In the Ace Combat series, the primary vantage point for experiencing war has usually been the fighter cockpit—hearing squadmates' voices over the radio, shooting down enemies in sight, and completing missions handed down in briefings. While those cockpits harbored plenty of thrilling narratives, there was a limit to how deeply players could get to know the people flying alongside them.
Returning seven years after its predecessor, Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve puts considerable effort into bringing players closer to those comrades. Through first-person cinematic presentation, players directly experience the moments before and after sorties, while the wingman command system introduced in Ace Combat 5 lets them synchronize with squadmates on the battlefield. Combined with Ace Combat Online, which features progression separate from the campaign, the game delivers both a rich solo narrative and an enduring flight experience with other players.
Playing through the campaign to its conclusion reveals a scale that matches that ambition. Excluding the prologue, the campaign packs 30 main missions loaded with dogfights, large-scale chaotic brawls, battles against superweapons, as well as the less welcomed ground-attack and stealth missions.
Though there were more than a few moments of sighing at ground targets along the way, before I knew it, I was preparing for the final sortie alongside my wingmen.
Cinematic Presentation Evolved Into a Movie-Like Experience First-person cutscenes from the protagonist's POV and improved character depth
The expanded emphasis on cinematic presentation in campaign mode was a widely known key feature ahead of Ace Combat 8's release. Squadron members previously encountered only through radio voices or portraits are now rendered as vivid 3D characters, while real-time cutscenes allow players to manually shift their gaze and immerse themselves in the story. Being able to observe the expressions and actions of fellow aviators up close represents a massive shift in how the Ace Combat series delivers its narrative.
Major cutscenes occur between missions—and even mid-mission—broadening the storytelling perspective significantly. While previous titles spent much of their time presenting events as they unfolded around the cockpit seat, story beats now take place on aircraft carriers before sorties and at ground bases. Players even find themselves deeply immersed in events following a crash-landing in enemy-controlled territory. War, once viewed exclusively from inside the cockpit, is now experienced outside it as well.
Vividly depicted wingmen also play a critical role in heightening immersion. Instead of remaining distant voices over a radio, cutscenes show them sharing meals, celebrating, and grieving together. Taking to the air after these cutscenes conveys a much stronger sensation of 'truly flying with my squadron.' Even though dialogue interactions are limited strictly to 'Yes/No' responses, squadmates demonstrate an endearing ability to perfectly grasp your intent no matter how poorly you reply.
30 Main Missions Delivering an 'All-Time Great' Scale Every classic Ace Combat mission type is present
In a pre-launch interview, Ace Combat Brand Director Kazutoki Kono stated, "We aimed to densely pack a linear campaign mode with a rich number of missions, massive presentation, and cinematic cutscenes. In that sense, the playtime from start to finish will be the largest in series history."
And it truly delivers on that promise. Excluding the prologue, Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve features exactly 30 main missions—10 more than Ace Combat 7's 20 main missions. Taking into account the detailed cutscenes and briefings between sorties, the playtime is thoroughly satisfying, reaching a point where players might think, 'Is it almost over now?'
It is not just mission count that creates an 'all-time great' scale; the mission content feels even more deserving of that title. Even when flying the same fighter, experiences vary dramatically based on target types and battle conditions. To avoid spoilers, mission descriptions focus primarily on the types of weaponry encountered.
Missions in the Ace Combat series tend to divide player opinions based on target types. Most players likely prefer blue-sky dogfights against enemy jets, followed by taking down giant superweapons, with ground fire-support missions ranking below those. Preferences vary, but surely only a tiny minority enjoys evading anti-air radar in stealth missions or flying through narrow tunnels (or so one would hope).
Ace Combat 8 incorporates every single one of these playstyles across its 30 missions. Given that Ace Combat 7 already felt heavily weighted toward ground targets, suspicion remained until midway through the game that this entry might follow suit. Fans of aerial dogfights will relate to the frustration of ground assault—watching the mission timer tick down while circling the sky endlessly to hit barely visible ground targets.
These ground-attack missions continue expanding in scale throughout the game, introducing variations like land battleships and megafloats. Narrative context makes this emphasis somewhat inevitable: the protagonist's faction, the Federation of Central Usea (FCU), starts having lost nearly all its territory to the Republic of Sotoa. Protecting ground forces reclaiming homeland territory falls squarely on the shoulders of a fighter pilot.
However, Wings of Theve balances massive ground engagements with a variety of missions designed to relieve that stress. Pacing feels almost mind-reader precise. At one point during review play, stress peaked from a back-to-back combination of ground assault and radar stealth missions, only for the very next mission to immediately pit the player against enemy aces in air combat. The mission structure anticipates player psychology so well that frustration melts away before complaints can even be voiced.
That is not to say complaints are entirely absent. In the Megafloat mission, where ground targets proliferate on an overwhelming scale, selecting a specific target becomes a chore. Cycling through targets with the Triangle button often meant pressing it repeatedly until the jet flew past the intended target. The sheer abundance of targets proved less satisfying than the inconvenience of selecting the desired one.
With ground combat so expansive and frequent, the impact of land battleships—heavily showcased prior to launch—feels diminished. As destroying giant airborne craft has become familiar across series entries, expectations favored a fresh experience from land battleships.
In practice, they feel little different from moving ground targets equipped with railguns. While their debut mission carried presence, that intimidation faded amidst clearing endless ground targets. Repeated appearances of land battleships in subsequent missions added more frustration than awe.
Nevertheless, the late-game finale contains moments where earlier ground-combat frustrations vanish completely. Combined with the theme track 'everflow,' the scene explodes with pure catharsis, making the journey to the end worthwhile even for weary players.
How 'Wings of Theve' Elevates Immersion in Squadron Combat How bonds forged in cutscenes impact gameplay
The squadron command system is another key highlight of Ace Combat 8. Bringing back mechanics from Ace Combat 5, the game combines them with cinematic cutscenes and detailed wingman character models to deliver a far more immersive squadron combat experience. Players issue direct orders on the battlefield to comrades they bonded with before sortieing.
Commanding wingmen uses the D-pad (on PS5 controllers). As flight lead, players can direct all squad power toward a specified target, order wingmen to engage nearby hostiles independently, or request cover in emergencies. Special weapon usage timing can also be commanded, prompting tactical decisions based on the situation. Character personalities add extra dynamic variables to how orders are issued and executed.
Assigned to play the role of a 'media-manufactured hero,' the player's Joker Squadron mirrors an FCU on the brink of collapse, consisting of a ragtag mix of backgrounds: a former schoolteacher, a rock music enthusiast, and a young civilian girl who stayed after an aerobatics exhibition. None seem suited to carry the weight of 'Wings of Theve'. Throughout missions, these characters exhibit spontaneous actions stemming from their distinct personalities.
Coster breaks off to assist an allied flight featuring a pilot from his favorite rock band, while Tasha, a civilian who had never fired a missile in midair, struggles to adapt to aerial combat well into the mid-game.
Maintaining composure amidst this falls onto the player as the steady flight lead. When wingmen abruptly break formation, holding ground and securing air superiority for allied forces remains the player's job. Holding out with faith that wingmen will return adds another layer to squadron combat immersion.
Missions themselves occasionally tug at emotional threads. An enemy ace flight might harass allied squadrons, but eliminating them is not mandatory—the assigned objective remains providing ground support. After building bonds through cutscenes and interactions, players face the dilemma of whether to focus strictly on objectives or assist struggling allies.
In chaotic battlefields, making cold, tactical choices proves difficult. Opting to prioritize helping allied jets and tearing through hostiles resulted in prompt mission failure due to ground forces getting wiped out.
The enemy Republic of Sotoa's elite pilot unit, Lux Lunae, represents the pinnacle of squadron combat in Ace Combat 8. While broadcasting their theme song over open radio channels early in the game comes across as somewhat tacky, the flight led by Shadow 22 presents formidable difficulty even on Normal. Merely getting behind a single enemy ace is tough, as they coordinate seamlessly to pressure the player.
Lux Lunae is not a simple four-ship element like the Joker Squadron. A vast pool of Sotoan pilots receive designated numbers based on skill and performance, with lower numbers indicating superior ability. Those assigned double digits like '22' or '33' represent the elite of the elite. Rival pilot Shadow 22 leads Shadow Flight with unbelievable maneuvers, tightening the vise on the player's squadron.
Flying advanced fighters like the Su-57 adds to the challenge, but engaging them reveals acrobatic formation strikes. Even when securing their six o'clock position, they execute Kulbit maneuvers (post-stall loops in place) while launching missiles, making them remarkably tough opponents.
Wingmen prove essential here. Coordinating with squadmates to isolate and eliminate Shadow Flight jets one by one ensures that core 'squadron combat' mechanics shine brightly even during ace encounters.
A Hands-On Preview of 'Ace Combat Online' An elaborate lobby setup setting the foundation for long-term service
During the review period, online content was available in a limited capacity. Featuring independent progression and continuous play, Ace Combat Online marks a long-awaited return for online-focused gameplay since Ace Combat Infinity.
Ace Combat 8's online mode shares a similar design ethos with GTA Online or Red Dead Online, allowing custom character creation and long-term play within a framework completely separated from the campaign.
Upon creating a character and connecting online, players step into an apron area styled like an airshow festival at Suwon's 10th Fighter Wing. Season Pass aircraft are displayed inside the hangar, while various NPCs await interactions nearby.
The shop sells Season Passes, aircraft, and emotes. Within the tested scope, items other than the Season Pass could be purchased with in-game currency. A system for drawing cosmetic items using earned tokens was also present.
The review demo featured two primary online modes: Co-op Assault and Co-op Warfare. Co-op Assault is a PvE mode where two teams simultaneously strike AI hostiles, with the higher-scoring team claiming victory. Lacking direct player-versus-player combat, it offers a low-pressure entry point ideal for newcomers.
Co-op Warfare features PvP engagements between two four-player teams. Victory is determined by total score from eliminating both enemy players and AI hostiles scattered across the map. While engaging AI targets offers an alternative for hesitant players, opponent pilots will inevitably track down your position.
Strong combat performance increases threat level, eventually promoting a player to team 'Ace Pilot' with a broadcast notification to all participants. Downed enemy aces yield higher score payouts, adding a tactical layer to matches.
Additionally, Ace Combat Online plans to support giant superweapon raid co-op missions and Deathmatch modes. Operating on a Season Pass model, post-launch content delivery cadence will prove key.
While judging long-term appeal from a brief demo is difficult, gamers seeking an enduring Ace Combat experience should find plenty to enjoy.
The Largest 'Ace Combat' Ever, Filled with Reasons to Fly Together
Ace Combat 8 justifies its massive scale through gameplay. Enhanced visuals, abundant cutscenes, and 30 main missions (excluding the prologue) await players. Sharing meals, learning personal backgrounds, and resolving unpredictable battlefield decisions over that long campaign give meaning to flying alongside wingmen by the finale. Rich cutscenes and revived squadron combat synergize effectively throughout.
Flight and combat feel refined. Integrating SP1/SP2 weapon systems into squad command expands tactical options, while adjusted damage formulas heighten realism. Rockets fired near enemy destroyers now detonate effectively, and the function of missile proximity fuzes becomes noticeably clearer.
Dogfights, chaotic brawls, and ground strikes each bring distinct enjoyment to the campaign. Classic tunnel flights and low-altitude radar evasion stealth missions return as well. While who actually enjoys radar-dodging or tight-space flying remains a mystery, they remain staples of series identity.
Of course, expanded scale does not always translate to pure fun. Certain missions overwhelm players with ground targets, diluting even land battleships into routine targets. Those seeking pure aerial dogfights will encounter moments of frustration. Yet aerial encounters arriving just as fatigue sets in—and late-game catharsis shared with wingmen—provide ample reason for the next sortie.
Does it earn Brand Director Kono's title of 'largest Ace Combat ever'? Firsthand experience confirms it. Virtually every mission type expected from the series is present, with significantly more time spent developing squadmate relationships.
While ground combat fatigue carried over from previous entries remains, reflecting on the long campaign leaves unforgettable memories of final sorties flown with squadmates. For a long-awaited sortie, it proves immensely satisfying.
- Cloud and lighting rendering improved over predecessor
- Impressive scale packing 30 missions and extensive cutscenes
- Late-game presentation and soundtrack that wipe away accumulated fatigue
- Rich cutscenes that build deep bonds with squadmates
- Ground-attack missions still take up a high proportion
- Clunky target switching in densely target-populated situations
- Certain missions that induce frustration
Review Platform: PS5 (Review Build)
