Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve Reviews
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is undoubtedly one of the most comprehensive and ambitious entries in the franchise's thirty-year history. Bandai Namco has successfully refined the flight mechanics to perfection, offering highly accessible gameplay backed by stunning visuals and audio, as well as a wide variety of missions. While it suffers from minor pacing issues in the campaign's narrative and occasional frustration regarding target locking, the game's strengths far outweigh its shortcomings. It is a solid experience that not only satisfies series veterans but also sets an incredibly high standard for the genre once again. Now, it remains to be seen how the multiplayer component evolves, but that is a story for another time.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve doesn't try to reinvent the franchise—and that was the right call. It understands what works. It expands the campaign, improves character interactions, and gives greater weight to your squadron. Missions feature far more variety, weather systems are used in more compelling ways, and the visual leap is massive. To top it off, it delivers a much more ambitious multiplayer mode than I expected.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Ace Combat 8 builds on the foundations laid by its predecessor, a game that modernised the franchise. With enhanced graphics, improved technology and a commitment to the essence of the series, these arcade-style flights offer a more immersive experience.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve made me feel like an idiot for the first few hours, and I’m grateful for it. Once I stopped expecting Top Gun and started flying the way the game wanted me to, it turned into one of the most immersive flying experiences I’ve ever had, backed by a grounded, surprisingly emotional story about a scared pilot wearing a dead man’s helmet and a presentation that comes very close to perfection.
Epic, deeply satisfying, and visually stunning, Ace Combat 8 is the true embodiment of the greatest aerial combat films brought to life in video game form!
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
One one hand wish for more bravery to try something really new with the series, on the other hand I enjoy that Ace Combat 8 delivers exactly what fans can expect, just prettier and a bit more dynamic.
Review in German | Read full review
For all of its quirks, Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve ultimately delivers exactly the sort of ridiculous aerial spectacle I was hoping for. There are a few rough edges here and the story borders on melodrama at times, but when everything comes together, there’s very little that compares to the feeling of pulling off some ridiculous high-G manoeuvre, watching your target explode, and immediately looking for the next enemy to shoot down.
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve gives you total freedom in how you fly and fight, with plenty of customisation options and visuals that'll blow you away.
Ace Combat 8 delivers the scale and spectacle befitting the culmination of the series' 30-year history. Detailed character portrayals deepen the immersion, while the missions expertly build tension before releasing it in bursts of catharsis. With its online modes rounding out the package, it's hard to imagine a better gift for longtime 'aces.'
Review in Korean | Read full review
Ace Combat 8 is a fun and exciting experience that will satisfy fans of the series and warplane games. While the story mode offers only a small improvement over the previous game, the online mode is a big step forward for the series thanks to its variety and content. This also makes it a promising entry point for newcomers to Ace Combat.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve exemplifies “High-Flying Action” and takes it to another level, while also giving new fans options to ease into it. Personally, I say dive into the deep end; flying directly into the ground a few times puts some hair on your chest. If you enjoy exploring an action game in a massive 3D space, love jets and airplanes, or are already a fan of the franchise, Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is a masterclass in its category.
ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE is an incredible experience, but I still find it difficult to recommend it without reservations to those who have never had contact with the franchise.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Ace Combat 8 surprised me in almost every possible way. Its arcade-focused flying remains incredibly easy to pick up while providing enough depth to make mastering its aircraft and dogfights immensely satisfying.
Ace Combat 8, as a whole, is a lot of “two steps forward, one step back.”
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is Ace Combat—and that says it all. There is a reason it remains the longest-running and most acclaimed series in the arcade aerial combat genre—a genre that has, unfortunately, been increasingly forgotten over the years. The world of Strangereal is in better shape than ever, offering a dynamic and immersive gameplay experience that appeals to both longtime fans and newcomers alike. In telling its story—a tale of geopolitical intrigue, super-weapons, and, above all, people and their personal struggles—it also reflects something of us and the world we live in today.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is a worthy heir to one of the longest-running sagas in video game history and fully embodies what Ace Combat has always been: its gameplay remains impeccable, fast-paced and visually rewarding. Some components, however, now need the courage to change their form without losing their substance. A must for fans and pleasantly vintage for veterans, it still shows its age to newer generations.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve still has some growing to do on the ground, with a story that never quite lands its biggest ideas and first-person scenes that keep you out of the cockpit longer than they should. Once you're in the air, though, it's the best Ace Combat has ever felt.
Ace Combat 8 delivers another excellent flight campaign by refining what already works, even if its ambitions rarely extend beyond the runway the series already knows.
"A Powerful Return for the Kings of the Sky" Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve offers a clear evolution of the series' formula rather than attempting to alter its identity. It blends accessible, enjoyable flight mechanics with greater depth in control and customization, alongside more varied missions and massive battles that leverage current-generation capabilities. Despite some technical issues and the limited impact of narrative choices, the strength of the aerial combat, visual variety, and sound design make for a comprehensive and ambitious arcade flight experience—one that preserves the spirit of Ace Combat while significantly expanding upon it.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is an experience that fans shouldn't miss. And although there's occasionally a lack of legroom and snacks and drinks on board, you'll still enjoy a largely turbulence-free flight to a beautiful destination filled with clear blue skies.
Review in Dutch | Read full review