A Review of Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown

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PC code provided by publisher.
In which I discuss the design of Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown, and the ways in which its utterly thrilling gameplay perhaps realises its thematic ambitions more effectively than its lengthy cutscenes.
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George's "Anti-War War Games" Video - • Anti-War War Games ---
Intro text animation by Draz: / drazgames
/ @drazgames
Production work by Nico Bleackley

[@WritingOnGames]

So yeah, while the story presented in cutscenes wasn't for me, it's been nice to start the year off with a game that feels like a very strong GotY contender already. If you enjoyed the story that's cool! I fully recognise I'm jumping in at 7 after only really playing a lot of the original Air Combat as a kid so I definitely don't have the attachment to the lore of a long-time series fan. Taken on its own, I just felt the missions did a far better job saying what the cutscenes were taking way longer to get across. My issues were less with the story itself and more with the way it was told. With all of that said, if you feel like supporting my work directly, you can head to patreon.com/writingongames or hit "Join" next to the subscribe button (although I know way less about how the latter works). Patreon gives you access to exclusive written pieces and the like. Your unbelievably generous support has been crucial in allowing me to keep doing the work I do, so thanks!

[@just_matt214]

I heavily suggest you pick up the Project Nemo translation of Ace Combat 3 if you didn't like how the story was presented in this one. It's less preachy and much more rewarding when you get to the end.

[@Netherfly]

Really hard for me to watch this video... it's very rare for me to love a game *this* much that *also* has such a bad, truly awful, narrative. For me, at least, it wasn't so bad until the last 3 or 4 missions, where it just kind of dissolved into a sea of incoherent nonsense. Such a shame. You'd think after all the delays it'd be better, yet oddly, it seems like the longer a game is delayed, the more problems it seems to have.

[@NotWindy017]

Play Ace Combat 5 at least.

[@deferencetodusk]

Tip for you: hold the target button (Y or Triangle) to focus the camera on it. That makes it a lot easier to maneuver

[@Globalnet626]

If you have to pick one of the PS2 games to play, I bet the best game for you to play would be Ace Combat Zero. That game probably has the best personal story out of the whole series.

[@spacenoidveterano8866]

War is bad but planes are rad.

[@dragzoonw.r.e6618]

Exactly

[@TheKid377400]

Did you find the secret design document for Ace Combat? lol

[@Chino56751]

Peace has death too. Conflict and peace are two sides of the same coin= Being human.

[@AugustGreen_]

-oboeshoes games, 2018

[@maximaldinotrap]

@@TheKid377400 Not a secret if every fan knows it. You nuggets just gotta learn it.

[@Chaos2Frozen]

Ace Combat's story is basically Gundam, but with modern jets.

[@ATG3192]

As a Gundam and Ace Combat fanboy, you are accurate af. Lol

[@champagnegascogne9755]

at least ace combat 3 went to space

[@Alte.Kameraden]

There is a reason Yellow 013 and Yellow 004 were basically Char Aznable and Lalah Sune. No literally, even the same ethnicity between the two as well as the same tragic outcome.

[@plague6566]

Ace combat 3 Electrosphere is the closest thing to a Gundam anime

[@DonVigaDeFierro]

@@plague6566 I feel that Ace Combat 3 is closer to Ghost in the Shell than Gundam.

[@RageJ]

Ace combat tends to love doing this thing where the story you get in cutscenes is always a different perspective from the story you get in mission briefings and in mission. It's actually kind of awesome if you ask me.

[@Rigel_6]

5 is the only one where it directly follows you in cutscenes. Zero's cutscenes literally take place 10 years after the actual war.

[@RageJ]

@@Rigel_6 Even then, in 5 you're getting the POV of Jeanette the reporter / writer so it's like a 3rd person perspective of everything you're seeing. It's cool.

[@fadhilnugraha195]

@@Rigel_6 IMO, Zero's story telling is the coolest since it is taken from a journalist ten years after the conflict. It feels like reading a history book or watching war documentaries, knowing how devastating the destruction a war can brought.

[@captainwedgie1783]

In AC6 i almost didnt watch any cutscene as only the first ones had sound for me

[@Rafifcahya]

@@RageJ indeed, but it is still telling you and your squad's story all the way. That is why ac 5 always my favourite. But ac 7 story is cool enough, the penal squad story to lrssg is very fresh and interesting enpuoh for me. But ac 5 is best imo.

[@sirilluminarthevaliant2895]

Ace combat 4s entire cutscene story is about an orphaned boy cared for by the enemy ace

[@Mobius__]

Let's not forgot that the storyteller boy witnessed the enemy ace indirectly kill his family.

[@fadhilnugraha195]

And *SPOILER* How *you*, the player character fought and killed that enemy Ace, taking the boy's most precious friend.

[@fritzVirginSteeler]

@@fadhilnugraha195 only after you killed said Ace's fiancee. I know, one year late, but still! AC4 story was great, much better executed than AC7's

[@maximaldinotrap]

@@fritzVirginSteeler Yellow 4 wasn't 13's fiancee.

[@Calvin_Coolage]

The only criticism I have of your criticisms is that the cutscenes really aren't strictly telling a war is bad story. They focus more on a story of drones becoming more advanced beyond human control, a one man's obsession with keeping his wings no matter the cost, a story of an amoral scientist who slowly understands the consequences of what he's done, a story of a delinquent who becomes a hero in her own right, and a story of a princess who realizes how she's been nothing but a pawn. All of these stories combine at the end for a war is bad message, but only at the end. At least that's my take on the story.

[@thyCarrot]

This comment

[@pumcia718]

As much as i agree with you, I felt that the cut scenes were lacking in there exposition.

[@hairohukosu433]

THIS

[@jettstorm2253]

Too me it wasn't a "War is bad", it was "Relying on technology is bad".

[@dewaeryadi7776]

War is bad story is already used in ace combat zero and to me ac7 is about the horor of the total communications blackout, no information, no chain of command, conflict everywhere, its terrifying

[@JikoKinsoku]

Part of your issue seems to stem from the way that War is treated both as something terrible, a stress on its people, countries performing war crimes just to win. Yet the gameplay treats it as a fun opportunity, eventually serenading the protagonist as a hero. What if I told you that these two opposing truths don't inherently conflict? I recommend Ace Combat 04.

[@darkspire91]

10:09 Heyheyheyhey! Don't think I didn't see that crash! You can't hide it with your editing! You ain't slick!

[@puupipo]

I remember playing one of the early installments in this series (after some googling I think it was Ace Combat 3) as a kid. I remember it well because I played with my dad who had always been fascinated by airplanes, especially the super fast ones. He had no interest in video games in general but in this case I was able to kind of lure him in through this other interest of his, and we shared many great moments playing the game. I just thought I'd share that.

[@Exel3nce]

@@just_matt214 not sure what gits and ig have to do with it ?

[@just_matt214]

@@Exel3nce Well i dunno, maybe it's the fact that AC3 *steals* concepts from GiTS and that all its animated cutscenes were made by Production IG? Just a guess tho lmao.

[@Exel3nce]

@@just_matt214 isnt that a bad thing, the Stealing i mean?

[@just_matt214]

@@Exel3nce I phrased it badly, sorry: what AC3 does is taking familiar post-cyberpunk concepts and applying them to the Strangereal context, which makes for a wholly more original story than "war bad belka bad" and comes up with super clever workarounds to the game's technical limitations. Saying what these concepts and workarounds are would completely ruin the experience, so i won't tell ya anything else. Download that japanese ISO + Project Nemo combo and start blastin' if ya wanna know more.

[@Exel3nce]

@@just_matt214 thought every ac game is just the same Setting (Reality kinda) like ac7

[@TheAlison1456]

That supersonic effect on the wings is pretty cool. I like how you described the experiences in the game instead of strictly describing the gameplay systems. It makes the review more palpable because it lacks the coldness of most.

[@echoecho3155]

My favorite mission in AC7 is Lost Kingdom. It just feels so desperate for both sides. You and your team are trying to survive and need supplies, so you go into the mission ready to kick out the hostiles and take what you need. But then you get there and the radio chatter is of a bunch of people trying to hold on to their homeland and reassert the national pride that was denied for so long. As you go about bombing their cities and cultural icons, it genuinely feels terrible, but you need to do it to survive. That mission really got to me. The last third of the game really shines because of moments like this.

[@Dacho_Shaki]

I honestly think that Ace Combat 4 has the strongest narrative throughout the whole series because it's not told from the perspective of the pilot you play as nor any fighter pilots you cooperate with. It's told from a perspective of a man narrating about his childhood past giving his thanks to a player (Mobius 1), and the villain isn't just a mustache twirling villain rather than just a fighter pilot fighting for the wrong side who's actually a fleshed out character. AC4 has more nuance and subtlety than any story in any Ace Combat game in my opinion. It feels more connected near the ending portion. That's one of the reasons why AC4 is my personal favorite. Ace Combat 7's narrative is one of the weakest in my opinion, jarring and disconnected delivery, but still it can be enjoyable to watch, but I'm grateful that AC7 is actually making the return to the Ace Combat formula unlike what that dogshit game Assault Horizon turned out as. AC7 isn't really the pinnacle of the series in my opinion, but it's a worthy entry of the mainline series and I hope they stick to that formula in later sequels from now on but with added gameplay tweaks and hopefully a co-op mode.

[@OmegaMetroid93]

This series is amazing. The last two missions of Ace Combat 5 is something that I will never, ever forget. If you haven't played it, you really should.

[@EfftupSmith]

Is that the one with the satellite, where you are heading towards it on full throttle about 10 miles ahead of your squadron who are all shouting through the radio about how we need to get there fast? mind you , there's quite a bit of wrongly placed radio chatter, it makes me laugh but it;s still a great game. If I'm not being asked a question by a dog who is sitting on a journalists lap in the back of a Hawk trainer, I don't want to be playing the game.

[@mimimimeow]

best thing about Ace Combat series is that even the planes and tech have lores and realistic concept behind it. Anyone with a deep knowledge about military planes and technology will appreciate the realistic design elements, its evolution across the series timeline and why did it evolved that way. For example how ADF(X)-01 series evolved from ACZ, AC2, AC5, AC7 and how its tech evolve all the way into the futuristic Ace Combat 3. no aeronautics class is complete without someone pulling an X-02 design from Ace Combat 04 lol.

[@GameBrainOfficial]

You aced it.

[@alanritchie7850]

You really can’t have true anti war media. It seems that there will always be something about war that we like, some deep dark thrill we cannot kick

[@sausage4049]

@vin 950 this war of mine is a great anti war story without being boring

[@DonVigaDeFierro]

Any work that depicts war in its most realistic form is an anti-war work, because war in real life is fucking horrible.

[@Argness1]

I love the way you write and talk. As a writer myself the words you use warms my heart.

[@ssifr3331]

IMO ac7 has the best canyon mission in ace combat game so far

[@furbyguy]

Personally, I absolutely agree. The layout of searchlights and tight narrow sections make it hell to get through, especially on a first playthrough, but man it's SO worth it once you finally get the rhythm down, and it all comes together to make a hell of a satisfying flight.

[@hairohukosu433]

In my first cockpit-view-forced playthrough, a cloud apeared in the end of the canyon and boi I almost spit my heart out

[@champagnegascogne9755]

still got the 747 canyon flying mission ptsd

[@ihzamahendra926]

and among the hardest without joystick xD

[@hentaioverwhelming]

There is also that one mission where their objective was completely questionable in that they had to raid/pillage Shilage castle and in doing so, the King's guards and even the King himself had to come out and confront you and your unit. There was a subtlety there that I thought was well done because Mihaly's "kingdom" wasn't the Shilage castle and region even though his bodyguards, Sol squadron, felt otherwise. In that mission, Trigger's invasion of Shilage was both literal and figurative.

[@lesslighter]

Considering the other option was basically raiding Megalith one more time that was bsically a funny background event what are they going to do with WMDs?

[@HurricaneMerc]

It seems the takeaway from this review is that the game really nails the concept of "Show, don't tell".

[@leekirtoninteractive1327]

I have to say, i'm very impressed by this video. A real detailed explanation of the gameplay, feeling, difficulty curve and actual challenge. It's nicely explained and pretty much spot on in terms of the design. A game designed to give you the thrill whilst putting you to the test. Well done, a brilliant video.

[@JustinY.]

This game really makes you feel like a pilot

[@0Acerlot0]

Heya Justin

[@johnanth]

Stop

[@pimpfurryslayer257]

Justin Y. Even in the smallest vids you’re still around

[@electricant55]

@@pimpfurryslayer257 You really think that's one person?

[@pimpfurryslayer257]

Rafał Sobczyk no

[@7ZekmrIcYS]

Please review Ace Combat 5. It has far better dialogue in cutscene, longer campaigns, and more variety of missions. AC5 story isn't anything ground breaking but at least it managed to remain focus.

[@fredd164]

I'm thinking of purchasing because i heard it was like 5. What should I expect?

[@atruemanofculture1521]

@@fredd164 I mean it was 2 years ago so assume you already got it ,but i played it recently before skys unknown and i had a blast

[@fredd164]

@@atruemanofculture1521 Still have my heart out for AC4, but AC5 was definitely a #2 or #3 pick in the series. Yes, i did buy and play it and had a blast too!

[@atruemanofculture1521]

@@fredd164 I’ve only played 5 and 7,I’ll have to see about getting 4

[@fredd164]

@@atruemanofculture1521 Hah. I'm dumb. I got 4 and 5 mixed up. 5 is my favorite. 4 is still good though! I've played the PSP ace combat, and AC0, aswell as 6,7. Games are pure hype (the good kind).

[@scrustle]

These topic about the conflict between being anti-war while also fawning over the tools of aerial warfare reminds me of The Wind Rises. It's a Ghilbli film that touches on some of the same topics. It's a fictionalised biography of a famous Japanese WWII fighter plane designer. Quite a few scenes are presented as these imagined conversations between the protagonist and his personal hero, another famous plane inventor from earlier in history. It may not be Ghibli's best work, but it's still very good and touches on these very interesting topics that you barely see covered anywhere else.

[@soloqueuepixy]

Perfect timing on that cut at 10:10

[@maizen1403]

It givee effect as same as falling dream

[@lelouche25]

Man, how different our experiences are. I felt like an ace, but I never felt more alive until I faced against Mihaly. The three encounters when him and his Sol Squadron showed up. I felt like a bloody ace! Going toe to toe with my one and only rival. The only other pilot to ever keep up with me in the skies. Mister X was everything to me! The war fades into the background all I wanted was to face him again and finally get our showdown! To finally see which one of us deserved to be the king of the skies! But he only showed up like.... 3 times..soooo. I got blue balled wanting Sol Squadron to be like the Yellow tail squadron from ace combat 4.

[@Resinless-ov3sr]

AC = MGS but Jets

[@ilikeclouds]

Really good review. Some of your insights made me appreciate parts of the gameplay even moreso.

[@joelmulder]

As someone who actually flies planes, i'm usually put off by these sorts'a of games because of their simplistic arcadey controls. Let go of the stick and the plane flies perfectly straight and level, roll with the rudder and you just yaw perfectly level. That stuff really irks me. So i wasn't gonna pick this up, but you've sold me on it! Thanks for making such a great video, and i'll go do some dog-fighting now!

[@Ikcatcher]

You said in one of your previous videos that you find yourself playing older games more often than you do recent titles, might I suggest adding a few Ace Combat games to that list? Specifically Ace Combat 5 (if you preordered 7 you get it on PS4), Ace Combat 4 and Ace Combat Zero

[@just_matt214]

And Ace Combat 3, because Hamish *needs* to experience Ghost In The Plane cyberspace memes.

[@WritingOnGames]

Definitely been thinking about that but was a little confused as to where to start. Thanks for the recommendations!

[@Alte.Kameraden]

I think the final mission set it for me. I died about a dozen times trying to fly the plane in a tight space. Finally finishing the mission. I've played that mission once on every difficulty thus far, and my now I don't die at all on that final mission despite playing on higher difficulties than I did when I would die on it.

[@ryanc00p3r3]

Me: War is bad bro. AWACS Bandog: You! *SOLITARY* Now.

[@zzz38666]

Hey! I kept seeing your comments on GB videos and finally went through and found out that it's a whole channel. Whether that was your intention or not, it worked and now I'm subscribed! :)

[@ramboedah6627]

SPOILER The best mission in my opinion is the one where you invade Shilage as it really makes you feel bad for your actions. The enemies are so easy in that mission, given it’s one of the last missions in the game, making you really feel like some oppressive force. The radio dialogue adds further to that feeling.

[@thyCarrot]

Brings a similar feeling to the Bombing of Hoffnung in AC0, although I've never played it. Personally, I love the type of dialogue that does that.

[@johndaltrocanto]

True

[@Cherb123456]

Very cool review! Loved the deep parts, felt the truth in them, thanks!

[@thenewlife7588]

I cannot wait to play this game. Excellent review! TY!

[@imperialtutor8687]

Ace combat story is always focused on the conflict between the Balkans, Eurasia and the Osean empire but the core is always about the ace pilots. I thought that triggers journey is amazing since you are basically the best pilot of its generation taking over since the drones are programmed to act like the last Ace of the previous generation. At least this game makes you feel like a badass.

[@MH-dy8it]

This review nails it on so many levels. The level design and gameplay in this title was a triumph for the series...

[@EAFSQ9]

5:16 - hooo boy... "frustrating" for that mission is an _understatement_

[@redacted9606]

Ace combat want's you to know that war is bad but fighter jets are fucking rad and that a blood sacrifice may be necessary in order to sate mans need for speed

[@DV-ou1yu]

Spoilers both visually and storywise!!! Warning for those who havent played or completed. Great game!!!

[@inframeout]

This game is so gorgeous I'm very tempted to marry an F-16 Fighter Jet and spend our honeymoon playing this glorious thing

[@dailyhooligan3975]

F-16 is my favorite plane.i did 8 reports on it back in high school

[@Rigel_6]

I mean, the cutscenes are alright with the story up to mission 10 (when you transfer to regular squadron) and then are good after m16 (when the comunnication is cut off an chaos ensures), more about showing first the bad side of Osea (Zero and 5 did the same with Oseans not caring about civilian casualties or simply being warmongers respectively) and later about how when everyone is free of their leash, they take the first chance to turn on one another. Finally, the whole "Pilots should fight, not machines" is not about war is bad, but more about how technology advancements, if unrestriced, could doom everyone - Munin and Hugin almost caused a Skynet scenario, simply because someone though that self-fighting weapon without supervision is completely fine. It's also an indirect tie in to AC3, why despite it being set it 2040s, every sigle war asset is manned.

[@marleyjr00]

As a long time fan of the series I loved it. Got the feels multiple times. Ill never not be amazed at an AC game for being able to give me a great story. and with all the references to other AC games it was even better. Also Nagase!!!

[@crozraven]

The Scrap Queen & The Researcher POVs give something of both outsider & participant of war, ones that pretty much forced to do it while the other for have a grandiose reasons. They didn't fight in wars like Trigger our character but this people are very damn well effects the course of wars. That's the point, no matter who you are, you will be effected by wars, one way or another. I think this other characters POV cut scenes are great because it doesn't takes away our perspectives as a players on the whole events. players role play as soldiers & just like IRL soldiers in the end are just another tool to finish the objectives. We do not get a choices that even the wingman characters like spare squadrons are slave labors that need to bow to high rank military organization or else SOLITARY. Thus being an anti war & plane lovers, that's why we play video games with over the top story, not waging wars in another country.

[@jayive34]

13:10 That was some fancy flying, not gonna lie.

[@blazekazama1793]

Probably the best review I've seen for this game. Subbed

[@jaska5403]

One that always gets me is the navy mission when you destroy the platform you have people try to surrender.

[@wozowski]

Great review. Subscribed!

[@MAandS]

Always wanted to get into this series. Bummer im gonna miss out on the lore but i have to get this one

[@snakevenom56]

The PS4 version comes with ace combat 5 at select retailers and on PSN until February 18th, which is the game that has the biggest direct link to AC7

[@MAandS]

@@snakevenom56 youre my hero. Buying it tonight

[@Calvin_Coolage]

You really aren't missing out on anything except references used as fanservice.

[@villenilsson7182]

tldr: war is bad but planes are rad

[@joachim160664]

the points you make about this games enjoyable parts, are surely something you'd find in the game Furi as well. You being a music guy, i'm sure you'd also have some appreciation for the soundtrack of that game

[@SuperCakeFTW]

You really summed up my exact thoughts on this game.

[@peraguy3863]

Amazing.. Absolutely Amazing

[@patfuryy]

No words on the majestic Soundtrack? SOLITARY NOW!

[@kvothe5824]

Never played one of these games but watching this made my heart race a bit

[@dowling1981]

You are a legend amongst kings, Hamish.

[@nikomas1]

If you for some reason still read comments here, I'd love to hear your take on the 3 DLC missions once the last one is out. Particularly their mid-mission storytelling. What they did with some of the enemy combat chatter and some other stuff like that shows what this could have been had the development not been such a mess. The fact that it is somewhat self contained and doesn't bother with the rather messy overall plot helps. More specifically, some of the enemy fodder planes have some of the most humanizing VO lines I've seen in a game like this. Kinda felt bad about glamrock squadron or the foxhounds that show up in mission 2.

[@Grinning.Lizard]

ACE COMBAT 04 and MGS2 were the pinnacle of video games.

[@joemehl1994]

Been looking into getting this game and this video is the only one I have found that really explained to me what makes the game (games?) so great and why I should get it. Thank you

[@bengrogan9710]

The game is fluid and smooth, which has pretty much always been a given in AC, The disconnected story only really makes sense with the previous games in mind hence why a port of one was the pre-order bonus: without that, and the nostalgia associated I can see how the game could fall flat. The Stonehenge 'Defensive' as a direct mirror to The Stonehenge offensive, The mission where you not the radio unit's death, that passed me by as I realized it is the Massdriver used to fire the Ark Bird's supply ships we're attacking - With the mirror of us now attacking the same ones we defended in the past. References to the Kestrel and the final missions of previous games The aesthetic choices of the Ark Bird and Aigion combining in the Arsenal Birds The Captain of the ship revealed at the end The only ways I feel they could have leaned into it harder is if they had the "Advanced Carrier Kestrel II" surface in a mission and launch allies to reveal it was infact a Scinfaxi Class and maybe reveal the twin drones of the end where based of Michai and the other was based off the lead plane of "The Demons of Razgriz" That being said this definitely felt weaker, The fact the Belkan antagonist wasn't the Ace we fight was a definite watering down

[@ty_teynium]

I followed this series since Ace combat 3 and the thing I liked about it was the airplane simulation elements of game play. However I found the experience to be a lot similar to a racing game. The story doesn't matter and the mechanics don't add or get involved in the narrative in any way. You play it just to see what the different models do and see how fast or powerful they are. It's basically a showcase on the many ways you can finish the missions with the many vehicles you unlock.

[@TheRibbonRed]

True. It's sad that they're spending a lot of effort on unfocused narrative though. Telling it honestly or just "go do this stuff" per mission basis like AC1~AC04 did were the best, since they focus a lot more resources on making each mission more impactful.

[@just_matt214]

Lad, you never played AC3: you've played AC3 [USA], which *didn't* have a story because they couldn't localize it - redubbing and subtitling all the Prodcution IG cutscenes and 5-branch campaign costed too much. I suggest you grab an ISO of the japanese version and patch it with the Project Nemo translation. PEAK CYBERPUNK MEMES await.

[@TheRibbonRed]

​@@just_matt214 funny thing about the cost, Project Nemo did it without much cost at all. Granted, they did not redub but they did subtitled the whole game. Rumor from the olden days were that Project ACES thought the foreign audience wouldn't like an anime-esque story, so they made it per mission basis and stripped the whole story out of it. Sadly they were wrong then, but that mindset is truly what we need today--as Writing on Games has shown that ACES do much better storytelling through the gameplay itself than trying to be a serious movie.

[@shinmalphur2734]

The only problem i had with the game was the long, monotonous cutscenes. Look! Give me plane, give me target, i give you boom boom! And it’s fun!

[@thomasdyck3517]

I don't know if it's just nostalgia, but I love every part of those jankey, out of place cut-scenes.

[@3d1e00]

I require an oath at the beginning of an ace combat review to never use anything but expert controls and cockpit view before I can agree to the opinion expressed. Also as a pilot you need a 10,000 yard stare to even be remotely elite.

[@user-sg9jk9dt2t]

I love how the title says"the thrill of ace combat 7" thats how i knew i would click on this review instead of ign or gamespot

[@Taylr4]

F35 is a sexy plane ain't it? The X-02 in HD was nutty too

[@talimityy]

I've never played this series, but you really did a phenomenal job of selling the gameplay to me so I think I'm going to give it a shot. The tense, thrilling, challenging combat you described sounds right up my alley, and I have a pretty high tolerance for melodramatic anime bullshit so I'll probably enjoy the cutscenes, too.

[@h1tsc4n40]

Yeah i get that, the story in Ace Combat very often is about the people around your character, your enemies, but never your character directly. Every ace combat game besides AC3 did this. Still, i don't think AC7 wanted to convey a "war is bad" message. Zero and AC5 did that already. AC7 was trying to show that a human should be the one pulling the trigger instead of a machine because of the inherent properties of said machines.

[@thegardenofesim1174]

All the strengths you stated are truly impressive indeed but you know what’s even more impressive is that almost all ace combat games have those same strengths if not more If you want more control to the fate of the plot or your character ace combat 0 comes to mind with its ace meter where it measures you if you’re a soldier, knight or mercenary or even ace combat x where your choice of missions will affect how other mission play out

[@thegardenofesim1174]

syaondri oh yeah it completely flew under the radar for me Time to install the emulator since I don’t have ps1 anymore Thanks for reminding me

[@AlessandroTheCynical]

honestly the game was awesome, and it has improved a lot over the last numbered series ive played, however it has never quite reach that dramatic peak in what regards to the story that it hit with Ace combat 5, freaking loved that game.

[@himehimine]

What control settings did you use (basic or expert) this video makes me interested in buying the game but I want to try to have the best experience possible

[@Calvin_Coolage]

Use Expert. It allows you to roll and yaw.

[@BlackXSunlight]

The story I'm not surprised about. Ace Combat 4 (my childhood favorite) told a similar story about boy who lives above a tavern frequented by fighter pilots, and who idealized and romanticized the stylish bravado and skills of the very fighter squadron responsible for his parents' death (their leader shot down a plane that then crashed into his house), and it's upon realizing that that the boy has to grow up even fast than he had before, becoming spy for the local resistance after the fighter squadron warms up to him and lets him hang around them. And it's more of a gray worldview, that you can get attached to someone, admire them, look up to them, despite the horrors they commit, and by taking action for justice or revenge, you're adding to the War Machine. But my biggest criticism is these graphics lmao! I was a wee lad flying over the seas on the PS2 16 years ago and this new game doesn't look very different graphically, what's going on at Bandai Namco?

[@MrNeverMercy]

0/10 this review is too professional : IGN

[@FraserSouris]

IGN's reviews are actually just as professional and more to the point

[@jayive34]

@@FraserSouris That's because IGN Reviewers are journalists, not gamers. When you watch their gameplay, it really, really shows.

[@FraserSouris]

@@jayive34 Um, IGN reviewers are gamers. Their gameplay is on par with how most people are expected to play. Also, if they weren't gamers, why would they choose a profession that's underpaid, has few benefits and the like if they weren't gamers?

[@brentmertens101]

Please keep making more amazing video's you glorious thumbleweed! You're amazing!!! And you made my day by uploading a video!

[@RamHoot]

yo Hambo, I feel you on that part about the game restricting you’re use of certain weapons and forcing you to use tactics you wouldn’t typically. That’s really in a fighter jet romp. If you like that sorta challenge design, you should def check out the Final Fantasy Tactics series. The gimmick of rules restricting your play style is basically that game’s point. Def pretty cool. Anyways, just got g memories of that game while you were describing the laser guided thing. Aight got to go, tata 4 now 💋

[@breadbox7278]

This is like ‘Heatseeker’ for the PS2, but upgraded

[@meranglemtur9578]

loved your review, I recommend you play ace combat 5 for a very compelling story .

[@TheSetiw]

I love the restrictions and challenges that the mission posed in the game but i hate with every fiber of my being the time limits making me rush.

[@Inhake]

I loved the gameplay in AC6 despite the gag-worthy story, writing and voice acting so I guess I should expect about as much from AC7. Hope I'll get to play it some time. Cheers for the review!

[@martincf9147]

Great video men I am a Big fan of Ace combat and I think that you should play Ace combat 5, in fact, if you have the launch edition or you preorder It you have Ace combat 5 for free Ace combat 5 was the really pacifist and story based Ace combat and for what you said in the video I think you will love It Just one little example from the start of the game In one mission enemy tanks are delivered airbone to your base and you can choose to kill them when they are in the ground, needing two missiles, or just shoot the once meanwhile they are in the parachute If you choose the second you can hear over the radio how they are afraid of being the next one to be smash to the ground It is incredible good desing

[@Netherfly]

AC5 has nothing to do with pacifism. Like, at all.

[@Exel3nce]

Ac5 for the ps4 or how exaclty was it free ?

[@martincf9147]

@@Exel3nce yes but only if you pre order it

[@Exel3nce]

Damnit

[@penzorphallos3199]

AC 7's narrative problem is that really it is a middle game: it has the task of lore-bridging the older original games (1 2 3), to those games which the majority of AC players know (4 5 0 6 n psp) while elaborating on said lore. In that regards it is successful and explains a bunch of stuff established as factual later in the timeline (drones, corporate powers, old nations dying to megacities, space war), but at the cost of its own story. Its kinda similar situation with AC6 where cutscenes showed a different pov from gameplay, dissociating the narrative to the player and didnt always affect in game dualogues at all.

[@zhnigo]

Seems to me the story flew right over your head, no pun intended. Did you play previous AC games?

[@fritzVirginSteeler]

So, it's not like I'm doing something wrong by skipping cutscenes. The game became suddenly addictive when I learned I shouldn't even try with them XD

[@ankngmg]

So, you didn't mention Post Stall Manoeuvre mechanic :(

[@StarwindAmada1]

That dog is either a very good boy or a very good gorl

[@MrTerrorFace]

Have you ever played Valkyria Chronicles 4? Because I have similar feelings with it. The story has a serious tone problem with being an anime high school sitcom one moment and serious war story the next while mastering neither. But I really enjoy its gameplay, for similar reasons you like Ace Combat.

[@James-rc8wr]

That's my major gripe with VC as well. I'm fine with the anime aesthetic but I wish it went for a much more realistic story. In both VC1 and VC4, it feels way too optimistic when it's dealing with young adults fighting on the front lines in a full scale war. I'm fine with moments of optimism and fun when fighting has concluded in between missions but done too much and working alongside annoying plot devices (pls follow orders like an actual soldier, Raz), it gets grating. The gameplay is great but I feel it isn't punishing enough for the story and themes it wants to convey. While there is permadeath, it's too easy to prevent, and the scoring system and level design treats the game more like a complex puzzle than a war game. Hopefully a potential VC5 revamps the gameplay, adding more systems and mechanics to interact with (because VC4 was really just VC1 with a fresh coat of paint) and story into something a bit darker and more grounded, although not dark enough to fall into the stupid over-the-top edgy anime hyperviolence stereotype.

[@basedSHARK]

Funny you should mention Valkyria Chronicles 4 because that was one of the games I was playing before Ace Combat 7 came out. I was genuinely enjoying it for the most part, until they reveal what the 'super weapons' were in those games and utterly killed my motivation to continue on because I was mostly in it for the tactical combat.

[@autozam60]

I highly suggest you check out Ace Combat Zero for the ps2 if you can. That game has a similar theme of the devastation of war on the people but you actually have a choice behind it. There are neutral targets such as disabled enemy planes or not mission critical military installations that you have the option of destroying for more points (and more currency) but it actually affects the dialogue and enemies you face along the way.

[@JC-zl7go]

i really wanna get this

[@OuterHeaven210]

Was it hard to play in 3rd person? I always thought that was tough vs 1st person. 1st person feels so real too

[@netflixmembresia445]

the quality from the doge NEXT GENERATION

[@victorgutemberg2786]

The best "war is bad" mensage ever writed in a game is from Ace Combat Zero. The atmosphere of that game its heavy and sad, just like a war history, i even don't laugh once playing that. For me, the most impactant moment is mission 11 and 12, that just make sad for a time after playing.

[@youtubedeletedmyrapmusicch2682]

Can any1 do a 11 question survey about 3rd Person Shooter games? Theses are the 11 questions: 1)--Do you play video games? 2)--What type of video games do you play?(shooters, role player games, adventure, etc) 3)--Have you played any 3rd person shooter games recently?, if so how long ago? 4)--What game modes would you like a 3rd person shooter game that you are considering buying to have? (Story mode, online multiplayer mode, survival mode, all of the above modes, a combination of the above mode, or other) 5)--Is there a 3rd person shooter games theme that you can see yourself playing a lot? (war, alien, wizards, animal, gangsters, other) 6)--What type of weapons do you envision yourself enjoying playing with in a shooting game? (alien type weapons, custom creative weapons, realistic weapons, magical weapons) 7)--If you paid money to customize an aspect of a game character what parts of that game character would it likely be for? (hair, shirt ware, pants, shoes, glasses, other) 8)--What are your thoughts on a 3rd person online multiplayer shooter where the characters have weapons and abilities that they use against other online opponents? 9)--What are your thoughts about an online 3rd person player game where when the matches are concluded, the winner gets their pre selected music played as a victory song? 10)--Would you like the option of changing the victory songs at the end of an online 3rd person player match? 11)--What types of maps would you like to play on? (Realistic maps, creative maps, desert, forest, alien worldly type of map, other)

[@Daskellhounds]

Try Ace Combat 4 Shattered skies. Minus the visuals, environmental effects, and bonkers weaponry available it was strictly better and the story while cheaply done was engaging. and had what my have been the best antagonist/boss ever put in a video game. AC7 looked back to AC4 for this excellent level design.

[@lullylew9083]

I might just have to give this a play. I've only played the first and fourth in the series. Loved them both. Ace Combat is just unique, love it. EDIT: After looking at the price, perhaps not quite yet. xD

[@lullylew9083]

@@syaondri I think I will do just that. thankyou. Got an itch to scratch :D

[@BigFreakingCacodemon]

10:10 I don't think you got out of that one unscathed, lol

[@t.b.5115]

It's a steep learning curve.

[@SoldierXXL]

Ace Combat's story has always been about much more than ''you'' as you are not really a hero in these games you are just an air force pilot and actually the radio chatter where you hear the consequences of your acts after firing a missile from thousands of feet away could not be closer to the reality of being a fighter pilot , that feeling of distance from the traditional ''horror of war'' but there are brief instants where it comes back and haunts you Ace Combat has always nailed this aspect despite not being a true simulation and all it's science fiction undertones !

[@thyCarrot]

In AC7 Count also makes a reference to this Something along the lines of "Thats why I keep myself to flying, to not have to see that side of war"

[@cameronhall6623]

bought the digital deluxe edition yesterday and still haven’t got my ace combat 6 please help

[@ADR69]

I'll buy it when they make a custom plane creation tool that would be epic

[@TheRibbonRed]

Gotta wait dozens of years for that. I mean, they just got around adding functional clouds. In the mean time, play SimplePlanes.

[@darkstar_sierra1588]

Never going to happen bro but i think they should allow us players to create our own liveries for the planes!.

[@TheRibbonRed]

@Justice Clark "hardware limitations" Armored Core games beg to differ. "kills the vibe" That's arguable, but then again Armored Core also has their own vibe. Funnily enough, they're also more honest about their worlds being war-torn and how everyone is a merc with their own custom war vehicles.

[@TheRibbonRed]

@Justice Clark excuse me? Have you forgotten that ACES is a AAA developer? Heck, your argument is better suited for From before the Dark Souls days, and yet they managed to make Armored Core games such as For Answer up to Verdict Day before being bought by Kadokawa and start milking Souls. It's not that they don't have the 'required technologies'--they already do when they can already make AC7. What they're missing is the know-how to design a balanced game off such variety. I mean, all the tune ups in AC7 only serves to ever increasingly make your plane OP, right? Meanwhile, Armored Core games have ups and downs for each part so that it makes the experience much more fair--especially in PvP. From Software has been doing that for decades.

[@TheRibbonRed]

@Justice Clark simply limiting the part selection isn't enough of a balance. I mean, get a solid late-game fighter with weapon mods and you're nigh unbeatable, no? Have you played any Armored Core games? If you do, then you should know how a 'plane-maker Ace Combat game' can work--where each part has plus and minuses; not only pluses that are restricted by how many you can carry.