Ace Combat 8 review: thrilling dogfights elevate its more compelling wartime story
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Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve improves its storytelling with fully animated first-person sequences, cinematic cut-scenes, motion capture and stronger character drama. The result is a surprisingly affecting wartime narrative alongside the series’ established, high-energy dogfighting, though gameplay changes are comparatively modest.
Set in the fictional world of Strangereal, the game follows a propaganda-created ace who becomes a genuine legend while fighting a besieged nation’s enemies. New features include destructible environments, limited damage from collisions and varied missions, while beginners get simpler controls and veterans can use advanced manoeuvres; visual clutter can still make objectives difficult to follow. The game launches on 2 October for PlayStation 5, Xbox and PC, but the reviewer could not properly test its online multiplayer.
- Stronger storytelling makes the latest instalment unexpectedly moving.
- Thrilling aerial combat remains the game’s main attraction.
- It launches on 2 October, with online multiplayer untested.
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Ace Combat is a long-running video game series centred on piloting military fighter jets in fictional conflicts. The games are known for their fast-paced dogfighting and arcade-style action, with players completing missions in an imaginary world called Strangereal rather than real-world scenarios. Previous entries in the series have prioritised this high-energy gameplay over narrative depth.
The new entry, Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve, represents a notable shift in approach. The game features significantly enhanced storytelling through animated sequences, cinematic scenes and motion-capture performances to develop its characters. This reflects a broader trend in gaming towards more narrative-driven experiences, even within action-focused franchises.
The story follows a pilot who becomes a celebrated war hero whilst fighting for a nation under siege. Reviewers have noted that this narrative focus does not undermine the series' established appeal, with the combat sequences remaining engaging. The game will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox and computers when it launches in early October.
More coverage
- GamesRadar+ — Ace Combat 8 Wings of Theve Review: "Soars thanks to thrilling dogfights and a genuinely gripping Metal Gear-like story"
- GameSpot — Ace Combat 8 Is Utterly Absurd–And Better Off For it | Review
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Originally published by The Guardian as “Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve review – brilliant aerial combat game fulfils the Top Gun fantasy”.