I highly recommend Ace Combat 8 (50 hour review)

Product reviewed

Ace Combat 8: Wings of Thief (Project Aces) — a roughly 50-hour review. No spoilers were promised in the discussion of story.

Key features mentioned

• Aircraft action gameplay

  • Maintains the series’ arcade-but-accessible feel.
  • “Realism” isn’t the goal; the design prioritizes fun and approachability without going fully arcade.

• Flight control feel (notable issue)

  • Controls/flight model feel slightly less sharp than expected.
  • There’s a noticeable input delay for aircraft movement (roll/pitch), which takes time to adapt to.

• Visuals and atmosphere (major strength)

  • Described as the best-looking Ace Combat to date, with clear improvement over Ace Combat 7.
  • Cloud technology:
    • Clouds behave like a permeable barrier that affects weapon guidance/target tracking.
    • A distinct “ground vs sky above the cloud layer” visual separation.
  • Raindrop effects, especially in cockpit mode.
  • Strong cockpit detail: dashboard/cockpit lighting and reflections.
  • Limited cockpit field of view (no customization option, at least according to the reviewer).

• Sound design (major strength)

  • Music is consistently excellent; the reviewer highlights rival squadron theme “Setoan Looks Lune.”
  • Reworked/improved sound effects including:
    • Engine acceleration
    • Sonic boom
    • Missile launches
    • Cannon shots
    • Bomb detonations
  • Headphones recommended for maximum impact.

• Combat & progression mechanics

  • Planes are unlocked via a technology tree.
  • Multiple special weapons equipped at once (new to the main Ace Combat series):
    • Choose a first special weapon, then a second before takeoff.
    • Selecting a second special weapon comes with an ammo penalty.
    • The penalty can be partially mitigated with items that increase special weapon ammo.

• Content volume & variety

  • ~30+ planes at launch (excluding pre-order bonus planes), in four categories:
    • Attack
    • Multi-role
    • Fighters
    • Electronic warfare
  • 30 missions in the campaign.
  • Carrier-based aviation:
    • A significant portion of the campaign takes place from the carrier “Endurance.”
    • Some missions restrict you to carrier-based aircraft, making tech-tree choices matter.

• Squadron/minion command (party-focused gameplay)

  • Returns an Ace Combat 5–style mechanic: allied wingmen can have customized equipment.
  • You can command up to three allies.
  • Orders include:
    • Focus fire
    • Spread out
    • Attack independently
    • Cover you
  • Allies’ special weapons can be enabled/disabled during those behaviors.
  • Reviewer claims allies are extremely effective and sometimes “steal” kills (for comedic effect).

• Mission design

  • Enemy counts and layouts are generally well designed.
  • Some missions feature insane enemy density, including (per the reviewer) the largest number of enemies simultaneously on screen in the series.
  • Extermination missions are highlighted as favorites:
    • Timed elimination of targets
    • The map doesn’t change after targets are eliminated
    • Enemies are arranged into clear zones, reminiscent of Ace Combat 6 operations
    • Chain reactions from destroying certain enemies/vehicles (e.g., fuel tanks/trucks and others)

• Multiplayer (“Ace Combat Online”)

  • Promised as the largest online mode in the series (reviewed through a limited ~3-hour hands-on session).
  • Modes tested:
    • Cooperative Assault (PvE): two teams of 4 compete for highest score by destroying targets.
    • Cooperative Battle (mixed PvEvP): similar scoring, but includes knocking down opponents; respawns affect scoring dynamics.
    • “Urgent Departures” (PvE, 8 players): fight superweapons from previous games.
      • Reviewer encountered superweapons including Arsenal Bird and Alicorn, and came close but failed versus “Ptah–Arsenal.”
      • Reviewer likes the challenge level, arguing it should encourage unlocking better planes/equipment online.

Pros (explicitly/implicitly stated)

• Excellent visuals and cloud effects; feels like an upgrade over Ace Combat 7.
• Great soundtrack and improved sound effects; rewarding with good headphones.
• More effective squad/wingman allies and strong mission variety.
• Extermination missions praised; mission flow described as “refreshing.”
• Chain-reaction enemy interactions add depth.
• Multiplayer offers an interesting PvE / PvPvE structure plus challenging superweapon content.

Cons / drawbacks mentioned

• Control feel delay
  • Tangible lag in roll/pitch inputs; requires adjustment.
  • Feels less responsive than prior entries (returning to part 7 is described as overly sensitive).
• Performance/PC requirements concern
  • The game is demanding; recommended-spec guidance includes Ryzen 5 5600X + RTX 3070 for 1080p medium at 60 FPS (with a frame-drop caveat).
  • On RTX 4080 Super + 5800X3D + 32GB RAM:
    • 4K at 60 FPS required DLSS Performance mode, with occasional dips during intense moments.
  • If PC specs don’t match, lower settings (and possibly console) are suggested.
• Limited cockpit field of view, with no customization option.
• Special weapon selection involves a tradeoff (ammo penalty), complicating loadout planning.

Comparisons made

• Ace Combat 8 vs Ace Combat 7

  • Ace Combat 8 is significantly better visually, even though Ace Combat 7 was already strong.
  • Handling/controls differ; Ace Combat 7 is noted as “strangely sensitive” when returning.

• Mission/structure references

  • Extermination missions compared to Ace Combat 6 operation-style zones.

• Technical comparison

  • PC performance compared against reviewer’s system and stated recommended targets.

Ratings / numbers mentioned

• Review length: ~50 hours
• Campaign: 30 missions
• Planes at launch: 30+
• Multiplayer hands-on: ~3-hour session
• Performance targets referenced:
  • PC example: 1080p medium ~60 FPS (with frame drops noted)
  • Console: Quality mode and Performance mode targeting 60 FPS
• Special weapons system:
  • Second special weapon triggers an ammo penalty (no numeric value given)

User experience / feel (overall)

• The reviewer describes the game as highly immersive, especially due to cockpit visuals, weather effects, and narrative first-person moments (mentioned later).
• The core gameplay loop is enjoyable once you adapt to the delayed flight control feel.
• Performance may require DLSS and/or reduced settings, depending on hardware.

Concise verdict / recommendation

Recommended — the reviewer’s conclusion is that “Ace Combat is back and better than ever.”

Main reasons: top-tier visuals/audio, strong mission design (especially extermination), and compelling squad + multiplayer features. Main cautions: control input delay, demanding PC performance, and limited cockpit FOV.

Speaker breakdown

• Single primary speaker/reviewer covering gameplay feel, graphics/performance, audio, mechanics, campaign/missions, and multiplayer hands-on.