10 - Mid game aircraft +++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++ F/A 18C Multi-role --- UGBM XLAG XMAA --- It is worth buyijng if you have the money in this stage of the game as it great at air to air. It's not essential though as the F-14 should be more then good enough to get you through. Overall - 7/10 - Mid game aircraft +++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++ F-15C Air-to-Air --- XMAA XLAA --- A good plane with good stats. And a heafty price tag, unless you are repeating the game of have LOADS of money then do not buy this yet. Overall - 6/10 - Mid game aircraft +++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++ MIG 29A Air-to-Air --- UGBS Missile Launcher --- A great fighter which is both fast and well armed. It's missle launcher is great for taking on Stonehenge and will destroy a turret in one or two salvos. Overall - 8/10 - Mid game aircraft +++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++ F 117A Bomber --- UGBL Precision bomb Cluster Bomb --- 'Cool, it's that ace looking bomber thing you have to lie down to fly'. It also has a tiny payload, is slow, very vunrable to both aircraft and ground attacks. Need I may say more, it is like many modern sports, all talk and no action. Overall - 3/10 - Mid game aircraft +++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++ EF 2000 Fighter --- XLAA UGBL --- This plane is both adgile and fast. It is also well armed. The price is right to so if you can afford it then go in and buy it immeditly. In this stage of the game there are a lot of air battles coming up and your older Fighter may not stand up that well. Overall - 8/10 - Mid game aircraft +++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++ R-M01 Multi role --- Bomblett dispenser XMAA XLAS --- Although this plane is fast and has a good array of bomb it is out classed in bomb missions by the A-10 and in Air-to-Air by the EF 2000. It maybe worth it if you are on a mission that will require both specifications like Bunker Shot, but since you are passed that stage I would wait for a while. Overall - 6/10 - Mid game aircraft +++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++ F -15E Multi role --- UGBL XMAA Cluster --- A good aircraft in both departments, this is the one you should go for, for the rest of the multi role combat missions for a while. Overall - 7/10 - Mid game aircraft +++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++ F-2A Multi role --- UGBM Rocket Launcher --- The best aircraft to take down Stonehenge if you repeat the game. It is both fast and powerful. However if this is the first time playing through the game, I would stick with what you have for a while. This way you can afford the really good planes as they come. Overall - 7/10 - Ending aircraft +++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++ SU - 35 Fighter --- XLAA UGMB --- A good plane and star of several other Ace Combat games, however I would just wait a while longer as the SU-37 is a lot better. Overall - 7/10 - Ending aircraft +++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++ F-22 Fighter --- XMAA Precision Bomb --- Yes it's the one off the box. Buy it on the second time round however, the good planes are coming next. Overall - 8/10 - Ending aircraft +++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++ SU-37 Fighter --- GAAM UGBL Precision Bomb --- The aircraft that the yellow squadron fly. This is one of the best air-to-air aircraft in the game. It maybe expensive, but worth it it. Overall - 9/10 - Ending aircraft +++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++ F-15 - ACTIVE Multi role --- XMAA Fuel Air --- This is the best aircraft for bombing as it has the fuel air bombs. These are extremely powerful and take out anything withing a large radius in a single hit. Not only this but it has excellent air-to-air abbilitys. Try to get as soon as possible and use it on Whiskey Corridor. Overall - 9/10 - Ending aircraft +++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++ S-37A Fighter --- GAAM UGBL --- This is yet another amazingly good air-to-air combat aircraft. However since it has the UGBL by the bucketload, it is great for air-to-ground missions as well. Buy it as soon as possible Overall - 10/10 - Ending Aircraft +++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++ X -02 Multi role --- XLAA Bomblett Dispenser GAAM This aircraft is fast and well armed. It is the best air-to-air aircraft in the game. Missles are no problem to dodge and it is faster then a speeding bullet. The only thing that lets it down is it's air-to-ground role. Who's idea was it to give it the bomblett dispenser? Overall - 9/10 - Hidden Aircraft +++++++++++++++ =========================================== 5. THE WEAPONS Vulcan Cannon - This is your machine gun that is used to take out enemies at close range. Missile - These are the normal missiles shoot these at the enemy planes when you have a lock on to shoot them down. UGBS (Unguided freefall Bomb Small) - this is the basic bomb for most early aircraft it can be dropped from four slots instead of the normal two. UGBM (Unguided freefall Bomb Medium) - this is the next best one from the small version only it can only be dropped from two slots but makes a bigger explosion. UGBL (Unguided freefall Bomb Large) - same as above only makes a very large explosion. XLAS (Advance Long range Anti Surface bomb) - this bomb locks on and can destroy targets from a long way it can hit up to four targets at once. XMAS (Advance Medium range Anti Surface bomb) - It does the same thing as the one above only it will only work from a shorter range XLAA (Advanced Long range Air to Air missile) - like the bomb version only this can get planes from a long way away incredibly inaccurate though and best used on big slow enemy planes like an E 767. XMAA (Advanced Medium range Air to Air missile) - like the above only slightly more accurate. Precision Bomb - A preseason guided bomb locks onto the target with the piper it has a wider damage area then the advance bombs. Rocket Launcher- launches rockets duh! Good on very large targets that don't move. Missile Launcher - The better version of a rocket launcher and can make short work of Stonehenge's turrets. Bomblett Dispenser - Releases lots of tiny bombs over a large line. They may sound handy, but in fact are hard to use and usless. Quite possibly the most usless weapon in the game. Fuel Air - Arguably the best bomb in the game they are only available on the F 15 ACTIVE but due to its great air to air and air to ground powers it makes it highly effective. The bomb itself sprays fuel as it hits the ground then the bomb explodes causing the devastation of a cluster bomb. Napalm bomb - This only come with the F-4 and despite a cool name its no good and since that plane has UGBM's you are far better off using them. GAAM (guided Air to Air Missile) - this is a homing missile that will follow the target until it is out of fuel of hits the target, if you have locked on you can still fire at the target even if it is at your 6 O'clock. ============================================ 6. THE MISSIONS MISSION 1 - SITTING DUCK Objective - Destroy the bombers advancing on the ISAF HQ Aircraft of choice - F-4 Weapon of choice - UGBM You began this mission following your squad to the targets, gently tap R1 to stay in formation and head straight for the first bomber, when you get in shooting range take it down, the next bomber will now be in front of you. Again the next bomber should be in front of you when you shoot down the next one. Do a U turn and destroy the other bombers. Its simple once you get the hang of it. Mission difficulty 1/10 Special pilot - he appears when you have shot down three bombers, he is south east of Newfield Island. MISSION 2 - IMMANENT THREAT Objective - Destroy the bombers at Rigly Aircraft of choice - F-4 Weapon of choice - UGBM Don't let the re-fueling aircraft distract you to avoid crashing into it. follow the other planes to Rigly. On the way you should ascend to around 7000ft to avoid the enemy. When you get to Rigly pitch down and press select to switch to bombs. You will see a dotted line going down this will be the bombs course. At the bottom of the line there is a circle with a dot in the middle. The dot is when the bomb will hit and the circle it's estimated range of damage. The entire thing is called the piper. The get the circle of the piper around as many enemy ground targets as possible and press circle. Do this until all the targets are destroyed Mission difficulty 1/10 Special pilot - Able pilot Able in his A10 is hovering around north west of Rigly MISSION 3 - THE NORTHERN EYE Objective - Destroy the Shezna Radar Aircraft of choice - F-4 Weapon of choice - UGBM Stay in formation until you get to the radars. instead of bombing them try a high approach from the south and just lock onto the with a missile until you have got them all. Then head West to Shezna Radar 2 do the same thing. MISSION UPDATE - this is the first mission update and it is not challenging fly south to the doted return line use you map (square) if you cannot find it and land at your base. The landing is not essential but it adds depth to the game however if you cannot do it just press start to skip. ADVICE ON LANDINGS Base - line yourself up with the runway using the jink feature (L2/R2) you see what looks like a cross hare on the middle of your screen line them up so they are both in the middle and that is where you need to be. Move the vertical bar by jinking move the horizontal bar by banking up and down. Carrier - the same really only aim for the left of the carrier and go a lot slower the runway is very small and you can fly right off the end. Mission Difficulty - 2/10 Special pilot- take down the named pilot north of the gap between Shezna Radar one and two. MISSION 4- BLOCKADE Objective - Destroy the transport planes above the harbor Aircraft of choice - F-16 Weapon of choice - UGBS There are to ways to complete this mission but first fly towards the big stage circles on the map. When you are inside be careful radar does not work. Now you have a choice. To straight for the targets of fly straight to the middle of the jamming and destroy the source the E-767. to get them go to around 10,000 ft and go to the middle of the first circle, it may take a while to find but when you destroy one half the radar clears go to the middle of the next jamming destroy the other E-767, this leaves all the aircraft open so you can just go and blow them out of the skies taking out any enemy plans that are foolish enough to get in your way. Mission difficulty 3/10 Special pilot - This one is hard to find as he is in the cover of the E 767 jammer. As soon as you take out the E 767 he bolts off to the northeast. If he gets there you will be hard pressed to take him out and get back in time to get the last target so get him fast. MISSION 5- LIFELINE Objective - Reduce the output of the oilrig Aircraft of choice - A-10 Weapon of choice - UGBL When the mission starts head towards the red dot on your radar, this is a transport carrier and will give your points a boost when you destroy it. Don't waste a bomb on it though use a missile or if you think you can just use your guns to destroy it. Its up to you which of the areas you want to go to. To the East is the Oil rigs whereas the West is the processing plant. If you have chosen the cluster bomb for the A10 then head west and if you have the Large Freefall Bomb head west. When you get to the oilrig simply place the piper over an oilrig and drop the bomb on it. There are eight rigs so go for the ones closest to you and head backwards until you have destroyed them all. If you do destroy all the rigs either head West and help the processing attack or which I recommend head back to the return line for what's next. MISSION UPDATE - now we meet the yellow squadron, they will pursue you from the south and you are ordered to disengage. Just return south and don't try to fight them they can't be hit! When you pass the return line the mission ends. Mission difficulty 4/10 Special pilot - The named pilot is north after you destroy around 3 rigs when the yellows come he disappears so get him quick. MISSION 6 - INVINCIBLE FLEET Objective - Sink the "invincible" Agjiar fleet at anchor Aircraft of choice - A-10 Weapon of choice - UGBL, cluster bomb This mission is fairly hard in some spaces because of the sheer number of missiles that are shot at you. When you gain control look at the map to see the ships trying to get to the return line go to them and bomb them all flying past the return line and re-stocking on bombs when you run out. After all the ships are destroyed head back and swap your secondary weapon to the cluster bomb and fly to the combat zone to the upper right of your position. There are a lot of ships and facilities here ascend as high as possible and drop about three cluster bombs to destroy everything there before heading north to the next zone. These areas big so make all your bombs count. Out in the harbor there are missile boats as well they move fast so be very careful and shoot them with a missile. If there is enough time fly southwest to the last combat point and destroy the submarines some are in armored docks so get low and hit the dock from the front. The reason I have saved that part until last is that fire gets very heavy and you're likely to get hit by a missile. I recommend so of the monovers suggested later on in this walkthrough. If you pass the mission when the time runs out then you are treated to the pilots of the 118th squadron singing. Mission difficulty 6/10 Special pilot- head to the top right hand edge of the screen within the final five minutes to see him, he is fast though and will fly his F/A all over the place its faster then a A-10 so be careful. MISSION 7 - DEEP STRIKE Objective - Destroy solar facility evade attack from Stonehenge Aircraft of choice - F 14 Weapon of choice - UGBM On the first part of the mission head north until you get to the power plant, take out the targets with bombs or missiles, now comes the fun part, you hear Stonehenge is firing at you! Look at the map for the darker areas and fly to the nearest one, these are crevasses you must descend into one before the shots get to you. When you get inside head south and navigate the ravine, when you are about halfway some fighter's paper at high speed following you and your team, but stay in the crevasses and below 2000 ft and the shots won't hit you, simple, well not really. Mission difficulty 7/10 Special pilot- he is flying West of the second power plant shoot him down before Stonehenge as he can get away from you and its incredibly difficult to shoot someone go through tight walls and avoid Stonehenge at the same time. MISSION 8 - SHATTERED SKIES Objective - Destroy as many enemy fighters as possible and destroy all bombers. Aircraft of choice - F-14 Weapon of choice - XLAA This is one of my favorite missions as its one big air battle, when you start ignore the high value target it is moving to fast to catch at the minute so just destroy as many planes as you can. There are a few yellows there but the not the elite five that chased you before so they can be hit, don't spend too munch time trying to get one though as there is not a great deal of time. At the back there is an E 767 and a KL 10 destroying them to boost up your points. MISSION UPDATE - B-2 bombers paper on the radar ignore the talk about them being stealth its only so when you are close, get behind and lock onto four with your XLAA's then blast the other two, lead the planes chasseing you back to Comodia island where you can have your team mates help to destroy them. Mission difficulty - 6/10 Special pilot - at the north end of the dogfight near the E 767 and the KL 10 the named pilot is flying around. MISSION 9 - OPERATION 'BUNKER SHOT' Objective - Aid in the landing of ground troops Aircraft of choice - A-10 Weapon of choice - Cluster bomb When you start the first thing you notice is that is dark and there is very low visibility however you should know how to understand all the this like the distance display in the cockpit now so it shouldn't cause a problem. Head to the front beach, I recommend you over the beach in front of you lengthways and use the bombs to destroy all the targets, just remember don't shoot your friends and if you are going to use missiles Pillboxes need to be hit twice. When you hear that you have neutralized Crowne beachhead East to the next beach and do the same, there is a higher concentration if enemy troops here making it more effective for a cluster bomb. Finally from there head north and take out the launchers and Howitzers, after that head back to the return line and stock up on missiles. MISSION UPDATE - after the time runs out a group of six bombers come in, they are A-10's and they are fairly hard to hit. Make sure you have a lot of missiles and try to get close enough to use the gun make sure any part of the plane is inside the circle when you fire for a more accurate hit. Mission difficulty - 7/10 Special pilot - he flees around the most westerly section of the west beach, take him out! MISSION 10 - TANGO LINE Objective - Destroy the enemy fortresses Aircraft of choice - A-10 Weapon of choice - Cluster bomb This is a tough one because of the terrain. Start by flying west towards the central base there is a barrage so just fly below it and fire tree bombs to easily neutralize the facilities, when you are doing this bewares of Sam's. Then head north to the submarine base again a few cluster bombs destroy most thing however if you look at the structure there are sort of crevasses in the rock you have to fly through them and put a missile in the front of the sub base there's two so do it twice on the two different cuts. Fly south east to go to the VETOL base, this bit is quite hard fly high and drop a bomb in the holes where the bases are to get rid of them, also take out the helicopters and planes that keep shooting missiles at you. Lastly if there's time head south to the airport where a few bombs will destroy the top half look of your radar for a lot of ground targets and drops the last of your bombs there. Carry on to take out the fighters until the time runs out. Also Stonehenge will shoot at you again in this mission so simply so below 2000 ft when you hear the warning and preferably before sky eye shots impact! Mission difficulty - 8/10 Special pilot - he flies around the top of the area but disappears later on so catch him before he leaves. MISSION 11 - ESCORT Objective - protect the civil aircraft Aircraft of choice - F-15C Weapon of choice - XMAA When you start go all the way up to 23,000 ft and head to the civilian aircraft, destroy the fighter and then head down to 6000 ft and destroy the next two. They will keep coming n patterns of high, low, high, low until they are all destroyed or when the planes pass the return line. Mission difficulty - 4/10 Special pilot - he flies behind the last group and above the middle of the area kill him and make sure you get back in time to save the passenger planes. MISSION 12 - STONEHENGE OFFENSIVE Objective - Destroy the Stonehenge cannon Aircraft of choice - MIG-29A Weapon of choice - Missile launcher When you gain control follow the other aircraft down to avoid the immanent strike then fly with them to Stonehenge, flying up when you see it use your gun to destroy the jamming device, next simply use the missile launcher to destroy the turrets. MISSION UPDATE- you thought that was hard, well now it is time to fight the yellow squadron, these are the ones that yellow 13 leads. Engage and shoot one down after you have feel pleases that you've broken 13's record. It doesn't matter which plane you shoot down it will always be yellow 4, 13's wingman Mission difficulty 8/10 Special pilot - he flies at the far north of the map but disappears after the yellows come. MISSION 13 - SAFE RETURN Mission objective - Destroy as many hammers as possible and defend the U2 form attack Aircraft of choice - EF 2000 Weapon of choice - XLAA This is my least favorite mission, when you first gain control the first thing that you will notice is that there is very poor visibility you must look around the area for airships and destroy them with your guns. This mission is fairly hard to start with and when I first did it I couldn't find any jammers after the first one, you will be surprised how many you fly past with out realizing so stay focused. MISSION UPDATE - two F-15E's and 2 EF 2000's here use the missals and XLAA's for easy kills, sometimes they will try to run to the U2 so be careful. Mission difficulty - 8/10 Special pilot - The named F-15E appears in the NE of the area when the other fighters arrive. MISSION 14 - BREAKING ARROWS Mission objective- destroy all the cruise missiles Aircraft of choice - F-15E Weapon of choice - XLAA When you start this mission blast on the after burners and head for the missiles timing is everything on this one, get behind them and use the XLAA's to destroy them all. Then immidiaty head for the other group of missiles and use the rest of the XLAA's and missiles to destroy them, if you don't do it in time the missiles will split into two groups taking up more valuable time. When you have got rid of them there is one last missile this one is tough. Head over there as fast as you can ignore all the planes as you go. If you want head north to take out the named pilot of head on to the missile. If anyone has played Ace Combat 2 they will rember a similar mission however now you can use your missiles. Fire every thing you have got at the missile but be warned it will evade a lot, it is also made a lot more tense with every few minutes sky eye saying "twenty miles" "ten miles", after you destroy it you see a huge explosion and well done. Mission difficulty - 8/10 Special pilot - The pilot is in the X-02 I think forgive me if I am wrong this maybe your first time to see it but don't hang about if you want to pass the mission. He is in the north when the super cruise missile appears. MISSION 15 - EMANCIPATION Objective - Help re occupy San Salvation Aircraft of choice - F-15E Weapon of choice - Cluster bomb. When the mission starts I recommend looking at the map and flying to the furthest one, which is the airport, this has a lot more high value targets and would give you a high boost in the score. Then head over to the most Easterly battle area and help regain old town. MISSION UPDATE- 6 blackjacks appear however they should be no math for your skills just keep up with them Mission difficulty - 7/10 Special pilot - he is flying around on the last few minutes before the bombers. MISSION 16 - WHISKY CORRIDOR Objective - force the Erusians into retreat Aircraft of choice - SU-35 Weapon of choice - UGBM This mission can get tricky because of the spaces between the enemy forces it is difficult to bomb them. So head west and engage that line as they are closest together then, bomb all the enemies in sight then head more west and bomb the tents. This will get you around three quarters of the way to your target score. The head to the northern most combat zone and destroy the HQ. There is a hell of a lot of SAM's here so dodge them if your life depended on it. Now destroy as many fighters as possible until the time runs out, you should have an S rank if you do all that right. Mission difficulty - 8/10 Special pilot - he flies around the top half of the screen, I think if you know exactly free to email me. MISSION 17 - SIEGE OF FARBANDI Objective - take over the capital of Erase. Aircraft of choice - SU-37 Weapon of choice - UGBL / GAAM This is not an easy mission. The forst thing you should do is to fly to Johnston Memorial Bridge and destroy it leaving the tanks stranded. Then go to either the west or east combat zone. I recommend the West, as there are a lot more targets, just not as high value. Destroy them with your bombs and always avoiding the SAM's. Also head to the small grouping of targets just west of this combat zone where there are a load of flooded skyscrapers. Go high and plunge at them and you will see two submarines. After putting missiles in them to the East combat zone and bomb the battleship making sure that you get all the guns as the ship won't sink. When you hear that the enemy leaders are escaping in choppers fly to the return line and switch you secondary weapon to the GAAM's. Now get ready for one tough dogfight. MISSION UPDATE - its our old friends the yellow squadron, these are the ones headed by 13. Engage them but be careful when you get with in a missile lock of one another one will fly behind you and try to shoot you. Use the maneuvers below to avoid them. Use all the GAAM's then missiles. I recommend fighting nears the return line and if you are hit return immediately. The last plane is always yellow 13 but he is not that hardly close to him and shoot him with your guns decelerating when he turns, its much easier to take him out with guns than missiles when he is dead its mission complete. Mission difficulty - 9/10 Special pilot - he flies north of Farbandi and then goes to the northeast later. He will disappear when the yellows come. MISSION 18 - MEGALITH Objectives- destroy the fortress Megalith Aircraft of choice S-37 Weapon of choice - GAAM The first thing you are bound to notice is that you are now flying with the Mobius squad, stay with the formation, now you have to fight 25 yellows, they are not as hard as the yellows from last time but they are tough use the GAAM's to get faster kills. When they are all destroyed fly towards Megalith on the radar you see a line which sort of looks like the runway when you try to land you should follow that line going in as slowly as possible, i recommend doing the hardest one first, this is the left one, as you fly though you will have to yaw left and then right to avoid the wall then destroy the generator, now go around to the front of Megalith and go through the right one destroy that generator and go around to the side, there is a way to fly through the middle so follow the line. After the final generator is down you will see 4 missile ports open near you if you want you can destroy these of just leave them, head around to the front of megalith and fly straight at it. Another exhaust vent is now open so fly through that and you will see a massive missile about to be launched blast it with a missile and pitch up to see hatch open at the top, you may have to turn to get through but once your out YOU HAVE COMPLETED ACE COMBAT 04 - DISTANT THUNDER!! CONGRATULATIONS Mission difficulty - 9/10 Special pilot - he flies just north of Megalith. ======================================7. TIPS AND ADVANCE PLAY MANEUVERS Yellow squadron keeps blowing you out the sky? SAM's shoot you down no matter what? Are you just ready to say goodbye to it all and walk of your wing? Well don't here are some tips that will make those missiles easy to dodge. Stealth - a missile will have a harder time hitting you if you are in a stealth fighter these are as follows - F- 117A S- 37 X- 02 Difficulty - it depends really --- Brake turn - when you see a missile alert just brake hard and turn it cannot get you. Difficulty - 2/10 --- Loop - do a loop or helix when you detect a missile and it cannot catch you. Difficulty - 2/10 --- Stall - brake until you stall the put on the afterburners and pull away from the ground at 5000 ft. Difficulty - 4/10 --- Ground impact - fly fast and low to the ground and on its way down the missile will hit the floor. Difficulty - 5/10 --- Barrel roll - if you have something to prove look behind you and watch for the missile as soon as it gets near you perform a barrel roll, time it right and it will fly straight looks very good. Difficulty - 9/10 --- ==============================8. HIDDEN AIRCRAFT AND MODES. Expert mode is unlocked by completing the game in hard mode Ace mode is unlocked by completing the game in expert mode There is more than one color scheme for the planes first complete the game. Go into free mission and get all the grades as S then go and play the game again shooting down all the special named pilots described in the earlier part of the walk through. Get the yellow paint scheme by shooting down all the named pilots Get the X-02 by completing the game with all the S grades on normal mode Get the alternative colours by complting the game with S grades on hard and expert. See the blackbird on the mission shattered skies. It is the high value target you lock onto when you begin the mission, it flies as 4000 ft and fast its not to hard to catch it up though. It also appears in whisky corridor near the west of the area. ========================================================9. DID YOU KNOW? That in the US and Japan the game is called Ace Combat 4 Shattered Skies. --- There is more then 30 aircraft in the game. 3 missions are taken from the old ace combats and air combat games these are deep strike, megalith and shattered skies. --- The aircraft with propellers not including the choppers is the bear bomber in the first mission "sitting duck", a C 130 in Tango Line and in siege of Farbandi where the leaders escape in V 22 Osprays, thanks goes to Krash. --- Many people belive that ISAF could mean USAF, the American airforce, when ISAF is a real orgenisation. --- On the same note, the X-02's special colours have the marks saying '/l/l'. Some people think this stands for NASA because of their development of highly advanced aircraft. --- As well as the above mentioned marks, the alternative colours for the X-02 have the mobius symbol on it, only it is red where the blue marks are. --- The re fueling plane on several missions these are deep strike, Stonehenge and I think whiskey corridor at the very southwest. --- In the mission - Lifeline you have your very own wingman. He is near the return line near the middle of the screen and won't do anything until you formation fly with him. --- My altitude record is 50,555ish ft in the X - 02. To do it go on the megalith mission in free flight mode and go diagonally across the screen banking very carefully at around 45,000 ft as it is unbelievably easy to stall. Also keep the afterburners on full all the time while doing this. It is possible to fly as slow as 56 knots without stalling in the X- 02 thanks to its unique wing positioning. Shooting your wingmen does not damage them --- Last updated - 11/12/03 My flight log is 43 hours 21 minutes 09 seconds I have shot down 3012 aircraft I have destroyed 6135 ground targets I completed the game in two days I have been shot down 9 times I have crashed several times on developing a new style, which seems to have turned into a Kamakarise run which isn't as successful as I first hoped. --- Here's the times from the lowrider: Flight time: 33:38:42 Shot down : 3648 aircraft Destroyed : 5718 ground targets Finished game in 2 days Shot down : about 18 times And I too have crashed several times pulling tricks and flying two feet of the ground, lol --- Jake Rheinfrank managed to get to 51,233 in the SU-37 --- Anyone else who wants me to upload their flight details onto the FAQ please send them to me at the above email address. ==================================================10. FAQ's Q: Are there any other planes unlockable apart from the ones in the hanger after completing the game? A: Yes, you can unlock the planes alternative colour schemes. --- Q: There is one plane I am missing but I have finished the game, what's that? A: That is the X-02, read how to unlock it in the guide. --- Q: How low is it possible to fly? A: In some points of the game where there is a long flat surface you can get to one or two feet of the ground. It is very hard though. --- Q: What's the highest a plane can go? A: Apparently 50,000ft, I have never been that bothered to try though. If it is true, it would have to be done in the X-02. --- Q: I am flying a plane with stealth, why am I being shot at. A: Planes with stealth are not invisible, enimeys that are quite far away will not always fly and attack you in a stealth aircraft as they would in a reguler one. --- Q: Is it possible to fly at Mach one? (the speed of sound) A: Unfortunalty no plane goes fast enough to break the sound barrier, however the blackbird featured in some levels does. --- Q: Is it possible to get the Orbital Sattalite Laser like it says on game winners? A: Let's clear this up. *Ahem* The orbital sattalite laser is NOT I repeat NOT in Ace Combat 04. Not in Distant Thunder, not in Shattered Skies, it is not in the game and don't let any tell you contry! --- Q: Are there any other hidden weapons in the game? A: None, but there are rare weapons only mounted on a few aircraft like the rocket launcher on the F-5. --- Q: I have the SOL you know, it is true. A: Not it isn't, are you sure you are not playing AC3 by mistake? --- ===================================================11. THANKS AND CREDIT Thanks for reading this and if I have not explained something enough email me and I will be more then happy to email you back. Credit and thanks goes out to: Krash - For the propeller planes Vulcan Shaman - For some plane interpretations Juggfeind_001 - For some more plane tips The Lowrider - For his flight log Jake Rhienfrank - For his altituide record I hope you will find other walkthroughs and reviews interesting.