Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown

 PC
User Score
7.2

Mixed or average reviews- based on 211 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 138 out of 211
  2. Mixed: 36 out of 211
  3. Negative: 37 out of 211

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  1. apokalipto
    Aug 13, 2023
    9
    Very good game. I enjoyed playing this game a lot. I strongly recommend this.
  2. Ciocolici
    Jul 31, 2023
    8
    I have never been a fan of combat flight simulation video games, and Ace Combat: Assault Horizon was the only other title I had played before Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown. Despite my disappointment with the previous installment, the overwhelming praise from the franchise's fans convinced me to give this one a try, even purchasing it at its launch.

    Let's start with the story. Although it    I have never been a fan of combat flight simulation video games, and Ace Combat: Assault Horizon was the only other title I had played before Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown. Despite my disappointment with the previous installment, the overwhelming praise from the franchise's fans convinced me to give this one a try, even purchasing it at its launch.

    Let's start with the story. Although it is a significant improvement over Assault Horizon, it fell short of my expectations. The narrative had its moments and introduced interesting characters, but I found it to be oddly told, leaving me somewhat disconnected from the events unfolding. The constant references to states, places, and various elements left me confused most of the time, and I struggled to comprehend the motivations of different parties involved. While my lack of familiarity with the previous games might have contributed to this, I believe the game should accommodate newcomers as well, especially since it's only the second title in the series to have a PC release. Furthermore, the lack of a visible protagonist, their silence, and lack of personality made it difficult to fully immerse myself in the story. The one-sided radio communications, where other characters interact with the silent protagonist, didn't sit well with me, as I prefer more engaging interactions in games. To clarify, I don't mean to say that the story is bad, but it could have been executed better. On a positive note, the cinematics were well-done and added to the overall experience.

    Moving on to the graphics, they are undeniably stunning. The game boasts beautiful scenery, an amazing sky, and impressive effects. However, I couldn't help but feel a bit let down by the ground terrain textures, which seemed low-resolution in comparison to the other aspects of the game.

    Now, onto the gameplay, which I can confidently say was perfect this time. Despite my initial disinterest in this genre, I had an absolute blast playing Ace Combat 7. The sense of accomplishment from successful kills was incredibly rewarding, and I thoroughly enjoyed the controls and flying mechanics, finding them to be smooth and responsive. This held true for both singleplayer and multiplayer modes. While I don't envision spending an extensive amount of time in the multiplayer aspect, I can understand why many players would be drawn to it.

    In conclusion, Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown proved to be an enjoyable experience for me, despite my reservations about the story and certain graphical aspects. The exceptional gameplay ultimately won me over, turning me into a fan of the franchise. If you're willing to overlook the minor shortcomings and are seeking a thrilling flight combat experience, this game is undoubtedly worth playing.    … Expand
  3. mobius_01
    Nov 10, 2022
    8
    Thought the story is a convoluted mess about hallow characters with zero reason for their actions, the gameplay and presentation are excellent. This game is very fun. The DLC missions are pretty good too.
  4. Zski
    Oct 22, 2022
    8
    I am glad that Ace Combat made a return with another mainline game, but after such a long break, I think they could have made a better comeback. Regardless, I had a lot of fun with this game start to finish, but its really just the same old formula with slightly better graphics. They tried a new narrative style, but unfortunately, it was so melodramatic and uninteresting, which sadly isI am glad that Ace Combat made a return with another mainline game, but after such a long break, I think they could have made a better comeback. Regardless, I had a lot of fun with this game start to finish, but its really just the same old formula with slightly better graphics. They tried a new narrative style, but unfortunately, it was so melodramatic and uninteresting, which sadly is pretty par for the franchise. They just forced it so hard so that it got a little annoying. After being called a convict, told you're replaceable, you have to do these missions to atone for your sins, and if you don't follow orders you'll end up in solitary confinement for the first half of the game, it just loses its impact. With that being said, I play Ace Combat for the gameplay, not for the story.

    The game itself is good old Ace Combat. Nothing bad by any means, I actually had a lot of fun with it. Fans of the series or air combat games will love it, but don’t expect anything innovative. The game controls well, the missions have a nice variety of gameplay style and settings, and it’s still the same fun core gameplay. I also found myself failing missions in the final 30 seconds of stages more times than I can count. Not sure if this is user error, poor checkpoints, or a weird difficulty spike. But it wasn’t too frustrating, luckily I enjoyed the game. What I expected is that in a 2019 game, they could make it feel more powerful. There is no roaring of the engines, which I think could make the game feel like an immersive arcade air combat game, as opposed to a standard entry in the series. All in all, I had fun with it, fans will love it, outsiders will enjoy it.    … Expand
  5. ChumaGG
    Sep 26, 2022
    10
    Este juego es una Kojimada... pero con aviones y sin Kojima

    Las misiones de DLC son una delicia
  6. asdfgrand
    Mar 7, 2022
    9
    There ARE some flaws on PC release such as no support on what "latest PC gamers" need. No ultra-wide, no DSR compatibility, no VR or eye tracker support, no support on every flight stick in existence. The PC version is "lazy cash-grabbing console port BS" to them.
    Still that "fact" doesn't matter to most of players. The game redeemed the fame of franchise, with beautiful graphics and    There ARE some flaws on PC release such as no support on what "latest PC gamers" need. No ultra-wide, no DSR compatibility, no VR or eye tracker support, no support on every flight stick in existence. The PC version is "lazy cash-grabbing console port BS" to them.
    Still that "fact" doesn't matter to most of players. The game redeemed the fame of franchise, with beautiful graphics and satisfying "semi-realistic, mostly arcade" gameplay. The roster of playable aircraft is sort of redundant with lots of Sukhois, yet it has almost all people's favorite. One absolutely positive thing on PC version is modding, including tons of mod skins for aircraft. Great game with the most degenerate community among flight shooter/flight sim genre.    … Expand
  7. moonlaba
    Jan 17, 2022
    8
    구름표현과 그걸 이용한 게임플레이는 역대급. 다만 일본식 뇌절가득한데다 재미도 없는 스토리라인은 아쉽다. 캐릭터 자체는 잘 만드는데 그걸 표현해낼 스토리텔링이 쓰레기 그 자체..
  8. HighTechGG
    Feb 12, 2021
    8
    Olha eu só dei 8, porque a jogabilidade e imagens são boas, mas o jogo não aceita mutlmonitor 3 telas mesmo nas configurações exibir 5760x1080. Jogos de 15 anos aceitam sem problemas e este mais novo nem a pau. O Suporte é péssimo parecem robos respondendo.
  9. paulvanjaf
    Aug 6, 2020
    10
    the best Flight game of the generation, good graphycs, wonderfull soundtrack and good action. one of my favorites of this generation.
  10. LeandroB
    Jul 25, 2020
    10
    I loved it!
    The gameplay is solid, the story is quite Ace Combat like and that's great and the graphics are beautiful!
    I just wish we could play as Erusea.
  11. VashloveNpeace
    Jul 24, 2020
    8
    Ace Combat has gone back to its to root gameplay and storyline. I m lovin it! Reccomended to newcomer to the game
  12. wolfkingdom
    Jul 23, 2020
    9
    Got some doubt before buying this,as i've never played airplane game before.After completing it,i happily recommend this game.
    Pro:
    - beautiful graphics - great gameplay and lots of planes'customization - fantastic soundtrack in building the atmosphere and tension - non repetitive missions and each one is nicely constructed - difficulty is ok.you'll feel like ace pilot the more you learn    Got some doubt before buying this,as i've never played airplane game before.After completing it,i happily recommend this game.
    Pro:
    - beautiful graphics
    - great gameplay and lots of planes'customization
    - fantastic soundtrack in building the atmosphere and tension
    - non repetitive missions and each one is nicely constructed
    - difficulty is ok.you'll feel like ace pilot the more you learn the movement and shooting mechanic.
    - Cool cinematics and really make you feel like a hero.


    Cons:
    -silent protagonist is ok,but a little awkard as the face is not shown. Also he needs more character development in the story.
    - story is a bit letdown in the last part of the game.

    Overall still a fantastic game.8.5 /10    … Expand
  13. Flakweazel
    Jul 22, 2020
    8
    I love the franchise so take this with a grain of salt. I love arcade flight games and the multiplayer is a riot once you unlock planes and parts. If you get a full lobby it’s a real hoot, stressful, but a hoot none the less. If you like jets but DCS is overwhelming give this a shot.
  14. churros
    Jul 19, 2020
    8
    Pros:
    + standard and expert controls options
    + good mission objectives variety
    + pretty graphics
    + good presentation
    + controls well

    Cons:
    - convoluted story
    - npcs are too chatty during missions
    - airship upgrades doesn't affect it visually
    - music fells off for some missions
    - ugly graphics when close to the ground
  15. CtrlAltBruhtek
    Jul 3, 2020
    10
    There is only one thing i can say: awesome.
    From a point of someone who never played previous games, going in wasn't a problem. I immediately got immersed into the beautiful world. Works great even with an old xbox 360 game pad, through i didn't try it on keyboard, so cannot speak about that. The story is immersive even if you don't know previous games, you quickly grow attached to    There is only one thing i can say: awesome.
    From a point of someone who never played previous games, going in wasn't a problem. I immediately got immersed into the beautiful world. Works great even with an old xbox 360 game pad, through i didn't try it on keyboard, so cannot speak about that. The story is immersive even if you don't know previous games, you quickly grow attached to characters and start trying new tricks in each and every new airplane. Just trying to perfect your flight is a great experience that will last for hours. Overall, great, polished game.    … Expand
  16. adidab14
    Apr 16, 2020
    9
    This is a fantastic games for fans of the series and fans of flight sims in general. I thoroughly enjoyed the gameplay and all the different aircraft you can unlock and use. The story is okay, nothing to write home about but not bad either. Some of the missions are kind of aggravating too as you either have to escort something or have to achieve a score limit in a certain amount of timeThis is a fantastic games for fans of the series and fans of flight sims in general. I thoroughly enjoyed the gameplay and all the different aircraft you can unlock and use. The story is okay, nothing to write home about but not bad either. Some of the missions are kind of aggravating too as you either have to escort something or have to achieve a score limit in a certain amount of time but even with that I still really liked the game. It does a fantastic job of immersion and making you feel like part of a squadron. The aircraft look incredible too!
    Bottom line: If you've played one of these games before and you've been itching to get back in, this will definitely be an enjoyable experience. I had a blast.    … Expand
  17. UnionSpring
    Nov 16, 2019
    10
    I hate Ace Combat 7 because now I have to buy T.Flight Hotas. I haven't played a game that I like so much for about 10 years. Thank you Namco Bandai!
  18. Tomle1202
    Oct 8, 2019
    8
    Skies Unknown delivers 20 thrilling aerial firefights the way that only an Ace Combat game could, despite a nonsensical story whose role is only to confuse the player.
  19. FailureRR
    May 16, 2019
    10
    This game can be described with one word: Awesome.
    Whether you are a diehard Ace Combat fan or new to the series, Ace Combat 7 delivers the excitement of flying in iconic jet fighters and delivering mass destruction to your foes in either first or third-person, via missiles, machine guns, rockets, and bombs. The visuals are incredible, while similar to the 2009 Tom Clancy's HAWX, they    This game can be described with one word: Awesome.
    Whether you are a diehard Ace Combat fan or new to the series, Ace Combat 7 delivers the excitement of flying in iconic jet fighters and delivering mass destruction to your foes in either first or third-person, via missiles, machine guns, rockets, and bombs. The visuals are incredible, while similar to the 2009 Tom Clancy's HAWX, they still maintain a chance to admire the scenery. The story is also pretty good. It's not the best, but it is really overshadowed by the gameplay alone. So it's more of a 'lateral' addition to the game . If you have a flight stick, you can enhance your experience to push this score OVER a 10/10. Get this game now, you won't regret it. Though the 60$ price tag can be a hassle for some people.    … Expand
  20. Rutakate
    Apr 22, 2019
    9
    Defenetly one of the best anime i ever played.

    I've never been a fan of the series, but I've heard of it from the outside. That year I decided to take a chance and try it, maybe he will come by. AND F**KING HOW IT WENT The Japanese aren't selling their game right at all, I'm serious. They lower the entry threshold by 9000000%. It's not a game about planes in the usual sense, it's    Defenetly one of the best anime i ever played.

    I've never been a fan of the series, but I've heard of it from the outside. That year I decided to take a chance and try it, maybe he will come by.

    AND F**KING HOW IT WENT

    The Japanese aren't selling their game right at all, I'm serious. They lower the entry threshold by 9000000%. It's not a game about planes in the usual sense, it's an epic ANIME-ICSHEN about planes. Underneath the super-realistic graphics lies a real anime animal, in the best sense of the word. The action in the game is just fu**ed up, and most importantly, it perfectly conveys the feeling of a fight. The tension is so strong, not like hands, but **** sweating ass. It was as if i had climbed into a hole with the bear and started fighting with him on an equal footing. It was as if i had jumped into the middle of a hurricane and got out of it as if nothing had happened. You can fly a centimetre away from the ground and still feel in complete control. That's how **** you are.

    The divine Japanese soundtrack should be mentioned separately. The orchestra is so crazy, as if the fate of all mankind depends on your rocket. One of the coolest soundtracks in my memory.

    I swear to you, if Tom Cruise tried Ace Combat, he would have died with a boner from the coolness of this game. If you like action and you want to plunge into the most sweaty and hardest fights, then welcome to Ace Combat. 9/10.    … Expand
  21. GryffinDarkBred
    Mar 6, 2019
    10
    The game itself is a true return to form for Ace Combat, with plenty of unlockables, incredible replay capacity, an outstanding soundtrack, jawdropping graphics and an impeccably optimized game. No, the keyboard controls don't make sense because this game is not at all meant to be played with a keyboard. You absolutely MUST have analog inputs for this game.

    The reason I give this game    The game itself is a true return to form for Ace Combat, with plenty of unlockables, incredible replay capacity, an outstanding soundtrack, jawdropping graphics and an impeccably optimized game. No, the keyboard controls don't make sense because this game is not at all meant to be played with a keyboard. You absolutely MUST have analog inputs for this game.

    The reason I give this game an 8 and not a ten come down to two issues:
    1: The Flight stick support is limited to one model of stick, and it's a pretty crappy one at that, but the game is playable with any standard Xinput controller.
    2: Denuvo. I don't appreciate being treated like a thief despite being a paid customer.    … Expand
  22. ViperShogun
    Mar 3, 2019
    10
    As someone who's been following the franchise since 1997 I have to say that this new instalment to the series is purely outstanding. I've loved every second of playing this game and I just want even more!
  23. br_reviews
    Feb 26, 2019
    8
    Loved it, waited so long for a decent sequence of AC series, and here it is. The gameplay, SFX, sp content (missions, jets, tree upgrades) & graphics are the best features of this game; the sp campaign is a bit boring tbh, not as great as AC4/AC5 ones for example, but it suits anyway. Multiplayer is cool too but honestly the passion from it goes away with some hours...
    It's such a great    Loved it, waited so long for a decent sequence of AC series, and here it is. The gameplay, SFX, sp content (missions, jets, tree upgrades) & graphics are the best features of this game; the sp campaign is a bit boring tbh, not as great as AC4/AC5 ones for example, but it suits anyway. Multiplayer is cool too but honestly the passion from it goes away with some hours...
    It's such a great game & comeback as well to the dogfight series, recommend it not just to AC lovers, but to begginers ones too! And to these fellas giving AC7 a bad rating cuz the lack of HOTAs support, seriously, f&#k off, that's a company/developer issue, there's nothing to do with the game itself, it's an 'out-product' problem.    … Expand
  24. Wopsie
    Feb 24, 2019
    9
    A beautiful return to the best the series has to offer as it stands right up there with AC4, AC4 and AC0. People expecting realistic flight combat should look elsewhere, as this game allows you to almost see the radar in the cockpit of the plane you're tailing at mach 2.

    The game's missions offer a lot of variation and are rarely the same. The game is built on a solid foundation of    A beautiful return to the best the series has to offer as it stands right up there with AC4, AC4 and AC0. People expecting realistic flight combat should look elsewhere, as this game allows you to almost see the radar in the cockpit of the plane you're tailing at mach 2.

    The game's missions offer a lot of variation and are rarely the same. The game is built on a solid foundation of responsive flight controls and throws you new and interesting challenges by restricting your options, making you think outside the box. For example requiring you to use the clouds as cover for hard-to-avoid missiles, disrupting your radar with sandstorms or replacing your special weapons with a lock on support for an air strike to destroy armored targets.

    The various missions always keep you on your toes as you progress through the game and become a war hero and a legend. Bit of a power fantasy, but a conscious one at that. War is bad, but planes are rad.

    Multiplayer although a bit unbalanced in higher tier matches is also a lot of fun. Playing against real players adds a very different and interesting dynamic to the combat and is definitely worth checking out. The rooms can be ranked by plane cost, so there is no need to wait until the end game to dabble in this feature.

    A lot of people will agree that this is a great place to start if you are interested in Ace Combat.    … Expand
  25. MadclownJack
    Feb 23, 2019
    9
    Oh thank god, a return to form...I can't say enough how long i've waited to play an actual AC game on the PC sans the need for an emulator. Graphically it;s on par with newer titles. The controls work great and are well adapted for gamepads. The story is weird and somewhat boring but it's nothing new, most of the games in the AC franchise follow a similar theme. But the story is not theOh thank god, a return to form...I can't say enough how long i've waited to play an actual AC game on the PC sans the need for an emulator. Graphically it;s on par with newer titles. The controls work great and are well adapted for gamepads. The story is weird and somewhat boring but it's nothing new, most of the games in the AC franchise follow a similar theme. But the story is not the point here. It's the gameplay. And it's refreshing to see that N/B have heard the pleas of fans all over and made a genuine AC game. I personally love it. The plane tree is simple and easy to follow. The missions are mostly straightforward. The game is easy to get into, especially for returning players. I recommend it with gusto.… Expand
  26. joshbreviews
    Feb 20, 2019
    8
    If you've been away from Ace Combat for some time now (played ace combat 1, tried and gave up on Assault Horizon), this is a fun and nostalgic romp.

    Sound design is good. Music is fantastic. Visuals, planes, clouds, and effects look great, except for ground assets (which I'm fine with, cause it keeps frame rates up). HUD could use some updating; it could stand to relay more useful    If you've been away from Ace Combat for some time now (played ace combat 1, tried and gave up on Assault Horizon), this is a fun and nostalgic romp.

    Sound design is good. Music is fantastic. Visuals, planes, clouds, and effects look great, except for ground assets (which I'm fine with, cause it keeps frame rates up). HUD could use some updating; it could stand to relay more useful information. Performance was good (144 fps on GTX 1070 max settings). Controls need to be re-mapped, but the game controlled well enough on keyboard; there is support for mouse control, but it's a joke. Don't bother.

    Story is...okay. Sometimes it's hard to tell who's talking cause they all sound the same through the radio filter. And their characters are really not so distinct, except Count, I guess. I'm not too harsh on Ace Combat games when it comes to story, because the gameplay has always been fun.

    Gameplay is solid. It's as fun as it was on PS1. Unfortunately, very little has changed since AC1. Mission types are pretty much the same. I do believe AC7 should be the last of the old guard. If I'm not mistaken, AC7's ending is hinting strongly at space or futuristic combat in future AC games, which would be a breath of fresh air. I think it's time to shake things up in the franchise.

    So yeah. 8/10 for me. A good and solid game, which harkens back to the good old days of gaming on a PS1. If it had a better story, and added more fun mechanics or mission scenarios, then this would easily be a 10/10.

    Review ends here. The rest of this is just a quick wishlist for the next AC games.

    1) Add even more gigantic enemies. The Arsenal Bird was great, but it was rather rare. Giant enemies should now be staple in AC. They are frightening to look at due to sheer size, and are fun to fight. They don't have to be bosses all the time, though.

    2) Start looking into space combat or futuristic weapons and aircraft. This is risky, but I do believe this is the way to go with AC moving forward. Laser and plasma weapons would be great. Unique looking ships would be great, too. I think it's time to move away from the semi-realism AC has been known for, and start focusing more on what looks cool and fun to play.

    3) Add more engaging flight mechanics. For example, a quick burst of speed that has a cooldown or "ammo", or at the cost of damaging your aircraft a bit. Another would be a recharging shield that blocks one missle every 30 seconds or so, so that you can incorporate tanking hits into your strategy. Another would be melee weapons, such as some kind of plasma torch that bursts from the wings of your plane, allowing you to flyby and slice targets - yeah this is pretty goofy, but I imagine it would be extremely fun and satisfying if implemented propery. Another would be a quick deceleration on cooldown to open up more maneuvering options. Another would be short-duration stealth cloak on cooldown to lose missles and anyone on your tail. There are so many ways to spice up AC games. Granted, again, this is risky and may alienate some hardcore fans, but I think it's worth it cause it'll make the game so much more fun to play and more enticing to newcomers.

    4) Take it to other planets! Honestly, that will add SO MUCH visual appeal. Once you leave earth you can literally do ANYTHING with your visuals. You can make it as colorful as you like. You can add new and intersting environmental hazards. You can add alien structures to fight in or gawk at!

    5) Taking it to other planets also opens up more potential story elements. Aliens with advanced weaponry? Why not! Gigantic hostile alien creatures? Why not! This is all crazy, but as long as the core gameplay doesn't deviate too much, I believe you can literally get away with anything to make AC more fun and interesting.

    6) You could even add story choices. Do I defend a helpless city from attack, or continue with my mission? Do I kill alien lifeforms getting in the way, or do I work aroud them if they're not really a threat? I think little story elements like that will further spice up the game. I'm not looking for Dragon Age-levels of winding storylines, just a few critical choices here and there to give the player character, well, more character.

    That's it for me. AC7 was great. Can't wait for what they have in story for AC8.    … Expand
  27. d25bev
    Feb 19, 2019
    8
    As someone that fondly remembers playing Ace Combat 4 & 5, which were great, then playing the mostly disappointing Assault Horizon. This is a huge step up from that game. I won't put it level with 4 & 5, purely as the story isn't quite as strong. But playing this game feels & plays how an Ace Combat should.

    As i said, i don't think the story is the best in the series but it's definitely    As someone that fondly remembers playing Ace Combat 4 & 5, which were great, then playing the mostly disappointing Assault Horizon. This is a huge step up from that game. I won't put it level with 4 & 5, purely as the story isn't quite as strong. But playing this game feels & plays how an Ace Combat should.

    As i said, i don't think the story is the best in the series but it's definitely very good. I like the addition of the aircraft tree/progression style & the graphics are very nice, although i do feel like the plane textures could've been better but it's not a problem or anything.

    Last couple notes; it's slightly disappointing they locked a plane away as an exclusive pre-order. I don't feel like the landing controls/physics/speed are very good, but i'm fully aware Ace Combat has always been & is an arcade game, it's just a little unpolished part of the game compared to everything else. This game sorely needs an fov slider, since theirs only 1 exterior & interior camera, which both feel too close. Lastly this game is much more enjoyable on the more realistic expert controls.    … Expand
  28. awdrifter
    Feb 18, 2019
    8
    A true return of the series. This game brought back the excting dog fights and sci-fi story of the older AC games. While there are a few bombing and escort missions that were annoying, overall this is a great game. Worth play if you're an AC fan.
  29. ThePluckyBrit
    Feb 18, 2019
    8
    Growing up in the era of PC flight sims, Ace Combat 7 is a breath of unusually fresh air for me, I don't believe I've ever played any other game in this series but it makes a solid first impression. It is not a realistic flight sim, it is an arcade flight sim, more afterburner then IL2 and I'm totally fine with that.

    Plays well with a controller, apparently doesn't support hotas sticks    Growing up in the era of PC flight sims, Ace Combat 7 is a breath of unusually fresh air for me, I don't believe I've ever played any other game in this series but it makes a solid first impression. It is not a realistic flight sim, it is an arcade flight sim, more afterburner then IL2 and I'm totally fine with that.

    Plays well with a controller, apparently doesn't support hotas sticks but this is far from a hardcore flight sim and therefore I really don't care about that personally, what I do care about is the quality of the port to pc, and I'm glad to say that is excellent and very well optimised, I have applied a couple of lines to the ini. file in the games directory which increases draw distance (just google it) but besides making that small adjustment the game looks great.

    Has a fun, more substantial story then i was expecting given the genre which came as a nice surprise, and I've found myself thoroughly enjoying the game, therefore it gets a recommendation from me!    … Expand
  30. reniat
    Feb 12, 2019
    8
    First let me clarify: They really don't have much excuse regarding the HOTAS support fiasco. To spend the effort to enable HOTAS, but only do it for a specific model, seems asinine to me. That said, it IS 100% possible to play this game with full HOTAS support if you are willing to use controller emulators (I highly recommend x360ce, and that's what i'm currently using)

    That said, this    First let me clarify: They really don't have much excuse regarding the HOTAS support fiasco. To spend the effort to enable HOTAS, but only do it for a specific model, seems asinine to me. That said, it IS 100% possible to play this game with full HOTAS support if you are willing to use controller emulators (I highly recommend x360ce, and that's what i'm currently using)

    That said, this game is amazing. It strikes a beautiful balance between flight sim and arcade game, resulting in an engaging campaign which is the perfect amount of unrealistic and silly, while still feeling serious. There is also plenty of replayability however, as there are aces you can hunt and kill in each mission after beating it, and they only show up after completing sometimes difficult criteria.

    The multiplayer is kinda meh if i'm honest. Only have 8 fighters in the battle makes the MP not feel as epic as the moments in the campaign where you have dozens of enemies and allies alike flying around at high speed. This in addition to some balance issues (like how you can use EML to snipe planes from crazy distances), makes the multiplayer feel a bit wanting to me.

    The lackluster mulitplayer and lack of native HOTAS support are really frustrating, because this game could easily be a 10/10 game (and the HOTAS thing is so simple that I struggle to see the logic of why they even did that). I am really hopeful they continue to bring Ace Combat games to the PC, and next time I hope to see better HOTAS support and maybe a bit more invested in the MP.    … Expand
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Awards & Rankings

65
#65 Most Discussed PC Game of 2019
74
#74 Most Shared PC Game of 2019

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 14 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 14
  3. Negative: 0 out of 14
  1. CD-Action
    Dec 11, 2019
    70
    The newest Ace Combat is a good game overall and may be the prettiest and best sounding in the series but nearly all of the rest of its features are a step – or a few of them – back. [12/2019, p.56]
  2. Worth Playing
    Apr 11, 2019
    85
    The content is plentiful, replayability remains high, and the presentation easily makes Ace Combat 7 one of the better arcade-style flight games on the PC. It has been a long time coming, but action flight fans and those who love the series won't be disappointed by Ace Combat 7.
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  3. The Overpowered Noobs
    Feb 27, 2019
    70
    A great Ace Combat title that follows its past formula too closely, giving you the great flight simulator you expect and no more.
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