Update []:

The first episode of Hour Zero is available to watch now via IGN.

The five-minute video can be seen below:

Hour Zero is a prequel mini-series for Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve. The first episode focuses on a pilot (Josh Holloway) and his two wingmen as they navigate the initial attack from the Republic of Sotoa.

As a fan of the series, this is pretty cool — it nails the tone and style of the games, which is all you really need.

If you have a few minutes to spare, this is worth a quick watch. The second episode arrives later this week, per the details below.

Original Story: Bandai Namco really is going all-out for Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve.

Not only is the title itself stepping things up with big jumps in visuals and the largest multiplayer component the series has ever seen, but the publisher is splashing the cash on things like this: a live action mini-series that acts as a prequel to the upcoming game's story.

Streaming exclusively through IGN, here's a teaser trailer for the series, which is named Hour Zero:

"In the series, three strangers survive the opening days of the Republic of Sotoa's invasion of the Federation of Central Usea," reads the official description.

"Josh Holloway stars as a pilot with nowhere to land, Brandon Routh as a doctor who saved his enemy, and Tamlyn Tomita as a news anchor silenced for telling the truth."

The idea is that these episodes will introduce players to Ace Combat's setting — Strangereal — and the conflict that sets the stage for Ace Combat 8.

As mentioned, the mini-series features actors Josh Holloway (Lost, Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol, Colony), Brandon Routh (Superman Returns, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, Chuck), and Tamlyn Tomita (The Day After Tomorrow, The Karate Kid Part II, The Good Doctor).

The first episode makes its debut on 15th September. Here's the full release schedule:

  • Tuesday, September 15: Act 1
  • Thursday, September 17: Act 2
  • Wednesday, September 23: Act 3
  • Tuesday, September 29: Epilogue

Going by the teaser, it looks like this will retain the campy tone of the games, so I'm 100% in.

Will you be checking out Ace Combat 8's Hour Zero series? Tell us in the comments section below.

[source youtube.com, via ign.com]