Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve Reviews
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is, without a doubt, everything the fans were hoping for. The campaign delivers spectacular dogfights, an engaging story and some of the most stunning skies ever seen in a game. At the same time, the online mode ensures that dozens of hours of gaming fun await you even after you’ve completed the campaign. Are you interested in aeroplanes or have you always wanted to take part in dogfights? Then you simply must get your hands on Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve. Roger that?
Review in Dutch | Read full review
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is another brilliant release in the series that brings together pulse-pounding dogfighting with sublime mission design. I found myself hooked into the narrative from start to end (weird bits and all), whilst the satisfying sense of progress, varied gameplay, and rewarding mechanics ensures that there’s a high standard across every aspect of the game’s design. I simply cannot praise it enough, and whether you’re a long-time fan of the series or a newcomer that wants to scratch that dogfighting itch, you’re going to love Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve.
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve pushes the series’ arcade formula further with deep combat, dynamic weather and missions that demand careful management of speed, positioning and weapons. Its surprisingly human story also turns the squadron into far more than simple wingmen.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Wings of Theve is the best entry in the franchise and one of the most beautiful games released this year. It's accessible, tremendously exhilarating, and so much fun that any complaints feel minor compared to what you get.
After years away from Ace Combat, returning with Wings of Theve feels like rediscovering an old favorite in spectacular form. Its gorgeous skies, accessible arcade dogfighting, stirring soundtrack, and massive battles make the series’ familiar formula thrilling again. Yet uneven pacing, repetitive objectives, and story interruptions keep its new ideas from feeling revolutionary. Still, when the action clicks, Ace Combat 8 delivers an exhilarating comeback.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
The latest entry in the long-running series is another win for Bandai Namco. While it doesn’t bring anything particularly innovative to either the genre or the series itself, it ultimately succeeds thanks to its excellent blend of gameplay, presentation, and soundtrack.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Bandai Namco wants to introduce its airplane series to the whole world, and with each new installment, it continues to raise the bar to make that happen.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is a gem of an action flight sim worth every penny and time spent on it. A complete package, if you will. A new standard bearer not just for Ace Combat games, but those involving aerial combat in general. The genre is truly back and we can't wait to see more of you get your grubby hands on this.
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is one of those games that remind you why you love video games. It's not perfect, and its story is the weakest link, but the overall experience is excellent.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is everything I wanted from the next game in the series - a full-blown return to form.
While the Ace Combat series often flies under the radar, Wings of Theve is definitely the one you don’t want to miss. It outdoes its predecessor with a wider variety of missions, a more grounded narrative, great characters, and more satisfying gameplay. The presentation is also outstanding, with sound design and its musical score taking center stage, with the former a strong contender for this year’s best. There are problems with its multiplayer features— particularly its monetization and online servers—but thankfully they don’t affect the core single-player experience, which remains unmatched in the combat flight simulation genre.
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve delivers a strong arcade flight campaign, with missions that keep things fresh, an aircraft tree that's satisfying to climb, skies worth staring at, and a genuinely excellent soundtrack. The story has some great moments, and the flying is a blast from the first mission to the last.
Even if you’re not a fan of the franchise or simply haven’t jumped on board yet, Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve serves up some incredible gameplay, wedged in between stunning visuals and a memorable story.
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is a love letter to military aviation, with a massive variety of iconic aircraft, a corny yet action-packed campaign full of brilliant set pieces, and gorgeous backdrops throughout. Whether you’re a casual fan or an aviation geek, there’s plenty of fun for everyone.
One of the most breathtaking aerial warfare spectacles crafted for video games to date. An absolute must-play for any combat aviation enthusiast.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is, in many ways, the pinnacle of a series that is no stranger to excellence. Adrenaline-fueled, breathtaking, and incredibly fun, Bandai Namco Aces’ latest title doesn’t reinvent a formula that already worked perfectly well, but it takes it to its absolute peak thanks to controls that are more responsive than ever, top-notch cinematic direction, and a cast of characters capable of stirring emotions far beyond expectations. The soundtrack, once again, is spectacular. There are still some issues with PC optimization that need addressing, a few narrative elements that feel too superficial, overly verbose briefings, and a certain reluctance to innovate in the gameplay—but these are minor flaws that do little to detract from what, all things considered, is one of the most successful titles of the year.
Review in Italian | Read full review
It is difficult not to highlight how much the wingmen contribute to this experience. Their presence during operations, the commands we can give them, the ability to configure their aircraft and, most importantly, the personalities presented in the cinematics make them much more important than simply occupying space in the sky. Combined with the variety of the 30 missions, the preparation before each operation, the different aircraft classes, upgrades and battles against major targets, the campaign maintains a very high level of quality throughout almost its entire duration. My favorite mission was the first attack on the land battleship, precisely because it brings several of these elements together and requires a different approach compared to conventional combat. Ace Combat 8 gave me the most enjoyable aerial combat experience I have ever had. The night missions accompanied by a memorable soundtrack, the constant progression in difficulty, the large-scale battles, the presence of the wingmen and, above all, the ability to play with a flight stick made a huge difference to my experience. The game is accessible enough for someone who is not a simulator specialist to learn, while also offering enough depth for that same player to notice their own improvement as they progress. I started out needing to adapt to the controls and ended up much more comfortable with the flight stick, making decisions about aircraft, weapons, allies and positioning almost naturally. With an exceptional campaign and an impressive variety of possibilities in each operation, Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve establishes itself as a landmark for the franchise and as the most complete and enjoyable aerial combat experience I have ever had.
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve ultimately does exactly what a new installment in this series should do. The flying feels fantastic, the missions are spectacular, and unlocking increasingly better aircraft ensures you constantly want to play just one more mission. Graphically, it is also a significant step forward. The aircraft are highly detailed, the enormous cloud formations really add something to the gameplay, and small details like water droplets on the cockpit window do a lot for the feel.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
Bandai Namco, you beautiful, beautiful people, you did it. You nailed Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve, creating one of the most compelling war games that I have played through. This is coming from somebody who wasn’t a big fan of the last one either. The narrative is engaging and compelling, even when playing out with six different players in the middle of explosions and absolute chaos. And that gameplay? Engaging, whether you have been playing these games your entire life or are looking to try one for the first time. This is a big, bold Mission Accomplished.
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve makes the seven-year wait worthwhile with intense aerial combat, accessible controls, and a diverse range of missions. Piloting both fighter jets and support aircraft adds variety to the gameplay, while the sense of speed and thrilling aerial engagements create an immersive experience. With a cinematic campaign reminiscent of Top Gun, memorable characters, and well-crafted action sequences, the game offers a compelling and thoroughly enjoyable experience.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review