Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown

- Reviewed on PS4 -

Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown released on January 18th, 2019. 

The Ace Combat series has been a very popular combat, flight simulator series for all ages. 

I grew up playing only one of these games on the PlayStation 2, and Ace Combat 7 is my first official experience in the series, that did not disappoint. 

This review WILL have Major Spoilers so keep that in mind before continuing...

Sure, Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown, might not be 100% realistic, but the atmosphere Bandai Namco developed, really emersed me during every single mission, in the 11-and-a-half-hour campaign (approximately). 

The main story surrounds the ongoing conflicts between Osea and Erusea. 

After (SPOILER) Erusea sends out a major threat, that being combat drones, the tensions start to rise and that's where you come in, as the main protagonist, to end the war. 

You play as a muted character (pilot) named Trigger. 

By muted I mean, your character does not speak, which honestly, I wish we could / did speak because that would've made for more interesting dialogue during the mission briefs and flights themselves. 

Some games can go without the protagonist speaking, but for the gameplay / genre of Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown, dialogue from the protagonist would've made more sense, especially with what happens during the key points of the campaign. 

You will gain currency based on mission performances, called MRP. 

This MRP can be used to buy, unlock, and upgrade aircraft and its abilities / parts. 

Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown has a whopping 24 different aircrafts for you to choose from (not including past, present, or future DLC).  


Not only this, but Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown has different plane categories that can help you determine which kind of combat (flying) is best for you. 

These categories are...

    - Fighter
    - Attacker
    - Multirole

I personally (as of writing this blog post) preferred the Multirole class, as it helped with all aspects of flying (and combat) for a new player like myself. 

Bandai Namco did a wonderful job with the aircraft details in Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown. 

Flying around in cockpit view is amazing and is the only view mode I truly used during all 20 missions. 

You can / could see all the little details, such as the radio, altitude, radars, and much more!

Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown also has VR missions! 

Although there are only three missions available (as of writing this blog post), the game still, will make you feel like a true pilot in this experience. 

The cutscenes in Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown are pretty good visually, and the dialogue was up to my base standards (for an arcade style game / story).

However, I did find myself losing interest in the cutscenes towards the end, as the sheer amount of questionable dialogue, made me zone out here and there. 

Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown encompass the photo realism graphics, which essentially takes real images and puts them into the game(s) for better visuals over time. 

The side characters in Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown are actually quite memorable. 

Not all of them, but a handful, including Avril Mead, Vincent Harling, Rosa Cossette D'Elise, Wiseman, Count, and more.

During gameplay, there is a lot to take into consideration when flying / fighting. 

Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown has you monitoring your altitude, the weather conditions, radar, and much more, and this results in the many different scenarios you find yourself in during the campaign and even multiplayer. 

Free Flight is a mode where you can fly your aircrafts without enemies and is actually a peaceful and educational mode for newcomers (before and after the campaign). 

Landing your aircraft and lifting off, is in this title, and serves as a side feature for you to get even more experience during the story. 

Pros: 

    - Photo Realistic Graphics (for the environments)
    - Variation in Scenarios / Missions
    - Interesting Story (at least in beginning)
    - Great Ending to Story
    - Memorable Side Characters (some)
    - Customization
    - Free Flight & VR Mode

Cons:

    - No Voice Acting for Protagonist (Should've)
    - Lackluster Cutscenes (Towards End)
    - Only Three VR Missions

My Rating for Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown (on PS4):

4 / 5


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Disclaimer

All Reviews, Ratings, Pros, Cons, and Opinions Shared on this Blog (Press A Reviews) are my (Connor Butler) own Thoughts and Feelings.



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