Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown | Xbox One Review

The Ace Combat series has been a personal favorite of mine since the original PlayStation. I’ve played every one of the numbered games since then. This is my Call of Duty, as I’ve always enjoyed the idea of fighting wars in the sky instead of on the ground. When Bandai Namco announced at E3 in 2017 that a seventh game was on its way, I was beyond excited. Now that Ace Combat 7 is finally here, I’m happy to report that it’s a return to true form. Although the game doesn’t look as crisp as I was hoping, the gameplay more than makes up for it.

Back To Its Roots

For those not familiar with the series, the Ace Combat games focus on aerial combat featuring recognizable aircrafts, with a dash of Japanese flair. They reside somewhere in the space between full-on flight simulation and arcade gameplay. I’ve referred to them as the Forza Horizon of flight games. They’re realistic enough to give you taste of what it’s like in the cockpit, but forgiving enough to not scare away those apprehensive about sims.

Ace Combat 7 is a breath of fresh air after the disappointing Ace Combat: Assault Horizon, a game that took a risk with the formula, but strayed too far. Picking up my controller felt like getting back on a bike for the first time after years without. Fans of the series will feel right at home, as every mechanic feels exactly the way it should (and did) while simultaneously offering a fresh experience for hardened fans.

All Its Missing Is Solid Snake

One aspect of Ace Combat that stands out from others in the genre is its nearly poetic stories. AC7 follows suit, with multiple characters from different perspectives, of the war between two fictional countries: Erusea and Osea. You play as a pilot with the callsign “Trigger”, a military pilot who is court-martialed and imprisoned pretty early on in the story. There’s also a side story revolving around a female mechanic named Avril who is sentenced to forced labor for flying illegally during Erusea’s surprise attack on Osea.

As expected, both of these characters wind up at the same military base and wind up doing their part in the war. The government commissions prisoners for a secret squadron of fighters to surprise the enemy. Trigger and his team become heroes through a series of ridiculous (in a good way) missions the defy the laws of realism.

If all of this sounds a bit crazy, you’re not wrong. There are aspects of the plot that are very reminiscent of the Metal Gear Solid series. Even the musical score is reminiscent of those titles and made me yearn for a future crossover. One particular side story that touches on a bizarre plan to reprogram unmanned drones requires a suspension of disbelief. The game doesn’t take itself too seriously in that respect, however, and provides just the right amount of business and pleasure.

Blurred Horizons

What I found most disappointing about Ace Combat 7 is its look. I was eagerly anticipating tearing through the skies in my F/A 18 in glorious 4K and high-dynamic range. Unfortunately, this is one of those examples where the trailer oversells the graphical fidelity.

The aircraft look much flatter than I expected and even have jagged lines on the edges of the wings. Furthermore, the ground looks very unrealistic and has that pop-in effect from previous generations. I feel confident this has to do with limitations due to the sheer size of the maps, but it makes me yearn for the next console offerings that can hopefully deliver the visual experience I was expecting.

With that said, this game has the best sound design in a flight combat game I’ve ever heard. Playing with a set of good headphones is a game-changer. It’s absolutely thrilling to hear enemy craft screaming around you in stereo.

Ace Combat 7 Final Verdict

Despite my issues with the graphics in Ace Combat 7, the gameplay more than makes up for any shortcomings. This is a true Ace Combat game, and I had an absolute blast playing through it’s 20 missions. Fans of the series will feel right at home, and even newcomers shouldn’t feel intimidated. If you’ve ever been interested in dipping your toes into the genre, this is a great starting point. I highly recommend giving this a shot, and I eagerly anticipate the next entry in the series.