Discarded Combat 7 - [01] Mission 1 "Charge Assault"

If you have questions about the changes seen here, please read the description before commenting.
Credits:
Net-Zone: IUN Briefing Cover ( • Net-Zone| Ace Combat 7... )
Zaptroxix, because I can't be bothered to extend the OSTs myself.
@RythusOmega: Extraction assistance, No Portraits mod.
@Talesfan93: No Portraits mod.
This is not a mod, but rather an edit in post. Below is my creative process.
For Avril's cutscene, I used extracted alt-takes for all of her lines. Curiously, the audio container does not have the final takes used in the games cutscenes; those are baked into one contiguous audio file which contains all of the cutscene's SFX, meaning they are not recoverable in raw form. Because of this, I had to painstakingly reconstruct the foley manually using the extracted SFX library. This library does not contain the original SFX used in the cutscene foley, so there was some improvization. You may notice entirely different engine noises, for example.
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For the final game's briefing, there were a few things that bothered me (condescendingly saying "you have all been instrumental... until today"; the officer jumping back and forth between topics). So, while incorporating the cut lines from this character, I fixed up the flow, beginning his briefing with the broad strategic situation before drilling down to the tactical orders.
As before with Avril's scene, I had to completely rework the foley, particularly the briefing computer UI and the bomber attack. I had to create some UI SFX from scratch; for the briefing computer's boot screen, no one briefing had the entire bootup SFX without voices over it, so I clipped a few of them together to get the whole thing. For the bombing, I felt that single explosion in the final game didn't reflect how bombing runs work, so I took over a dozen different explosion SFX and sequenced them in two second drop intervals, scaling up and down volume to simulate strategic carpet bombing. I then applied impact SFX from shrapnel hitting the building where the briefing was taking place.
I added Brownie's voice in the background of the pre-briefing chatter, and Knocker's cocky "they're ours!" as he and the squadrons run to their planes. From his lines, I get the impression that he's the kind of leader to really push a go-getter attitude before a mission, and I wanted to show that a bit.
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I transcribed the main mission's voice lines from a pure runthrough, then created an alternate transcript using cut lines. I then choreographed a playthrough without voice or portraits, meeting certain time requirements (take off, flying in formation with Clown, taking out certain bombers) to give me time to fill in the lines I wanted to use.
After recording my run, I formatted the extracted voice lines with radio filters, applying relevant background audio (lock alarms/klaxons/engine noise) and mic clicks. I then applied these formatted lines to the video using VEGAS Movie Studio 16, and overlaid subtitles with the appropriate font.
Some other creative decisions on my part:
Pyro as Rigel Leader was my idea. I want to stress that PA had nothing to do with that.
A vengeful guy on the ground at the Fort Grays harbor saying "Good luck, I hope they stick it to them hard!" as Trigger's plane flies overhead.
After Pyro goes down, Rigel and the bombers become noticeably more panicked and their morale tanks down hard.
The Rosa lines I used are in the final game, but are heavily distorted, and some are read a little awkwardly. I used the better quality ones to combine them for a more natural sentence structure.
I did not include the debriefing because Mission 1 is one of the rare missions in the game where there are no alt-take lines from the briefing officer.
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Thank you for reading this far.
i originally intended for this to be a series covering most of the missions from the game, but that might not happen for a while if at all.
For those of you looking for more like this, I have to admit that this kind of content takes an IMMENSE amount of time to construct. I'll never say never, and I wish I had all the time in the world, but I cannot guarantee more Discarded Combat.

[@RogueRaichu]

That one line from Clown at 8:40 makes everything make sense.

[@frumpsterfire]

Y E S

[@josephhelgersonjoseph6115]

I like how the “MaNy InJuReD” line has been replaced with “Multiple wounded.”

[@TheDarkWarrior137]

In all honesty, the "many injured" line was kinda cringy, even the voice acting. the multiple wounded line fits way better

[@jayive34]

Not all changes are bad. I wish they'd kept the enemy squadrons' name, though.

[@0mikr0n]

@@jayive34 They're still Rigel Squadron in the final game, you can hear their callouts in the mission sometimes. However, I don't think PA wanted people to pay too much attention to the enemy squadrons, hence why they're all labeled "Erusean Fighter" in the game's subtitles. I decided on my own to include a voice line of the bomber crew calling out Rigel by name and number. I did this when I realized one of the bomber crew VAs also voiced a Rigel pilot.

[@MrMorganEnjoyer]

Multiple wounded THIS IS THE BETTER VIRSION

[@SpecterCat_]

The background voice like "Go! Go!" and "Let's move. They're ours." really helps increase the immersion a lot from the original one. Kudos, Keystone. You outdid yourself again.

[@aguynamedlynx6397]

The amount of chatter reminds me of Star Fox. It really gives the squadron tons more personality. Some may find the amount of chatter annoying/overwhelming though. I liked the chatter that played while the Mission was loading Calling the fighters/bombers by their name should had been for the entire game.

[@erickjoestar1561]

Damn even PYRO had a line, nice

[@Mobius118]

I like that this actually gives the characters depth. One of my biggest problems with AC7 is that nobody really connects with the chatacters because they’re empty... I enjoyed my short time with Mage squadron more than the rest of the Lighthouse Skirmish fighting with Count and Huxian

[@MrLemmy82]

This all feels so very familiar, and yet the subtle changes are amazing, the editing is very natural too, as I'd expect from you! I particularly loved the little frequency change from Clown, for that line where he "respects your independence", now that's my kind of flight lead!

[@0mikr0n]

We all could use a little Clowndependence.

[@jimmyseaver3647]

Holy cow, your level of dedication to this little thing is insane.

[@Silencer555]

The subtle differences and addition of Mage 1 changing his transmission were fantastic!

[@TalesFan93]

13:17 Looks like Joker joined up with Erusia. Fun fact: I remember both Erica Mendez(Brownie) and Brad Venable(Clown) both told me they recorded several more lines than what is heard in the final game when I was at Anime Impulse this year. I seem to recall one unused line with Brownie warning you that you flew too far from Clown and to return back.

[@IndividualFreeman5475]

Impressed with all of this?

[@Calvin_Coolage]

Now I'm wondering if Xander Mobus did any other voice work for 7.

[@Viper-ft3tk]

@@Calvin_Coolage he voices Trigger, obviously :^)

[@skeletonwguitar4383]

Having some more dialogues on the minor "unnamed" characters, Osean or Erusean makes me more kinda sympathetic to their difficulties and limitations in a sense, idk lol

[@addgreenonionsandmincedrad2612]

I know something like this takes a ton of time and work. But holy hell do I hope you do more of this. With all these cut voice lines due to the time crunch PA had and all the rush they had to get through, the game felt, well good, but somewhat incomplete. But something so subtle like this? It's created a ton of world building and personality fleshing, especially for characters that were basically never referred to like Golem 3 and 4. The immersion these voice lines give just by being there is astounding. You're doing great work Keystone.

[@roystercg]

I love some of Clown's lines. The one about independence and the Newman's Crater.

[@roguetulip]

Seeing this makes me wonder- what if PA remastered the campaign to include some of the stuff they cut out, and released it as a DLC? I'd love that, personally. With the cut content included, this mission seems like it flows much more smoothly, and the characters have more personality; some of the lines they say finally make some sense when you include the cut content. 8:40 for example. Just a thought.

[@AstralStar.]

The adjusted and additional lines really helped refresh this mission. Seemed like it was better paced than how it was originally.

[@StellarGryphon]

Damn, all these cut lines really do improve the mission!

[@meteorsr2339]

Really hope we'll get a mod for these someday... Also damn, great job with extracting these lines!

[@ArcturusOTE]

Iirc changing audio lines would require repackaging the file its kept in

[@AgungParamtapa123]

This kinda looks funny at first, but in the end, it looks like a solid hard work. Must be tough messing around with game files and having people to see and hear parts that didn't make it into release. Title reminds me of DC7, BTW. Maybe an aircraft model?

[@0mikr0n]

I'm flying a DC-7 load of cut content through the Alicorn's blowhole.

[@Knight6831]

that's a 1950s era medium to long range piston powered airliner

[@StrikeWyvern]

@@Knight6831 Mobius one could probably kill Torres with a DC7

[@CallsignYukiMizuki]

MANY INJURED

[@allieanarchy2833]

Wow. You've done an excellent bit of audio work here. This interpretation of the mission and introduction is really quite fresh to see, and I understand the huge amount of work you've had to put into this. As much of a monumental effort as it is, the comments so far should show that it's resulted in a high quality product. Thank you!

[@CaptainZlex]

I was just wondering about this but what if Avril's takeoff and first flight was playable? Like a tutorial section of sorts.

[@LevantineR1]

Even if another Discarded Combat never happens, this is a brilliant concept and I'm real happy to have experienced it.

[@Wilson2005WAW]

Love this video for my entertainment. Thank you.

[@ryanestes7331]

Damn this is some good work. I love the feel of this mission with all the banter

[@BlazededgeRZ]

Wasn’t expecting an upload like this, great work

[@hresvelgr7193]

really makes you wonder what AC7 could have been if it wasn't for the troubled development

[@oOKakarotOo]

wow this is really nice. i like the private moment with clown

[@moloti6254]

I like this. It just feels more natural to hear them call out each enemy aircraft type by name.

[@IndividualFreeman5475]

Feels like we’re having more quotes.

[@Mobius118]

Dang.... I actually enjoyed the game like this... I guess Project Aces had their reasons to change it but this is much better IM

[@NoelHuerta]

Agree 💯

[@maxy1172]

This was so cool seeing what could have been hope you do it to the other missions good job spare 6

[@rns_nickitoloko_psn5775]

Now the Rosa lines at the end of Mission 1 makes sense to me. I just hate how it got cut

[@TheDarkWarrior137]

Full band, you gonna make a sequel for the Voyage of Long caster?

[@0mikr0n]

If only I had infinite time.

[@TheDarkWarrior137]

@@0mikr0n ah i know that feeling. also, missed opportunity for "i dont just give intel away for free"

[@leschroder7773]

Glad to eat a wiseman sandwich

[@KKdessu]

@@TheDarkWarrior137 *insert Patreon plug*

[@Yellow13Firestorm]

ahhh i thought this would be like the voyage of captian count (still excited to see more of it :3) But this is very intersting too!

[@potatolord7774]

This is just amazing!

[@viper7502]

We all know that the F-104 turns like a brick...

[@enrique16ish]

Bandai Namco: DID SOMEONE MENTION 'S O L I T A R Y' (? Apart of this joke, nice video, and even with cut lines + some used lines btw

[@germanwarrabbit]

it's a shame they cut some of this stuff it makes everything feel more alive

[@dkilgu82]

This is spectacular. Great work.

[@NoelHuerta]

Damn it! these unused versions are better

[@bigroaststyrone8135]

This is all great, Mage and Golem have a lot more personality, so do the enemies, the radio sounds a lot better too, if this was the plan for Clown all along, the guy who’d break the rules for you, it would’ve been a great way to get the player invested into Mage and Golem only to rip it away, too bad this wasn’t the final game

[@LtViper]

Very interesting, I like it

[@hieuuc2539]

This is very weird I like it :3

[@CrispyGFX]

This is amazing

[@ThreeStrikes015WW]

looks better NGL

[@himerosen]

thank you

[@gabrielleite02]

Amazing

[@scuttlefish4667]

Pretty great

[@germanwarrabbit]

NOOOO THEY POLLUTED THE WATER

[@germanwarrabbit]

SHE SAID IT i was so confused when in the actual cutscene she said "still a girl" like bruh just walk up one step and say woman

[@NoelHuerta]

More content Please !!! :)

[@simplementepersona]

It is better than the one is used by the game...

[@germanwarrabbit]

WHERE IS THE ROSE EMBLEM ON THE DRONE

[@leschroder7773]

Hey who said my first sortie can get leaked

[@sirgooodness]

bruh you posted it on your grundergram

[@devgru5293]

Are there any other cut lines like these for the other missions?

[@0mikr0n]

Oh yeah. Tons. I'll post a full dump of lines soon. Watch the subreddit within the next week or two, I'll try to get a post stickied.

[@0mikr0n]

Check the RESOURCE tab on the subreddit wiki. The full archive of lines are now available for download.

[@killerofzombs115]

Interesting

[@Pattern_Recognitions]

Quick question, how are you able to have the cockpit camera far that far back?

[@0mikr0n]

I used a hex editor to hack my FOV manually.

[@ThatSlowTypingGuy]

@@0mikr0n I actually kinda like it. feels less claustrophobic than the default view.

[@ThatSlowTypingGuy]

@@0mikr0n I was going to link this video to someone then couldn't remember the name of it! All I could remember was the altered FOV so ended up trawling through VR videos for a few weeks.

[@rns_nickitoloko_psn5775]

Nah...i prefer the final version of the intro cutscene

[@kaz-abcd9067]

We want shitpost

[@0mikr0n]

Soon. Nothing crazy big, but soon.