Scarface 1
The mercenary ace who defined the skies.
Scarface 1 is the callsign of the player character in the first two entries of the Ace Combat series, *Air Combat* and *Ace Combat 2*. As an elite mercenary pilot working for the Scarface Squadron, this character represents the player's avatar in the early days of the Strangereal universe—flying for the highest bidder in a world where corporate contracts and regional skirmishes, not national borders, dictated the battle lines.
- Role
- Player character / Mercenary pilot
- Affiliation
- Scarface Squadron
- First appears
- Air Combat (1995)
- Status
- Active (as of Ace Combat 2)
Lore & Background
Scarface 1 emerged during a time when Strangereal was still a patchwork of nameless conflicts, before the superpowers of Osea and Yuktobania dominated headlines. In *Air Combat*, the pilot fought for the Scarface Squadron against the rogue nation of Skully Island—a conflict driven by corporate interests and a madman's ambition, not flags or anthems. The pilot's skills were so formidable that they became the squadron's undisputed leader, known for taking on impossible odds with a mix of raw talent and cold professionalism. Their reputation grew not from speeches or medals, but from the wreckage left behind.
In Their Own Story
The radio crackled as the first enemy fighters appeared on the horizon. Scarface 1's fingers tightened on the stick, the cockpit instruments glowing in the dim light of dawn. Below, the island of Skully burned—a smear of smoke and fire against the ocean. The mercenary's voice was flat, almost bored, as they acknowledged the target list. 'Scarface 1, engaging.' It wasn't about ideology or country—it was about the contract. And the contract said to clear the skies. Missiles away. The first kill was always the easiest: a flash of metal, a burst of flame, and another dot vanished from the radar.
Reader's Guide
Scarface 1 is the silent protagonist of the early *Ace Combat* games, a mercenary ace whose identity is never revealed. Their role is to serve as the player's avatar, flying for Scarface Squadron in *Air Combat* and *Ace Combat 2*. The character's arc is one of rising reputation—starting as a hired gun and becoming a legendary figure in the mercenary world. Skills include exceptional dogfighting ability, adaptability to various aircraft, and a ruthless efficiency in combat. Defining moments include the final battles against the Skully Island forces and the defeat of the rogue AI in *Ace Combat 2*. The character's legacy is as the first ace of the series, setting the template for future protagonists like Mobius 1 and Cipher.
Did You Know?
- Scarface 1 is the first playable character in the Ace Combat series, appearing in the 1995 original *Air Combat*.
- The Scarface Squadron emblem features a stylized skull with wings, reflecting the mercenary nature of the unit.
- In *Ace Combat 2*, Scarface 1's aircraft can be customized with different paint schemes, a series first.
More in Characters
Elsewhere in the Ace Combat universe
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