Another Century's Episode 2
A mecha action sequel with expanded combat and series roster.
Another Century's Episode 2 (abbreviated as A.C.E. 2) is a third-person mecha action video game produced by Banpresto and developed by From Software. Released for the PlayStation 2 on March 30, 2006, it is the sequel to the 2005 game Another Century's Episode. The game features its own original plot and revisits events from the first game in a different manner, a practice common in Banpresto's Super Robot Wars franchise.
- Number of playable mecha
- 105
Lore & Background
System changes include faster combat, pilot cut-ins in 2D and cel-shaded 3D forms, up to seven weapons per unit, improved support with computer-controlled allies, combination attacks, and a Favorites System allowing one series to be upgraded more. Control types offer two set-ups (shift and select) without a simple mode, and flight controls can be modified for plane-type units. Six series from A.C.E. return, joined by five new ones, plus three EX Series, for a total of 105 playable mecha from fourteen anime and original designs.
Reader's Guide
Another Century's Episode 2 is significant as a sequel that refined the mecha action formula of its predecessor, introducing faster combat, more weapons, and combination attacks that allow team-ups from featured anime. The Favorites System, borrowed from recent Super Robot Wars entries, lets players customize their experience by boosting a preferred series. The game's roster includes iconic mecha from series such as Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack, Aura Battler Dunbine, and Macross: Do You Remember Love?, alongside original Gun Ark mecha. The Special Vocal Edition, released after the sequel Another Century's Episode 3: The Final, added vocal theme songs for each featured series. The game's legacy lies in its expanded gameplay mechanics and its role in the crossover mecha genre, bridging multiple anime universes with original story elements.
Development & Creative Vision
Banpresto, a Bandai subsidiary that held exclusive video game rights to multiple Japanese mecha anime properties, conceived the idea of a massive crossover title. The inspiration came from Konami's Zone of the Enders series, which had demonstrated that a mecha action game could expand beyond the console into anime and other media. To bring the project to life, Banpresto partnered with FromSoftware, the studio behind the Armored Core franchise. The game was designed by Yui Tanimura—a name that would later become synonymous with the Dark Souls series, where she directed Dark Souls II and co-directed Dark Souls III and Elden Ring—and directed by Tomohiro Shibuya. For the soundtrack, singer Hitomi Shimatani recorded the opening and ending themes, a session she later described as being under high tension. The project was announced on September 1, 2004, shown at Tokyo Game Show on September 24, and launched in Japan on January 27, 2005.
Gameplay Mechanics & Design
The game positions players as pilots of a mecha drawn from one of nine distinct anime franchises, each with its own weapon loadout and combat style. Represented series span a wide range, including Aura Battler Dunbine, Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam, Brain Powered, and Blue Comet SPT Layzner. The core loop involves flying through a large cubic arena while completing escalating mission objectives—ranging from wiping out enemy mecha formations to shielding a building or clearing mine fields for a space shuttle. Movement is enhanced by a dash mechanic that lets players dodge obstacles and projectiles, though it drains a gauge that must recharge before reuse. Each mecha carries up to five weapons or abilities, most of which require a recharge cycle after use, while others run on finite ammunition. A particularly satisfying element is the melee system: firing a weapon at close range triggers a melee strike that can chain into extended combos.
Narrative & World-Building
The story is set in a near-future where humanity has built orbital colonies around both Earth and Mars, but political and economic turmoil has triggered a recession that hits those colonies especially hard. In response, the various Earth governments consolidate under the United Community of Earth, a move that inadvertently spawns rebel factions like White Fang and the United Lunar Empire Gigano. The UCE forms a special task force called Londo Bell to combat these groups. Simultaneously, the UCE develops a volatile new energy source dubbed E2 to address a global energy crisis. Rebel forces seek to steal E2, igniting a worldwide conflict. The player serves as a Londo Bell squad member tasked with preventing these thefts. In a key mission, the team destroys a shuttle fleet commanded by Char Aznable carrying surplus E2. Aznable escapes toward the Mars colonies, leading to a climactic confrontation that destroys the E2 supply and defeats him. Yet the story ends on a darker note: hardliner Duke Dermail exploits a refugee ship incident to seize UCE power from pacifist Relena Peacecraft, hinting at an even larger war to come.
Commercial Success & Legacy
The game was a significant commercial triumph. In its debut week, it moved over 175,000 copies in Japan and claimed a best-seller position on the PlayStation 2. By the close of 2005, total sales surpassed 254,000 units, placing it among the year's top-selling titles in the country. This marked a dramatic turnaround for FromSoftware, whose prior licensed title, Spriggan: Lunar Verse, had been poorly received. Critics were largely positive; Famitsu's four reviewers praised the breadth of playable mechas, their powerful attacks, and the meticulous attention to detail, though they noted some awkwardness in controlling altitude and orientation. The game's success breathed new life into several represented series, with titles like Metal Armor Dragonar experiencing a resurgence in popularity. Its impact extended well beyond the console: it launched an ongoing franchise that has since produced four sequels, soundtrack albums, and a range of merchandise. A strategy guide was published by Enterbrain to mark the launch, and the title was later reissued under the PlayStation the Best budget label in November 2005.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Another Century's Episode 2?
A.C.E. 2 is a third-person mecha action game that pits characters from multiple anime and manga franchises against each other in a single shared conflict. It is the 2006 sequel to the original Another Century's Episode.
Who developed Another Century's Episode 2?
Banpresto produced the title while From Software handled the actual game development. It shipped exclusively on the PlayStation 2 on March 30, 2006.
How many playable mecha are in Another Century's Episode 2?
The game offers 105 distinct mecha drawn from a wide variety of robot anime and manga properties. This represents a substantial roster expansion compared to the first entry in the series.
How does Another Century's Episode 2's story relate to the first game?
A.C.E. 2 builds its own standalone campaign rather than simply picking up where the original left off. It also reinterprets certain events from the first game through a different narrative lens, a convention Banpresto frequently employs in its Super Robot Wars titles.
What sets Another Century's Episode 2 apart from its predecessor?
The sequel broadens both the combat systems and the overall series roster, giving players a noticeably larger pool of pilots and machines. Its original plotline also treats the crossover premise as a fresh scenario instead of a direct continuation.
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