2019's Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown was just the kind of breakthrough the series needed. It brought the focus back to the evolving melodrama of the world of Strangereal, all while delivering on fast, high-stakes aerial combat that the series made its bones on. Ace Combat is essentially an anime spin on the original Top Gun, and in many ways, the upcoming Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is the series now giving an anime spin on Top Gun: Maverick.
I recently got some hands-on time with the opening missions of Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve, which sees the series upgrade its combat and scope to focus on more involved aerial dogfights where you'll fight alongside a squad. In addition to getting to see the visual and narrative upgrades for Ace Combat 8, I also learned from brand director Kazutoki Kono about how the series needed some changes to make for a more satisfying and rewarding take on becoming a legendary ace pilot.
