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While it’s been a few years since Bandai Namco released _Ace Combat 7_ , the release of _Wings of Theve_ represents over three decades of arcade air superiority. With the first release on modern consoles, you have to wonder if the newest title is worth introducing a new generation of pilots to, or if it should’ve been scrapped on the runway. Thankfully, _Wings of Theve_ earns its title as this generation’s ace. Your missions can cover vast swaths of land The game opens with our hero being pulled out of the ocean with a flight engineer. Something had clearly just gone awry. After being brought back to the _Endurance_ , an on-the-run aircraft carrier for the FCU (Federation of Central Usea, who are under occupation), you’re immediately plopped into the assistant’s seat for Cope, the lead pilot of the Joker Flight team and the “Wings of Theve,” a symbol of hope in a losing war. When Cope has a run-in with the an ace pilot from the invading forces of Sotoa, and gets shot down, you take the lead as the “Wings of Theve” in an effort to maintain the illusion that the FCU’s legendary pilot can’t be stopped. As Joker Flight’s lead pilot, you’ll have to earn the trust of your squadron and soar to new heights to save your people from the technologically advanced Sotoan forces. As someone who has had relatively little exposure to the _Ace Combat_ franchise before, save for a couple of missions over the past twenty years, the story feels relatively dense and difficult to digest. It’s set up using a host of unfamiliar nations and terms. Thankfully, once you get the basic gist of who they’re talking about, the story starts to make sense. Mix that with the various personalities of your flight crew and the other folks on board the _Endurance_ , and you’ll find yourself caught up in the fight to quell the nearly invincible Sotoan forces and their bid to conquer the world. It’s a tale that struggles to find its footing early on. There are some particularly kitschy, cheesy story beats that I just rolled my eyes at and pressed forward. Likewise, there are moments that had me swelling with pride or wiping away a gentle tear. It’s not the greatest story in the world, but it hooked me emotionally and drove me to see the credits roll. I can’t ask much more than that. You'll never be without a bogey or 10 to scrap Thankfully, what the story lacks in punch, the gameplay provides in spades. Ace Combat 8’s campaign features 30 missions, and each one somehow has you doing something unique. I never felt bored or disinterested, because the game has such fantastic mission design. You may be taking out SAM sites on one mission, avoiding detection the next, and attacking an enemy stronghold after that. While, yes, you’re ultimately going to be dogfighting and bombing ground targets, it’s all done in a way that continually feels fresh. There are a few structures built around your in-flight time that give you some agency over your experience. First, you can outfit your squadron. You’ll earn money during missions that you can spend on what is essentially an upgrade tree. This allows you to unlock new planes and parts to equip on your birds. Planes are color-coded in four categories: blue excel in air-to-air, red are air-to-ground, purple can hold their own in both, and green provide electronic support. There are 30 planes you can unlock. Get comfortable with Joker Flight. These are your only social circle. Each plane has a series of gear slots you can use to give you the edge in combat. You can augment your plane to be able to accelerate quicker, make high-G turns more effectively, withstand ice when flying through clouds, improve missile range, or a whole other host of capabilities. The upgrade system gives you palpable options to improve your combat effectiveness. When you’re done with your own setup, you can build out your team’s kit to your liking. I typically have the game automatically set up the rest of my team for the coming missions, but I appreciate the option to have that level of control over my squadron. Particularly dangerous enemy squadrons will show up from time to time Once airborne, the skies are your playground. Depending on your plane and weaponry loadouts, you’ll spend time flying around the spaces, engaging in dogfights, and taking out ground targets. As expected, this looks like targeting enemies (which you can cycle between) and either letting your weaponry lock-on before you fire, or lining up shots and letting them rip. If you get in close enough, you can unleash your machine gun, too. Some air-to-air weapons can achieve multiple lock-ons. Ground weapons vary from giving you a splash zone and letting you decide when to drop your bombs to letting guidance systems do the work for you. It gives you plenty of tools to play with. While you may be the apex predator, there are other pilots that’ll be gunning to take you out, literally. You’ll have to employ a few different tactics to stay safe. When enemies achieve lock, you can deploy chaff and flares to throw off the missile guidance. You’ll only get a handful of those per flight, though, so be mindful. You’ll probably end up relying more on your own hard banking, turning, braking, and accelerating to try to get out of jams. Combine that with help from your squadron, which can cover your back or go on the attack, and Joker Flight can be quite the menacing force. The multiplayer offers a few ways to extend your fun beyond the campaign If you finish the campaign and want more, or just want to jump into missions with your buddies, you’ll want to fire up Ace Combat Online, the game’s multiplayer suite. Here, you can engage in a handful of mission types and keep playing. You can play a handful of modes and complete challenges to earn skins and upgrades. As you play and earn XP, your own pilot rank will go up, which grants access to more planes. Out of the gate, you’ll get to play three modes. Co-op Assault pits two teams of four against one another in score attack. Everyone is hunting down baddies, but the squad with the higher combined score takes home the victory. Co-op Warfare is similar, but you can target pilots on the other squadron for an added twist. Finally, you can do a 4v4 Team Deathmatch. There are special events you’ll be able to play on occasion, too. If you enjoy competing with others, earning your ranks is fun. You can also unlock an array of skins and emblems so your plane looks how you want. It’s a nice touch I think any ace will appreciate. Like the rest of Joker Flight, you'll get to see Tasha grow and mature as a pilot and a person The inclusion of multiplayer is nice, but Ace Combat 8’s campaign is a fantastic experience from takeoff to landing. After so much time on the comms with your flight team, you get to know and care about them (for the most part). The game gives you plenty of tools to keep things fresh, with 30 aircraft and a wide variety of unique missions to continually whet your appetite. Despite a slow start and some unearned moments, Ace Combat 8’s narrative matures into something exciting and endearing. Wings of Theve is easily one of the best modern titles in the genre. If you’re looking for a great arcade flight experience, look no further. Review Guidelines 88 ### Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve #### Great Ace Combat 8 is one of the most well-thought-out arcade flight sims we’ve gotten in years. The story starts campy and matures into its own, but every mission is a fun, unique experience that keeps things interesting. There’s a ton of variety with the planes and equipment for it, and the multiplayer gives you ways to keep playing after the credits roll. Anyone interested in a fun flight sim experience should pick this up. * * * ##### Pros * Every mission is unique * Campaign finishes strong with some interesting moments * A host of aircraft to pilot and outfit * Fun, interesting online modes ##### Cons * Story starts slow and feels difficult to wade through * There are some terribly cheesy story moments * * * This review is based on a retail PC copy provided by the publisher.

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