A large-scale gameplay modification for Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown that provides a wealth of improvements & alterations to the game. Its end goal is creating a fresh, optimized, and overall richer, more enjoyable experience. Each part of the mod can be installed independently.
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Conversion permissionYou are not allowed to convert this file to work on other games under any circumstances
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Asset use permission in mods/files that are being soldYou are not allowed to use assets from this file in any mods/files that are being sold, for money, on Steam Workshop or other platforms
Asset use permission in mods/files that earn donation pointsYou are not allowed to earn Donation Points for your mods if they use my assets
Author notes
This author has not provided any additional notes regarding file permissions
File credits
KeystoneGray (@KeystoneWolf) - For giving me the idea and the motivation to bring this mod to life.
Megalith (@Agnus_Dei9) - For providing advanced modding support during the development process.
Cherry / CallsignYukiMizuki (@MommyOneeChan) - For providing advanced modding support during the development process.
SlyAceZeta (formerly SlyCooperFan1; @SlyAceZetaX) - For compiling textual errors for fixes to be made in the Improved Localization module, acting as an editor for this document, undertaking Quality Assurance testing, and providing assistance with FOMOD support for Vortex Mod Installer, along with promoting the mod on his Twitch channel.
Elchkatze - For assisting me with Quality Assurance testing.
Digolgrin - For brainstorming the mod’s name and assisting with Quality Assurance testing.
Achako04 / あちゃこ (@achako04) - For granting permission to use her incredibly high-quality vector emblems in the Better Emblems and Radio Portraits Remastered modules.
Qbicle - For assisting with a few Japanese descriptions for the Better Emblems module.
atenfyr - For developing the UAssetGUI program, without which this project would have been impossible.
GreenTrafficLight - For developing the DATLocalizationTool program, which allowed for dramatic strides forward in localization editing and ultimately led me to progress much faster in the project than I would have otherwise.
sincerity - For assisting me with a crippling error involving Avril and Long Caster’s emblems, and for providing significant assistance with custom aircraft localizations.
The ACE COMBAT Fanbase - For building a supportive community that carried me through the arduous development process.
Project ACES (@PROJECT_ACES) - For creating a wonderful game series that I have grown up loving.
Donation Points system
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Changelogs
Version 1.1.5
Added full support for Megalith's Skies of Deception pack (XFA-24A, YR-302, XR-302, XR-45, YR-99, YRB-89)
Changed the Phoenix (AC1), Phoenix (AC2) and Scrap Queen emblems so that they are able to flip
Fixed a typo in the English localization's IRCM description
Version 1.1.4.1
Fixed a typo in the F-52 extended description.
Fixed an error in the F-104 Avril Mod.B description where it clipped into the bottom margin of the text box.
Version 1.1.4
Added support for the F-52B.
Added support for the Tornado F3.
Added support for the Tornado GR.4.
Added support for the Playable F-104 Avril.
Added support for the EA-18G Version B.
Added limited support for the currently-unreleased XFA-24A, YR-302, XR-45, YR-99, XR-302, and YRB-89.
Fixed a subtitle error in Mission 9.
Version 1.1.3
Added support for the MiG-31M2 mod's new Cosm and Scarface skins.
Fixed an error in Improved Localization where the Aircraft_Skintype_Name_m31m_DLC1 string did not exist.
Version 1.1.2
Added Improved Localization support for Megalith's PW-Mk.I mod. (PW-Mk.I skin descriptions on v1.1.1.2 and lower were broken)
Fixed a minor error in the F-15N Sea Eagle's English description.
Version 1.1.1.2
Fixed an error with Vortex installation related to a reduction in RPR load priority.
Version 1.1.1.1
Fixed an error where the main menu still said "v1.1.0" instead of "v1.1.1".
Version 1.1.1
Greatly improved quality for Improved Localization's Japanese version with regards to add-on aircraft mods.
Fixed some typos in Improved Localization's English version.
Version 1.1.0.1
Fixed a minor issue with Vortex installation, otherwise identical to v1.1.0
Version 1.1.0
UIC Title Screen: A new UIC file with nine variants that replace the title screen background (which is now standalone from Screen Backgrounds) with various wallpapers.
Improved Localization (both languages): Added support for BelkanLoyalist's MiG-31M2 Foxhound-B and urvogel's F-15N Sea Eagle.
Improved Localization (JP): Updated some strings slightly.
CCR Mission 7: Moved a file used for marking the UAVs as TGTs into a separate KYE patch file. See bug fixes below.
CCR Mission 8: Made slight edits to the radio table. See bug fixes below.
CCR Mission 13: Removed a rare but mistranslated Erusean ground unit voice line. Re-added a Jaeger line that was mistakenly removed.
UIC Screen Backgrounds: No longer contains title screen changes, as this has been made into its own separate file with variants.
The mod's folder structure has been changed to smoothen the installation process for both Vortex users and non-Vortex users.
Added a KYE patch file to solve a serious issue where having CCR Mission 7 (which previously contained the contents of this patch file) and the primary KYE file installed in separate subfolders would cause the UAVs to not spawn in Phase 2 of the mission.
Fixed an issue where not using CCR would also cause the new radio portraits from RPR to not appear properly.
Fixed an issue in CCR Mission 8 where Count's "Nice sentiment, Bandog!" did not properly play after "The rising smoke marks their graves," due to being interrupted by other dialogue.
Fixed an issue with Vortex installation where you could only install Improved Localization if you had previously selected New Emblems.
Added native/simultaneous support for the F-15N Sea Eagle and MiG-31M2 addon mods to Improved Localization.
Version 1.0.1
Edited the readme to remove extraneous information and bring it in line with the mod's current version. There is no functional change to the contents.
Version 1.0
Initial release.
Donations
No donations accepted
“Release. Recover. Resolve. Rebirth.”
Skies Restored is a large-scale gameplay modification for Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown which provides a wealth of improvements & alterations to the game. It has the end goal of creating a fresh, optimized, and overall richer, more enjoyable experience.
This mod contains features like new dialogue, fixes for issues with the base game’s in-engine cutscenes, new HUD tags, and entirely new radio portraits for both the base game and DLC casts of characters. The goal is to provide a richer, improved experience for old and new players alike.
Each part of the mod (referred to henceforth as ‘modules’) can be installed independently of one another. Users are free to install what they want and skip what they don't want. Several modules have additional options as well.
Further information on which modules contain which changes can be found in the mod’s readme file after downloading.
THIS MOD IS CURRENTLY ONLY COMPATIBLE WITH THE ENGLISH AND JAPANESE LANGUAGES. If you would like to help out with localizing Restored into another language, please contact me on the r/AceCombat or Get Home, Be Home, Stay Home Discord servers!
REGARDLESS OF LANGUAGE CHOICE, YOU MUST CHANGE YOUR GAME'S LANGUAGE TO JAPANESE IF USING THE LOCALIZATION FIXES, OR ELSE THE MOD WILL NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY.
Features
Further information on each module and its contents can be found in the project's megadoc, which I highly recommend reading - or at the very least skimming - along with the included readme file, but here is a very basic feature list for the mod’s full package.
New dialogue scripting and voice lines in all 23 missions (20 base + 3 DLC)
Fixes for the English version’s typos and mistakes, along with other various changes to in-game text.
Fixes for various errors and oddities in the game’s real-time cutscenes.
New HUD labels, including named ships, enemy squadrons, and allied units.
Full HD remasters for all existing Ace Combat emblems, along with 41 brand new emblems.
Full HD remasters for all existing radio portraits, along with five brand new portraits, including AWACS ones.
Credits that credit the English voice actors, along with collaborators for the project.
Compatibility
Restored is compatible with: All skin mods All plane mods My Better Assault Records mod Sincerity's Additional Skin Slots mod Sincerity's Add-On Planes Compatibility Patch mod
Restored is NOT compatible with: xBlazedEdge's I Would Have Been Your Buddy (IWHBYB) mod pipibearFreddie's Ultimate AWACS Portraits mod Maria's Female Pronouns for Trigger mod A compatibility patch for this mod may be available in the future.
Restored is PARTIALLY compatible with: Sincerity's Additional Emblem Slots mod Restored's New Emblems module is not compatible with AES. However, all other modules are fully compatible. ElectronicOldMen's Enhanced Gunplay mod Restored is fully compatible with all changes except for the Gauntlet files, which are incompatible.
Installation
To install Restored, first locate your ~mods folder, which should be located at steamapps\common\ACE COMBAT 7\Game\Content\Paks\~mods.
If you installed both Steam and the game in the default location, it will be located at C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\ACE COMBAT 7\Game\Content\Paks\~mods.
If this is your first time modding Ace Combat 7, you will not have a ~mods folder. If this is the case, simply create one!
Note: If you are creating this folder, make sure to name it “~mods”. Do NOT name it “mods”, as this will make your mod files have a lower load priority than those of the base game, thereby causing your mods to not function.
Then, move the Skies Restored files that you wish to use into your ~mods folder. Be sure to read the readme file or Vortex instructions to make sure you understand which files you want to use!
Next, if using Improved Localization, change your game language to Japanese. This is done because certain aspects of the mod only apply to the Japanese language version, such as mission sub-headings. Don’t worry, the game will still be displayed in English.
To do this, first go to your Steam library. Right click on Ace Combat 7 on the left sidebar, then select “Properties.” From there, in General Properties, change the Language to Japanese.
Next, open up Ace Combat 7. You’ll know if you did the above step correctly if it says MAIN MENU (SKIES RESTORED vX.Y) at the top, as shown below in an example from using Version 1.0.
Then, go to Options, then Language, and finally change Subtitles to Japanese. I know this step seems counter-intuitive if you play in English, but trust me on this. Unless you play with Japanese voices, there is no need to change the voice-over option. Also, make sure you do not change the language to Chinese, but instead to Japanese. They're very easy to get confused.
After that, you're done! Enjoy playing with Skies Restored!