'Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve' is the latest installment in the 'Ace Combat' series currently in development by Project Aces. As a new mainline numbered entry in a franchise spanning over 30 years, it inherits the familiar feel of aerial combat that existing fans know while adding new elements across various areas, including combat, squadron systems, and online play.
In particular, this title aims to deliver the largest campaign in franchise history. The development team explained that even compared to 'ACE COMBAT 3 electrosphere,' which featured multiple routes and endings, this game packs even more content, boasting the series' largest scale from campaign missions to cutscenes and cinematics.
Online play also takes on a much larger role than before. The campaign and online modes are structured independently from one another, with cooperative PvE against AI alongside team-based PvP revealed so far. The developers plan to operate the online mode as a live service after launch, adding content based on player feedback.
Additionally, a new playable aircraft featured in the game, the 'FA-36 Game,' was revealed for the first time during the Bilibili First Look event held in Shanghai on September 3. It is a fictional stealth fighter jet that does not exist in reality, featuring a tailless design and 3D thrust vectoring nozzles. Fans have shown keen interest as they can see a much more detailed version of a similar aircraft that appeared in 'ACE COMBAT 3 electrosphere,' which was released in 1999.
Following a hands-on demo to test out the new systems in 'Ace Combat 8,' a group interview was held with Brand Director Kazutoki Kono. Visiting China for the first time to promote Ace Combat, Brand Director Kono answered a wide variety of questions covering everything from the campaign aimed at achieving the series' largest scale to new aircraft classifications, online content, and newly introduced combat systems.
You mentioned that 'Ace Combat 8' has the largest scale in the series. Is that still true even when compared to 'ACE COMBAT 3 electrosphere,' which featured multiple routes and endings?
" ACE COMBAT 3 featured a branching scenario, whereas this title follows a linear narrative. However, within this linear campaign mode, we aimed to densely pack a rich number of missions, vast presentation, and cinematic cutscenes. In that sense, the playtime from start to finish is set to be the largest in series history.
In this title, aircraft are divided into four roles. What are the differences between them?
" We enhanced the distinct characteristics of Electronic Warfare Aircraft alongside the existing Fighter, Attacker, and Multirole roles. Fighters are effective at dealing with airborne enemies, while Attackers have a wider variety of ground attack options. Multirole aircraft can be viewed as sitting right in the middle.
Electronic Warfare Aircraft have a slightly different mechanism. Using electronic warfare special weapons boosts the attack power of allied aircraft within a certain range. If you instruct a squadron member to pilot an Electronic Warfare Aircraft during the campaign, the player can also receive that support. Each aircraft has a different role, and its characteristics can be adjusted through the weapons equipped.
Is there a possibility that new types of missions or game modes will be added to ACE COMBAT ONLINE in the future?
" What we have revealed so far mainly consists of two things: co-op PvE, where you team up with other players to fight AI enemies, and team-based PvP, where two teams battle against each other.
We cannot reveal any modes beyond that right now. However, online mode will be operated as a live service. We plan to grow it while listening to player demands and feedback in the future. If many people enjoy online play and want new content, we will naturally consider creating additional content.
This title is also drawing interest from newcomers experiencing 'Ace Combat' for the first time through its characters and story. Is there anything prepared to lower the barrier to entry for beginners?
" Watching you all play today, I was initially worried because there wasn't much expression on your faces, but when I asked, you said you were so focused on the game that you didn't have room to react. (Laughs)
To answer your question, we prepared a comprehensive tutorial. The early part of the game—from the prologue to Mission 2—is designed so players can naturally absorb necessary information and learn the systems while enjoying character dialogue. Additionally, a separate training mode is available, so even people coming to the series for the first time will be able to get started easily.
Will 'ACE COMBAT ZERO,' which comes bundled with 'Ace Combat 8,' be available for separate purchase later?
" No, it won't. 'ACE COMBAT ZERO' is strictly prepared as a bonus provided with 'Ace Combat 8,' and we currently have no plans to sell it separately.
We consider 'Zero' a gift of sorts to players who purchase this title. We hope you enjoy not only 'Ace Combat 8' but also 'ACE COMBAT ZERO.'
In this demo, impressive superweapons such as large transport aircraft and land battleships appeared. Are more of these massive weapons scheduled to appear?
" The campaign mode is already complete. On the other hand, because online play will operate as a live service moving forward, there is a possibility that new elements will be added over the long course of service. Superweapons are also one of the key elements in online play.
Our design team tends to generate ideas very freely. The large transport aircraft was designed to effectively showcase this game's 'chain reaction.' Because it is a massive structure, it was well suited to demonstrating chain destruction.
When I first heard about the land battleship, even I thought, 'A battleship driving on land? What kind of ridiculous nonsense is that?' (Laughs) But in the end, we moved in the direction of giving it a shot, and before I knew it, it was driving along.
The new character Tasha has garnered a lot of attention since her reveal. Did the development team expect this kind of response?
" Personally, I'm on Team Kate Evans, so I didn't expect Tasha to become this popular worldwide.
Work on Tasha started relatively early, and she was originally designed by a different artist. She is also the character that took the longest to finalize. Her story and direction were already set, but we kept modifying various aspects afterward, making her the character we refined the longest during development. That's why inside the development team, we jokingly call her 'the most expensive character.' (Laughs)
I think elements like her personality, outfit, and especially her sense of fashion in wearing military attire so uniquely happened to fit current trends well, which contributed to all the attention she received.
With online mode added to this title, will it be possible to play the entire campaign cooperatively with other players?
" The campaign and ACE COMBAT ONLINE are completely separate modes. We currently have no plans to make the campaign playable in co-op.
Are there any changes to the combat system that even existing 'Ace Combat' fans will feel are new?
" A prime example is the 'chain explosion' we showed today. In this title, we completely revamped how damage is dealt to enemies and how background damage calculations are performed.
In previous titles, you could only damage an object by accurately hitting its designated hitbox. However, in 'Ace Combat 8,' explosions that occur slightly outside that area can also deal damage, and a single explosion can spread to its surroundings, triggering chain destruction. You will be able to enjoy much more dynamic destruction than before.
Will players need to actively utilize these new systems during actual missions?
" Yes. In addition to chain reaction, there are new elements such as the system for utilizing two types of special weapons and the squadron member system.
To share a personal experience, there was a mission I couldn't clear at all at first, but after properly combining special weapons and squadron commands, I was able to clear it much more easily. The higher the difficulty of a mission, the more important it will be to properly utilize these new systems.
Finally, do you have any words for 'Ace Combat' fans in Asia?
" Personally, I have been with this series for over 30 years. 'Ace Combat 8' packs various features and elements that will feel fresh even to longtime fans who have enjoyed the franchise for a long time, and I am glad to present them to you.
While we could only showcase the game for a limited time on this occasion, I hope 'Ace Combat 8' becomes known to and enjoyed by even more people going forward.
We corrected the answer regarding the campaign volume of 'Ace Combat 8' in the interview. During the on-site consecutive interpretation, it was conveyed as meaning 'it has more missions than Ace Combat 3.' However, after reconfirming Brand Director Kazutoki Kono's explanation, this was not a simple comparison of mission counts, but rather meant that by packing numerous missions, presentation, and cinematic cutscenes into a linear campaign, 'the playtime from start to finish will be the largest in series history.' We have corrected the relevant phrasing accordingly.
