Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve

Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is everything we could have hoped for. It features a much longer, compelling story, a ton of different fighter jets at your disposal and some of the best combat in any air combat game.

Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is a triumphant return for one of gaming’s most enduring aerial combat franchises, delivering an exceptional package that excels across nearly every category. Longtime fans will simply relish this moment, and newcomers stepping into the cockpit for the first time are in for a hell of a ride. Its heartfelt war story, memorable cast of characters, exhilarating arcade-style flight mechanics, deep aircraft customization, and varied mission design come together to create an experience that is both accessible and rewarding. More importantly, it never loses sight of what has made Ace Combat special for decades: the thrill of taking to the skies and emerging victorious against overwhelming odds.

Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is one of the biggest surprises of the year, delivering exhilarating aerial combat alongside an unexpectedly emotional story, memorable characters, varied missions, satisfying aircraft management, gorgeous visuals, and an outstanding soundtrack. A late tutorial, initially confusing Aircraft Tree, one overly drawn-out boss encounter, and occasional crashes hold it back slightly, but the sheer joy of flying and the strength of its campaign make this a fantastic return for the series.

Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is, in many respects, the most accomplished version of a series formula that has worked for decades.

Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve soars with thrilling dogfights, a grounded yet explosive story, standout cinematic moments, and online modes that keep players flying long after the credits.

Ace Combat 8 is the best the series has ever looked and felt, providing gamers with an opportunity to command your crew and flight at top speeds to down the enemy. The gunplay and flight takes a little time to acclimatise, though once in the groove you’ll be successfully navigating the danger zone. With plenty of missions, music tracks and skill tree options, the game houses enough meat to keep you flying for the FCU alongside Joker Flight for countless hours.

Overall, Ace Combat 8 is still the immaculately crafted flight combat game we have all come to enjoy, but there is a more visceral aspect to the game now. From how you feel massive explosions to repeatedly breaking, as well as surpassing, the sound barrier. So I raise a humble hand of hope that this game will find its audience and that they will have a modicum of sympathy for the nomadic Sotoans even after all the carnage they have caused.

Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve has a lot going for it. It's full to the brim with plane customization, a bucket load of missions, and a lengthy story. Despite some pacing and difficulty issues, it's a fine addition to the series.

Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is a great action game and one of the best entries in the franchise so far, with the only major caveat being the incoherent and impenetrable story told in the 30-hour-long campaign mode.

I waited years for Ace Combat to come back, and Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve reminded me exactly why I missed it. One minute I’m admiring my plane, and the next I’m dodging a damn railgun while my squad is yelling over the comms and the soundtrack has me ready to take on everything in the sky. The targeting did get on my nerves during a few crucial moments, and some aircraft take longer to unlock than I would have liked, but those complaints barely put a dent in the fun. Between the combat, story, soundtrack, and sheer spectacle of it all, Ace Combat 8 delivers exactly the kind of experience I had been waiting years for. It’s easily one of the best games in the series, and I loved damn near every moment of it.