Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown

🔥 What is Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown?

Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown is a high-octane aerial combat game that expertly blends fast-paced, arcade-style dogfighting with a touch of flight simulation realism. Developed by Bandai Namco, it marks a triumphant return to the beloved Ace Combat franchise, immersing players in the fictional world of Strangereal. You step into the role of “Trigger,” a rookie pilot swept into a dramatic war between the Osean Federation and the Kingdom of Erusea, with a story that’s as wild and unpredictable as the skies you’ll conquer.

👉 Features of Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown

Stunning Visuals and Realistic Weather

Powered by Unreal Engine 4, the game delivers breathtaking environments, from rolling mountains to stormy skies, with meticulously detailed fighter jets and explosive effects that make every mission visually spectacular.

The innovative cloud system isn’t just for show clouds affect visibility, missile tracking, and can even cause your jet to ice up, adding a strategic layer to dogfights.

Dynamic and Varied Missions

The campaign features 20 unique missions, ranging from classic dogfights and bombing runs to tense escort and stealth operations, keeping gameplay fresh and challenging.

Missions often require adapting to changing objectives mid-flight, ensuring no two sorties feel the same.

Intuitive Controls and Customization

Players can choose between novice (arcade) and expert (simulation) control schemes, catering to both newcomers and veteran pilots.

A robust Aircraft Tree allows you to unlock and upgrade a wide array of real and fictional jets, each with unique stats and weapon loadouts.

Immersive Soundtrack and Audio Design

The game features an epic soundtrack by Keiki Kobayashi, perfectly complementing the adrenaline-fueled action and emotional story beats.

Multiplayer and VR Modes

Engage in intense 8-player free-for-all or 4v4 team deathmatch multiplayer dogfights, testing your skills against real opponents.

PlayStation VR owners can experience a limited but thrilling VR mode, offering a unique perspective on aerial combat.

Gameplay

Ace Combat 7’s gameplay is all about fast, responsive aerial combat. Each mission drops you into a new scenario sometimes you’re eliminating enemy squadrons, other times defending allies or racing against the clock. The controls are easy to pick up but offer depth for those seeking mastery, especially with expert mode enabling advanced maneuvers like post-stall turns and G-drifts. Success depends on quick reflexes, smart use of your aircraft’s capabilities, and adapting to dynamic mission objectives. The game’s difficulty is fair but challenging, rewarding skillful flying and strategic thinking.

Pros and Cons

✔️ Pros

• Gorgeous graphics and realistic weather effects create an immersive experience.
• Exciting, fast-paced, and accessible dogfighting gameplay.
• Deep Aircraft Tree and customization options keep progression engaging.
• Varied and memorable mission design.
• Excellent soundtrack and audio immersion.
• Multiplayer modes add replay value and competitive challenge.
• VR mode offers a unique, exhilarating way to experience flight combat (PSVR only).

❌ Cons

• Story can be convoluted and sometimes detracts from the gameplay flow.
• Some missions rely on dated design choices, such as sparse checkpoints and arbitrary time limits.
• Limited number of playable aircraft and customization options compared to expectations.
• Multiplayer lacks co-op and can feel shallow long-term.
• VR mode is short and isolated from the main campaign.
• Occasional sound glitches and minor performance issues.

Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown stands out as a thrilling return to form for the series, offering spectacular visuals, satisfying aerial combat, and enough depth to keep both newcomers and veterans engaged. While it has a few rough edges, its exhilarating gameplay and immersive presentation make it a must-play for fans of the genre.