I used to be a huge fan of aviation, but for some reason, I haven't played too many flight combat or sim games in recent years. More notably, I had never played an Ace Combat game before.
Ace Combat 7 is the first modern game of its type that I've played. Utilizing Unreal Engine, it has cutting-edge graphics, with supremely detailed plane models, with a decent collection too. You can definitely see major cutbacks on ground level, but that's to be expected to keep the performance high - which is crucial for a fast moving game like this. Instead, the focus is on clouds - this game features some of the most realistic volumetric clouds I've seen in a game. Of course, they have to be good, because unlike most games, you actually traverse through the clouds.
Ace Combat is definitely not a sim game, but at the same time, it's definitely not a casual game. The combat is mostly achieved through lock-ons, but the flying does require a good grasp over the controls and mechanics. It's a creative interpretation of what flying should be like, and for the best - flying in this game is thrilling! Though I'm not an expert on aviation sounds, the sound design is spot on, and adds a lot to the immersion. The combat can be a bit frustrating at times, but overall works well enough.
Where the game does get frustrating, though, is in the arbitrary mission conditions. It's just a strange inconsistency - most missions are no problem, but there are maybe 3 or 4 missions which I had to play numerous times. Worse still, it doesn't tell you exactly why you failed the mission, and what the condition exactly was. I had to look it up online, to find a whole bunch of people complaining, so clearly - I'm not the only one. Of course, you had some die-hards going on with "git gud" etc, but these don't really add much challenge, just frustration.
Besides these minor frustrations, the mission design is fantastic. For a game which is only about flying, combat and nothing else, the game presents delightfully varied missions, and no two missions feel like another. Just when you think, surely there's no other way to build a mission around flight combat, they somehow find a way to surprise you. That said, some missions have spotty pacing, with certain objectives being a wee bit too grindy.
Ace Combat's story is surprisingly engaging. It doesn't make much sense, but that doesn't matter - it's an entertaining anime-esque pulpy romp that builds a fictional world in turmoil. I didn't expect to be motivated by narrative in a flight game, but here I was. Ace Combat features some epic orchestral music. It's wonderful stuff, but sometimes feels a bit too epic for mere flight combat!
Overall, Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown is an excellent flight combat game, that effectively marries the thrill of flying with exciting scenarios. Some minor frustrations aside, this is a must play for anyone interested in aviation related games.