“Zero” - Musical Analysis #1
Introduction
The piece I chose for this analysis is "Zero" from Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War. I first heard this piece play during the final mission of the game, and it stood out to me at the time because it felt more emotional that most video game soundtracks I had listened to. Instead of the music making the moment feel exciting and heroic, it gave the final mission, and as a result, the game, a bittersweet sense of tragedy and loss.
Background
"Zero" was composed by Keiki Kobayashi and features guitarist Takanori Goto playing along with an orchestra and vocal ensemble. The soundtrack was released in 2006, along with the release of Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War. It's country of origin is Japan.
Kobayashi joined Bandai Namco in 1999 and became known for creating music that helps players feel emotion, even when little story is shown on screen. The song was designed to reflect themes of conflict, nationalism, questioning of morality, and the value of nations as a human creation. For "Zero," Kobayashi combined orchestral music, flamenco guitar, and choir to match the final mission’s dramatic and bittersweet mood. The flamenco guitar and rhythms were a deliberate choice to make the music feel different from other game battle themes and to give it emotional depth. This combination helps the player feel the tension, victory, and loss at the same time.
According to the Ace Combat Wiki, the flamenco influence was intentionally used to give the final battle a unique emotional identity rather than a typical military sound. Flamenco music is traditionally connected to strong emotions like struggle, loss, anger, and pride, and those feelings line up closely with the story being told in Ace Combat Zero. The piece has been widely praised by fans for being one of the most memorable tracks in the Ace Combat series.
Musical Analysis
The rhythm of "Zero" is one of the first things people notice. The piece has a steady beat of around 123 BPM that drives it forwards, while the fast tempo matches the high-stakes feeling of what is currently happening. The meter is in simple time, which allows the listener to easily follow the rhythm although the music sounds complex. Rhythm is one of the most important music elements in the piece. The syncopated flamenco guitar and percussion patterns help add a sense of tension and urgency. It also helps make the music feel active and aggressive.
The pitch range is wide, ranging from low strings and percussion to high vocals and guitar lines. This wide range compliments the effect of the piece. The music is primarily written in A minor, which gives it a more serious and mournful sound. The intervals between the notes add to the tension, especially when the melody "jumps" instead of moving stepwise.
The melody or leitmotif is repeated throughout the piece, especially when sung by the lead singer and later on reinforced by the guitars, orchestra and the rest of the choir. The harmonic texture of the song changes throughout the piece. At times, it is thin, focusing on only the singer or the guitarist, while at other moments, it becomes very thick with a full orchestra and choir accompanying the singer and guitarist.
"Zero" uses dynamic contrast effectively. Softer sections build tension, while louder sections feel explosive. These changes make the piece feel like it's building towards something important, the climax. The timbre of the piece is a large part of why I enjoy listening to it. The flamenco-style guitar, orchestra, and choir all mix together to create a beautiful piece. The guitar sounds softer and sad in quiet sections, and more aggressive during louder sections. The choir helps add a dramatic human layer, and the percussion, especially the castanets, add depth and rhythm.
The climax is the part I enjoy most, when the full orchestra, guitar, and choir come together. The dynamics have reached their peak, along with the texture of the song being at its thickest with all the instruments and voices layered at the same time. The timbre changes too, with the guitar sounding sharper and the choir giving a cinematic feel in a way.
Personal Connection
I enjoy "Zero" because it plays during the final mission of Ace Combat Zero, which is the culmination of the story of the game. In the final mission, at first glance, it might seem like a standard scenario where the player’s best friend, who has been by your side throughout the game, betrays you and you are forced to face them in battle. However, once you understand the whole story and its events, it explores ideals of tragedy, conflict, morality, and the contradiction of fighting for peace. After having gone through the whole game, the music helps make the final mission more meaningful. The flamenco guitar, orchestra, and choir all work together to highlight the tension and stakes of the situation.
Conclusion
“Zero” is effective because its flamenco style reflects the nature of the final duel. In flamenco dancing, performers often face each other, exchanging sharp movements and controlled pauses as a form of challenge, showing both conflict and respect. This idea is mirrored in the game through the flamenco guitar, which uses quick, forceful rhythms followed by brief pauses that match the back-and-forth movements of the two pilots maneuvering against each other in aerial combat. As a result, the duel becomes more tragic than heroic, supporting the reflective tone of Ace Combat Zero’s ending.
Although the player succeeds in the final mission, Ace Combat Zero frames this outcome as a pyrrhic victory. The war is won, but at the cost of a former best friend, the countless loss of lives on both sides without any clear sense of triumph. Rather than celebrating success, with the help of "Zero," the game emphasizes the emotional and moral consequences of war, leaving the ending feeling bittersweet rather than heroic.
Live Performance
Sources
Jeriaska. “Interview: Keiki Kobayashi’s Orchestral Ace Combat Takes Flight,” Gamasutra (archived).
Ace Combat Wiki Contributors — “Zero (song).” Ace Combat Wiki. https://acecombat.wiki.gg/wiki/Zero_(song)
Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War — Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ace_Combat_Zero:_The_Belkan_War#Reception
Project Aces. “Zero from Ace Combat Zero.” SongBPM, https://songbpm.com/@project-aces/zero-from-ace-combat-zero-6Aqbln0S-6
I think you did a really solid job breaking down “Zero” from Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War. I agree with what you said about the flamenco guitar mixed with the orchestra; that combination gives the piece a powerful emotional pull and makes it feel different from typical battle music. It feels dramatic and kind of tragic at the same time. One thing that could make your analysis even stronger is going a little deeper into the harmony and key. Since the piece leans heavily into minor, it adds to that tense, unsettled feeling. The melody also features some larger leaps, making it feel intense rather than smooth or calm. Adding that layer could really strengthen your overall argument.
ReplyDeleteI think you did a great job analyzing “Zero”. When I played through “Ace Combat Zero” “Zero” was my favorite song from it, and I feel like everything you wrote echoes my feelings on it. I didn’t know about flamenco and how it involves two people dueling, so after reading through your analysis, I honestly think I enjoy the song more. The only thing I can think of that would improve your analysis is talking more about the Latin lyrics. Going over what they mean and their connection with the events could improve the analysis I think. Oh, and one final thing, “Yo Buddy, still alive?”.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you overall. I liked the same parts you did, especially the flamenco guitar mixed with the choir. It makes the track feel emotional and tense, rather than just “heroic battle music,” which fits the ending you described.
ReplyDeleteOne thing you could add is a quick note on what makes it feel like flamenco beyond the guitar sound, like the strong accents in the rhythm and the way the chords move. If you want to point people somewhere else, you could recommend listening to a real flamenco guitar piece and then coming back to “Zero” to hear what it borrowed.