Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve – Review – Myths never die

The Ace Combat franchise holds a very special place in my heart. Back in the nineties, when my friends and I would rent a PlayStation 1, we always grabbed two games: a sports title—usually soccer (ISS/PES)—and Ace Combat. We’d go in fully intending to spend the entire night playing two-on-two soccer, but the reality was we’d stay up until dawn beating Ace Combat. It didn’t matter how many times we had already finished it; we’d play it over and over again simply because it was that fantastic. As the years went by, Bandai Namco continued to enrich the series with new installments, and I have to admit that the vast majority of them were wildly successful. A couple might have been just “great” instead of “excellent,” but the quality has undeniably been maintained over the three decades since the original release. Now, it’s Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve’s turn. As with any title in the franchise, expectations were massive—and at the end of the day, completely justified.

Let’s start from the beginning—the story. I know very few people play Ace Combat purely for the narrative, but Bandai Namco Aces put serious effort into making this one highly engaging, slightly twisted, and capable of keeping you invested in this universe’s endless wars. Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve takes place ten years after the events of Ace Combat 7, and roughly ten years before Ace Combat 3. The Republic of Sotoa launches a surprise attack on the Federation of Central Usea (FCU). Theve, the FCU’s capital, quickly falls, and the entire nation slowly succumbs to a brutal siege. The survivors are forced to retreat, and with no safe ground left to stand on, they relocate their operations to a fleet of aircraft carriers.

Under such dire circumstances, the military desperately needs a symbol to boost the morale of its exhausted soldiers and civilians. That symbol is a legendary ace known as the “Wings of Theve.” There’s just one problem: the legend has vastly outgrown the man behind it. When things get complicated, it falls on you to take up the mantle, step into his shoes, and keep the myth alive for a populace that desperately needs something to believe in. Propaganda is everything in war, but at least this is “good” propaganda, as the FCU is actually the righteous side in this conflict. You play as Rex, a pilot thrust into the center of these events as he joins the Joker Flight squadron. His mission isn’t just about shooting down enemy bogeys and executing military ops; it’s about bearing the crushing weight of an imposed identity. It’s a brilliant foundation for a story exploring propaganda, war heroes, and how legends are manufactured to sustain hope when everything seems utterly hopeless. What I particularly love is that the game doesn’t just stick to high-level military briefings and generic chatter about duty. It attempts to humanize the people involved in the conflict, highlighting their fears, relationships, and the reasons they keep fighting even when it’s hard to find meaning in the chaos. And the most fascinating twist? The “soul” of the original Wings of Theve legend hasn’t abandoned us—it has literally found its way into the mind of our protagonist, Rex.

That’s the first genuinely bizarre element! As Rex, you will frequently hear the philosophical monologues of the deceased legend echoing in your head. He acts as an internal narrator: explaining the tactical situation, introducing you to the pilots he once fought alongside, and trying to convince you that you are, in fact, up to this monumental task.

I have to admit, this style of narration is incredibly engaging. It’s weird, sure, but more importantly, it pulls you in and makes you care about the story, forcing you to hang on every interaction and thought from the dead legend living rent-free in your brain. A massive plus is that all the narrative segments between missions play out in first-person. You watch the events unfold with minimal interaction—save for the occasional QTE-style button prompt just to remind you that you’re an active participant. But this framing intimately connects you with the members of Joker squadron. Believe me, none of them were “born” to be fighter pilots, and that’s exactly what makes them such fantastically written characters. Everyone has their own backstory, motives, and goals that you uncover as the campaign progresses. The story honestly blew me away—from start to finish, it is perfectly paced.

Still, since the very first game, the beating heart of Ace Combat has been the flying, and this is where Wings of Theve proves why the franchise is so beloved. The controls are accessible enough that complete newcomers can find their wings relatively quickly, while veteran pilots can opt for the advanced handling system to push their aircraft to the absolute limit. You have two control schemes, and the difference isn’t just cosmetic. Standard controls make orientation a breeze and let you focus entirely on your targets, while the Expert setup demands precision and a much deeper understanding of spatial awareness. The easier controls channel that classic, arcade-style Ace Combat feel, while Expert is there for those willing to invest in flight physics—and you will be heavily rewarded for it. Personally, I think this accessibility is one of the game’s greatest strengths. Ace Combat 8 doesn’t try to gatekeep with overly complicated simulation mechanics; it lets you master the basics before attempting bolder maneuvers. Of course, the Expert controls are worth mastering, primarily because they allow for complex aerial tricks and tighter manipulation of the aircraft, which can be a literal lifesaver on higher difficulties or in multiplayer.

Once you are airborne, everything boils down to a delicate balance of speed, positioning, timely evasion, and picking the perfect moment to strike. Enemies won’t just patiently wait for missile lock; they actively try to shake you, gain the upper hand, and shower you with missiles. You have to constantly monitor radar warnings, gauge distances, and make split-second decisions: push the pursuit, or pull away to dodge an incoming volley. I love that combat isn’t just reduced to mindlessly holding a lock-on button and spamming rockets. While you will do that often, true success dictates how well you read the airspace. Sometimes you need to pull a hard turn to regain an advantageous angle, sometimes you have to break enemy formations, and other times you must rapidly shift focus to a newer, deadlier threat. There’s also a squad command system, adding a light tactical layer to the dogfights. While your wingmen aren’t a replacement for your own skills, their presence and utility prevent you from feeling like a lone wolf who has to do absolutely everything. Furthermore, the sheer sense of speed is fantastic. When you dive toward an enemy, punch through a dense cloud cover, and yank the stick at the very last second to dodge a missile… it’s hard not to feel that specific adrenaline rush that makes these games so addictive.

Speaking of clouds, weather conditions add an entirely new dimension to dogfighting. When a bogey is on your six, diving into a cloud bank and pulling a sharp turn can completely disorient them, allowing you to flip the script. Plus, flying through clouds triggers an incredibly realistic rain effect across your canopy. If you climb too high, ice starts building up on the wings, drastically sluggish your handling. And when it comes to handling, it’s crucial to note that you can feel the immense weight of these steel beasts in every maneuver. You can’t treat them like paper airplanes; you have to respect the limits of the machine you are piloting. As always, progression unlocks new aircraft and a diverse arsenal of special weaponry. Selecting the right fighter and loadout before a sortie drastically alters your approach. Not every jet is suited for every scenario—you have to think strategically about whether you need superior maneuverability for a dogfight or heavy payloads for carpet-bombing ground targets. This is exactly why experimenting with different loadouts pays off massively, rather than stubbornly sticking to one “favorite” plane.

High praise is also due for the mission variety. While aerial combat is the backbone of the game, the campaign never lets you fall into a monotonous rut. You can expect interception missions, ground assaults, close air support for allied troops, and engagements featuring specific, hazardous battlefield conditions. Some missions demand lightning-fast elimination of priority targets, while others require a cool head and meticulous planning. Encounters with massive “superweapons” are a standout highlight—these fights devolve into epic David-vs-Goliath clashes against foes boasting utterly absurd dimensions and firepower. These are the moments when Ace Combat transcends being “just” a flight game and turns into an interactive Hollywood blockbuster. The atmosphere is further elevated by a stellar soundtrack that perfectly matches the rhythm of the on-screen chaos at all times.

Beyond the stellar campaign, Wings of Theve delivers what might be the most ambitious multiplayer suite in the franchise’s history. In addition to classic PvP dogfights, the game features several outstanding PvE modes and an interactive social hub where players can gather before sorties—very similar to what we saw in the latest Street Fighter. Thanks to full cross-play support, pilots across all platforms fly together, ensuring rapid matchmaking and easy squad-ups with friends. Multiplayer is a fantastic addition for those who don’t want to hang up their flight suit after the credits roll. But even if online dogfights aren’t your thing, the campaign is rich enough to justify the price tag on its own, and the fantastic PvE modes serve as a natural, endlessly fun extension of the single-player experience.

We would like to thank Bandai Namco for providing us with a copy of the game for review purposes.