Davicin49 Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown Review

Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown manages to achieve something truly difficult: making you feel, mission after mission, like the best fighter pilot in the world. Its story, while somewhat convoluted at times, works remarkably well and fully embraces that distinctively Japanese narrative style—complex in structure, yet direct and emotionally impactful in its key moments. Without striving for strict realism, it succeeds in drawing the player in and giving every aerial encounter a strong sense of epic scale. Where the game truly shines is in its gameplay. The controls are clearly arcade-oriented, making it an absolute pleasure to play with a controller. Mission pacing is excellently balanced, preventing any sense of repetition throughout the roughly 10-hour campaign. New mechanics are gradually introduced as the story progresses—such as identifying enemies mid-combat—adding variety and keeping the experience engaging until the very end. Mission design complements this pacing perfectly, offering varied objectives and situations that constantly require the player to adapt. On a technical level, Ace Combat 7 has aged very well: visually it remains solid, but it’s the audio that truly stands out. The sound effects and, especially, the music are outstanding, creating an epic and emotionally charged atmosphere that elevates every mission. The game’s length feels just right—neither too short nor overly long. Replayability is another major strength: after completing the campaign, an entire branch of the upgrade tree is unlocked, and the game naturally encourages continued play, further progression, and the unlocking of new aircraft. The final impression is extremely positive. Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown is a superb aerial arcade experience, perfect for intense dogfights and pure enjoyment. A game that leaves a great aftertaste and builds genuine excitement for the recently announced Ace Combat 8.