Ace Combat 8 Review: A Thrilling, Well-Designed Flight Action Experience

Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve delivers an exhilarating flight combat experience with near-flawless mission design and controls, according to the review. While the story presentation and pacing have some weaknesses, the game's core gameplay is exceptional and could attract new fans to the series. It features over two dozen story missions, each with unique maps or meaningful variations.

The reviewer admits to having long avoided the Ace Combat series, finding older entries too technical and impersonal, but describes Ace Combat 8 as a transformative experience that changed that perception. The game contains more than two dozen story missions, with the reviewer emphasizing that none feel like filler; reused maps always introduce gameplay-altering quirks, such as changing the time of day to shift engagement strategies.

The review highlights the distinct handling of different aircraft, noting that heavy bombers struggle with tight maneuvers while agile jets perform advanced aerial tricks. The author played on PlayStation 5 and reported zero crashes, glitches, or performance issues across dozens of hours. The game's weaknesses are confined to story presentation and pacing, while its core flight mechanics and encounter design are praised as near-flawless.