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.