After 7 long years of waiting, Ace Combat is back at it again! Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is the latest game in the franchise developed by Bandai Namco Aces for the PS5, PC, and XBox Series X/S. It’s arguably the most ambitious game to date in terms of its single-player campaign while also providing enough features in its multiplayer modes. And like its previous series entry, I’m excited to report that you are in for a wild ride!
It's Not the Plane. It's the Pilot.
If you’ve been playing Ace Combat for a long while, you will feel right at home with AC8’s controls. But for newcomers, fear not, as the game is surprisingly easy to get into, since Ace Combat is part flight sim, part arcade game by nature. AC8 brings back STANDARD and EXPERT controls. STANDARD controls make flying a piece of cake by making your plane properly turn left or right by simply pushing left or right on the left thumb stick as well as auto-correcting your aircraft back to eye level. This is more suitable for players who are starting to get into Ace Combat, or for people who prefer a casual game sesh. EXPERT controls are the game’s “manual mode” - it gives you full access to your plane’s roll, pitch, and yaw controls. This is my preferred and recommended control scheme in order to fully experience the game. Whichever control scheme you pick, both feel great and responsive using your standard controller.
The game teaches you the basics within the first few missions of the campaign mode, so new players will get a hang of flying and shooting fast. Aside from the usual flying and dogfighting actions, you’ll be able to also assign commands to your wingmen via the d-pad to further assist in your missions. The commands can be as simple as giving orders to focus fire on a single target, or requesting assistance to cover you from enemy fire. There’s also moments during missions in the campaign where you get to interact with your squadron or select a choice that will shape the outcome of the current mission. However, these rare interactions will mostly let you choose a measly YES or NO on the dpad. But given how frenetic some of the campaign missions can be, sometimes a simple yes or no is the way to go.
The Legend That is Wings of Theve
Like with most campaigns in the franchise, Ace Combat 8 brings us back to the beloved world of Strangereal, the fictional universe where Ace Combat takes place. Taking place during the Sotoa-Usea War, you play as “Rex”, a new addition to the FCU Navy’s Joker Squadron who inherited the title of the legendary ace pilot “Wings of Theve”. You command Joker Flight during the game’s campaign as you fight against the Sotoan Air Force and its notorious tactical squadron Lux Lunae, also known as Shadow Squadron. I must admit that I hadn’t set any expectations on the story, since I mostly appreciated Ace Combat 7’s campaign through its missions.
However, AC8’s campaign feels more involved. as it tells its story beats inside the aircraft carrier Endurance, your squadron’s mobile home and base of operations. In between missions, the campaign grants you time to get to know your wingmen and some of the people living in the Endurance. You’re introduced to characters such as Tasha (and her dad), a former stunt pilot who volunteered to become part of Joker Flight. There’s Baxter (callsign Professor) who is a former University lecturer and your number 2, and talented musician Coster (callsign Noise), who]s your squadron’s music player.
Other characters you get to know are the Endurance’s XO Pike who briefs you of your given mission, Kate Evans, squadron leader of the Endurance’ other air unit Queen Flight, aircraft mechanic Jenkins who you get to interact whenever you setup your aircraft in the hangar, D.D, the annoying social media manager of The Wings of Theve, and a slew of other pilots both working with or against Joker Flight during the game.
After being taken aboard the Endurance during the start of the campaign, you take on several missions for the FCU as your aircraft carrier sails through the campaign’s theatre of war. During the first few hours of the game, you’re given a few straightforward missions such as shooting down enemy surveillance drones, and some escort missions during a fleet resupply that help make sure The Endurance’ voyage is as smooth as a baby’s bottom. But most of the time during missions, the game jolts you with a twist and suddenly your mission objective has changed. I find myself always on my toes whenever I think I'm almost done with the mission, only to hear the haunting chant coming out of your comms’ open channel - Shadow Squadron is approaching you.
I Have Tone
If there is one thing that stands out the most during Ace Combat 8’s campaign, it’s the outstanding audio design and soundtrack that’s begging for a TGA or Golden Joystick nomination. I find myself immersed and lost (in a good way!) outmaneuvering bandits, trying to get out of a missile lock, and successfully playing chicken with an enemy aircraft, resulting in hearing its engines roaring at my sides. Each missile and weapon type sounds and feels different every time you launch one. Radio chatter is on a constant roll, as AWACS Dealer and XO Pike fill you in on what’s happening while your wingmen provide additional info, plus the flavorful banter that makes all the campaign missions anything but dull. One of the first characters introduced early on is a fighter pilot named Jan Cope who serves as both the narrator for the campaign as well as Rex’s internal voice, which is a nifty way of adding commentary on Rex’s actions and choices during missions. And then there’s the game’s soundtrack and its clever use of leitmotifs that brought a lot of character to the different squadrons you encounter during missions.
As ridiculous as it sounds, AC8 basically gave every squadron and the key characters you encounter their own theme music. Whenever Lux Lunae and its various numbered unit squadrons show up, you’ll always hear humming and chanting that is haunting the open radio. And the more you encounter the stronger numbered units of Shadow Squadron, the more intense and frantic their theme music becomes. Coster’s favorite fictional rock band Purple Magic, who also happen to be one of the ally squadrons you meet during missions, have their own theme music (of course played by them). And you know what, I kind of dig their jams. “Times Are Changing” and “Blue Sky Home” have the right amount of cheesy lyrics in them backed up by catchy guitar licks. The latter song even serves as a driving track during a very intense campaign mission. Finally, during the game’s final boss, you are introduced to the most powerful version of the Lux Lunae theme music that makes fighting the final boss intense and emotionally driven!
Overall, the campaign mode in Ace Combat 8 serves up a satisfying main course. It’ll take you a surprisingly amount of time to get through the 30 missions the campaign has to offer, but it’s such a satisfying package that you’ll find yourself replaying the campaign or taking on missions separately, but this time with the planes and upgrades you’ve unlocked during the campaign via the Aircraft Tree system.
That One Cake That’s Too Big, But Not as Tasty as The Main Course
The other mode you get to check out and probably the last thing you’d probably want to play is Ace Combat 8’s Online Mode. Aptly titled Ace Combat Online, this is probably the biggest multiplayer mode Bandai Namco Aces have ever included in an Ace Combat game, as the online mode has its own hub/lobby where you get to wander around via your pilot avatar which you can customize and dress up. Unfortunately, the avatars look and feel janky, and sections of the hub aren't as appealing to navigate, since it’s a really big airbase. However, the game made sure you can access all of Ace Combat Online’s various sections and settings via a normal menu.
Multiplayer Missions in Ace Combat Online have a bit more variety as compared to the previous title. There are the two core game modes, which are Co-Op Assault and Co-Op Warfare. Co-Op Assault is a PvE mission that pits 2 4-player teams against NPC combatants, with the winning team getting the highest score after the mission. Co-Op Warfare is the PvPvE mode where 2 teams will be battling it out while NPC units will actively join the fight. The other unique mode you can play is called Scramble, which is similar to Co-Op Assault, but you’ll be dealing against a very strong squadron instead. There’s also limited time PvP-focused events like 4v4 Team Deathmatch and 8-player Free for All Deathmatch that you can occasionally participate in. Finally you have Emergency Sortie mode, which is a special mission that unlocks after participating in a few multiplayer matches. In this mode, you and seven other pilots join forces and work towards bringing down a random “boss” superweapon that appears throughout Ace Combat’s campaign modes.
Aside from queuing up through missions, you can visit the hangar to set up your plane and loadout, visit an arcade full of Namco classic titles, and a shop to buy planes, upgrades and cosmetic items for both your plane and avatar. Then of course when there’s an online mode, there’s a battle pass. As it’s pretty much a standard for most multiplayer games these days, Ace Combat Online has its own battle pass with both free and premium paths to work on during a month or a season. Content you’ll get through the battle pass consists of mostly rare cosmetic items you won’t normally get in the shop. As for plane upgrades alone, you can obtain them either by leveling up your rank or through the shop.
While there is something fun to be had in Ace Combat Online’s multiplayer missions, I find the regular core multiplayer modes to be bland and uninspired. It pretty much feels like both Co-Op Assault and Warfare exist for the sake of grinding and farming exp to upgrade your planes alone. Emergency Sortie is probably the most fun out of all modes, since it does feel like doing a Raid or a Hunter Rank Monster (except all of you are in a plane). I admit I was expecting a bit more from Ace Combat 8’s multiplayer and was even hoping for a proper Co-Op experience in the form of proper missions or even a smaller campaign! But alas, this will do to keep your trigger finger sated after finishing the main campaign.
Another Happy Landing
While it’s only been a month after the game’s release, Ace Combat 8’s multiplayer is off to an okay start. If you manage to get friends into its multiplayer, then even better. But we’re never here for the multiplayer mode to begin with. Ace Combat 8’s campaign alone makes this a must-play.
Even for players new to the franchise, you’d be surprised how compelling it is to play Ace Combat. The story is decent. The game’s soundtrack is transcendent. Whereas other flight-sim games give you the proper experience of dogfighting, Ace Combat 8 wants you to experience the fantasy of being one of the greatest pilots known to man. And once you get to the credits, it’ll leave a smile on your face, leaving you wishing you could experience it for the first time all over again.
Verdict: 5 / 5 (Exceptional)
PROS
Generally a blast to play
Campaign Mission Variety is great.
Campaign story and characters are surprisingly well done
Phenomenal Soundtrack.
CONS
The multiplayer offering, while better than its previous predecessor, still feels lacking
What I’ve Played
Finished Campaign mode in 23 hours
Checked out most Multiplayer modes’ early offerings
Grinded a few hours to unlock and upgrade a few planes in Multiplayer Mode
*This review is based on a PC/Steam review copy provided to the reviewer.
About the Author - Miguel Samson
A graphic designer by trade and TMG's resident reviews contributor. When I'm not playing and writing about video games, I mostly spend my time playing Magic the Gathering with friends, work on my portfolio, and work on personal projects. Currently playing Final Fantasy XIV Online.
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve delivers an incredible single-player campaign, thrilling dogfights, and a phenomenal soundtrack, despite its underwhelming multiplayer.