If you have never played this game I really recommend it along with the other games in the series it has a really neat story line in which the country Belka is in a war with Yuktabania this war continues throughout the series with you as the head pilot of the squadron. In Ace Combat Five you have one co-pilot his plane will follow you and assist you throughout the game you can also give him commands such as cover, attack, disperse, and equip special weapons.
During the game there are different modes that change by what your attack strategies and what you might attack during the game. There are three different modes mercenary, soldier and knight. If you end up being a mercenary it is because you have attacked helpless targets and killed every thing in the level. If you end up being soldier it is because you have followed all the orders and killed a medium amount of enemies and followed the briefing. If you end up being a knight it means you have only destroyed required target's and followed briefing perfectly and you also finished in a very good time. Mode is better then any of the others.
I rate this game a 5 out of 5 because so far I think it is the best game ever.