Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown Has Us Flying High – Review (PC)
It’s hard to believe that it has been nearly twelve years since we had a properly numbered entry in the Ace Combat series. With Ace Combat 6 releasing way back in 2007, closer to the beginning of the last console generation, that’s exactly where we are. Sure, there have been some spinoffs for the 3DS and one set in the real world as opposed to the fantastical locations that the series normally dwells, but we haven’t seen a game of this magnitude in the series in quite some time.
Campaign
Picking up as a direct sequel to the events in Ace Combat 4 and Ace Combat 5, Skies Unknown, this game starts as Erusea unleashes a surprise attack on the nation of Osea. During this attack an innocent civilian, Avril, is caught in the crosshairs of the battle as she is taking an aircraft she built up for its maiden voyage. The aircraft is very basic and lacks many of the essentials of a more modern craft and she is shot down and captured for being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
In another simultaneous storyline a rookie pilot called “Trigger” is arrested for a crime he may or may not have committed and is sentenced to the same labor prison that holds Avril. He had been fighting back the Erusean advances and, after a tragedy during a very important mission, he and Avril cross paths in the prison. Due to a lack of pilots in the Osean Air Force, they are sent to on some suicide missions along with other imprisoned pilots. Proving himself once again in battle, Trigger can rejoin the active military and help lead his country as they continue to fight the enemy that has invaded their land and broken the decade long peace treaty.
Set across 20 missions you’ll ward off oncoming aircraft, take out important targets on land and do various “babysitter” missions as you and your squad ensure the safety of whatever important person or object you are protecting. The locations and weather vary as much as the missions themselves. You’ll find yourself dog fighting against the back drop of blue skies, rainy nights, and even city skylines in your attempt to take down each and every pilot that invaded your homeland.
Multiplayer
Adding some longevity to Ace Combat 7 long after the campaign has ended is an addicting multiplayer mode broken down into two different types of gameplay. Though fairly simple – both the every man for themselves Battle Royal mode and team death match offer hours of fun as you take down enemy planes and level up your aircraft in the process.
You can play both 2V2 or 4V4 team death matches depending on how hectic you want the skies to be, earning points to level up your pilot in multiplayer by unlocking new call signs and symbols for you plane. You’ll also earn points you can combine with points earned through the campaign to buy new jets and parts to enhance your planes.
Gameplay
The controls are complicated and take a little bit to master, but the more time you put into the game the faster you’ll be flanking your enemies and shooting them right out of the sky.
Each jet is armed with their main weapon, a secondary, and a special weapon – all of which can be chosen before the mission begins. Locking onto enemies is the most satisfying way to take them down as your missile hits its mark and in a ball of fire your enemy falls to the earth below.
As stated earlier, there are all sorts of mission structures in the campaign that will lead you to try out different approaches when playing through each mission. While most of the time you’re flying around shooting down other aircraft, some missions require a bit more than that. You’ll be taking out various guns and buildings on the ground which require you to get close enough to shoot them without crashing into the earth below. Other missions have you solely relying on your radar for guidance. Think Mario Kart – you’ve just been sprayed with ink and must watch the track map to guide you on the straight and narrow until the ink wears off. Navigating through radar detecting air mines has that same feel to it which is briefly an interesting change of pace, but ultimately just keeps you from actually seeing what is going on in the game itself.
Graphics and Sound
With so much going on at most times during combat, the game can have a last generation feel to it. That’s not to say it looks bad, but in combat there aren’t a lot of details displayed and things tend to be off in the distance making only the sky or ground completely visible. The weather effects look great and the cutscenes really have a nice shine to them – making them feel current. It’s a shame that this doesn’t translate as well to the gameplay itself.
The soundtrack is phenomenal and one of the highlights of the game. Though the game looks realistic, the controls and setting feel a bit more arcady and even have an almost anime feel to them. The music fits right at home here and, even though the events on screen can be perilous or heart wrenching, the music keeps you going on even as your friends and comrades fall in battle.
Recommendation
Ace Combat 7 is a no brainer for fans of the series and flight simulators. Though not a realistic flight simulator the game play is fun and, let’s be honest, we just don’t get a ton of flight games anymore. There probably isn’t enough here to bring new fans over that haven’t played the series in the past due to outdated graphics and some features missing from prior releases. That really is a shame because if you’d take the time to sit down and play it there really is a plenty of fun to be had here. Hopefully the community can grow, and the multiplayer can flourish for the foreseeable future since it is a nice break from all the flossing and fort building that seems to be the standard in multiplayer experiences these days.
*Ace Combat 7: Skies Unkown was provided to the reviewer by the publishing company but this fact did not alter the reviewer’s opinion*
Check out our Review Guide to see what we criteria we use to score games.
