Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve - On A Wing And A Prayer

Summary

The video follows a new FCU pilot in a losing war who is tasked with posing as the legendary Wings of Theve to boost morale. The previous ace, “Coke,” is dead but seems to speak to the protagonist as a ghost.

After a long introduction, the pilot helps defend a carrier and a friendly base from enemy drones, fighters, and bombers, then joins a strike against ships in a port.

Gameplay Highlights and Tips

• Air-to-air combat: Accelerate to close the distance, lock on when in range, and fire missiles. Special missiles can hit multiple nearby targets.
• Choose targets carefully: Prioritize enemies threatening the carrier or base. Look for targets you can get behind rather than automatically chasing the nearest one.
• Use your squadmates: Issue attack or defensive commands to help manage enemies, especially when you’re being pursued.
• Dogfight with care: Evasive movement can help shake missile attacks, but repeatedly spinning in circles can leave you disoriented. Flying low while maneuvering also risks hitting terrain.
• Air-to-ground attacks: Unguided bombs can damage multiple ships but require closer, slower passes. Guided air-to-surface missiles offer a safer option from farther away. The video’s chosen strategy is to bomb the ships first, reducing their support for enemy aircraft.
• Overall impression: The creator finds bombing runs satisfying but struggles with air-to-air combat, suggesting the difficulty comes from his lack of experience rather than a clear problem with the game.

Featured People and Sources

• John, from Many A True Nerd
• Jebediah Kerman, in a brief closing gag