Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve Reviews
It’s very rare for me to have high expectations for a game and then have it exceed them, but Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve was one of those cases. An incredibly fun game that expands its universe in interesting ways and manages to tell a relevant and human story, but is imperfect due to an online mode that embodies the worst aspects of the medium. Still, it’s a title that will certainly vie for a spot among the series’ top favorites—a spot where competition is fierce. And, living up to its subtitle, this is a game that gives me great hope for the future of this series.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
The Wings of Theve campaign is definitely better than its predecessor. Also the online side has been taken to new heights. Combined with improved technical aspects, Namco takes this long running series to a new level.
Review in Finnish | Read full review
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is the installment the series deserved after years of silence: richer, more polished, and more refined than its predecessor—and perhaps the entire series—in every aspect.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve feels like a modern continuation of a formula that already knew what it wanted to be. It takes the fundamentals that have worked since the series' earlier days and surrounds them with a larger campaign and production values that let the concept breathe.
If I had to summarize Ace Combat 8 in a single word, I’d initially struggle to do so, as the game deserves pretty much every praiseworthy adjective I could throw at it. But if I had to pick just one, I’d go with “epic.” It completely immerses you in its world thanks to a thrilling story, great visuals, intuitive controls, lovable characters, and a series of missions that almost always manages to one up whatever came before.
While it has a few shortcomings, such as repetitive missions, audio mixing issues, and aggressive multiplayer microtransactions, Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve successfully recaptures the magic of aerial combat. With strong visuals, an innovative cloud system, and an ambitious story, it delivers the authentic Ace Combat experience that fans have been missing for so long.
Review in Unknown | Read full review
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve delivers thrilling aerial combat with responsive controls, cinematic battles, and engaging large-scale encounters, while its story explores heroism and identity amid a devastating war.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
While the story gets bogged down with prior knowledge of the world, it’s backed up by a fun cast of characters that makes it worth investing time into.
«Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve» offers little innovation, instead refining the proven formula with frantic jet action. Varied missions, adrenaline-fueled dogfights and an epic soundtrack create unique action moments, while the new online modes add some variety. Microtransactions are a bit annoying, and stutters in Fidelity mode hurt the presentation. Still, the single-player campaign delivers jet action in perfection.
Review in German | Read full review
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is not the niche hardcore game you think it is. It’s an impressive, accessible aerial combat fighter with visuals and sound design that really seal you into the cockpit. Accompanied by a story that, although it has a few missteps and a lot to take in at first, is a story full of passion that tackles a lot of great ideas and layers on anime-inspired moments. This entry is a great time to step into this respected franchise.
Although "Ace Combat 8" introduces a few new features and revives functions from previous installments that were absent in its predecessor, Bandai Namco delivers exactly what players would expect in the single-player campaign – without any major modernization experiments in terms of gameplay mechanics.
Review in German | Read full review
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve marks a spectacular return for the franchise, delivering intense aerial combat, a memorable campaign, deep tactical options and a stunning visual upgrade. Its mix of strategy, cinematic moments and explosive dogfights makes it an impressive evolution of the series.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
ACE COMBAT 8: Wings of Theve delivers some of the series' finest aerial combat, spectacular skies and wonderfully varied missions. Uneven pacing and underdeveloped themes hold it back slightly, but this is Ace Combat flying near its very best.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is a triumphant return for one of gaming’s most enduring aerial combat franchises, delivering an exceptional package that excels across nearly every category. Longtime fans will simply relish this moment, and newcomers stepping into the cockpit for the first time are in for a hell of a ride. Its heartfelt war story, memorable cast of characters, exhilarating arcade-style flight mechanics, deep aircraft customization, and varied mission design come together to create an experience that is both accessible and rewarding. More importantly, it never loses sight of what has made Ace Combat special for decades: the thrill of taking to the skies and emerging victorious against overwhelming odds.
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is one of the biggest surprises of the year, delivering exhilarating aerial combat alongside an unexpectedly emotional story, memorable characters, varied missions, satisfying aircraft management, gorgeous visuals, and an outstanding soundtrack. A late tutorial, initially confusing Aircraft Tree, one overly drawn-out boss encounter, and occasional crashes hold it back slightly, but the sheer joy of flying and the strength of its campaign make this a fantastic return for the series.
Review in Czech | Read full review
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is, in many respects, the most accomplished version of a series formula that has worked for decades.
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve soars with thrilling dogfights, a grounded yet explosive story, standout cinematic moments, and online modes that keep players flying long after the credits.
Ace Combat 8 is the best the series has ever looked and felt, providing gamers with an opportunity to command your crew and flight at top speeds to down the enemy. The gunplay and flight takes a little time to acclimatise, though once in the groove you’ll be successfully navigating the danger zone. With plenty of missions, music tracks and skill tree options, the game houses enough meat to keep you flying for the FCU alongside Joker Flight for countless hours.
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve iis the newest iteration of the famous flight simulator franchise, and it arrived with a bang. With incredible visuals and a campaign featuring several interesting missions, players will find an adventure in the skies full of excitement. The online multiplayer mode is fun and promises a lot, although we need more time to observe its execution. Whether you're a die-hard fan of the series or a newcomer who enjoys jet planes, this is a great addition to your library.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
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