People act like: oOh ThIs GaMe Is So UnReAlIsTiC!!!1111!1!!!!!!11 like OHH THANKS FOR YOUR AMAZING OBSERVATION!!! I TOATLLY DIDNT KNOW THAT IN A GAME WHERE AN A-10 CAN DODGE MISSILES WAS UNREALISTIC!

No but really tho, this game is amazing and we don't play it for realism, we play it to escape it.
10/10, Highly recommend.

I played this game for twelve hours and got through the campaign on normal. I personally got some enjoyment out of it but I don't think most people should buy this game.

I really wanted to like this game. I like flying games and everything to do with dogfighting and, to be fair, that part of the game was enough for me to get through the campaign. However, the writing is distractingly awful. I'm not talking about the plot, that's fine, I'm talking about the the dialogue and the characterization. The combat chatter felt somehow both stilted and cliche and none of the characters felt likable or compelling with the minor exception of AWACS Long Caster.

I hated the hero worship of the silent protagonist. Instead of making me feel like I was good at flying, it made me feel like all of my allies were incompetent. I'd dodge a missile by turning to the side and they'd act like I'd turned water into wine. There were some moments in the game where I thought the praise was warranted but by that point there was so much glazing that any praise heaped onto me after said moments felt like background noise instead of genuine praise.

By the end of the campaign I was just playing on mute to have fun dogfighting with the cool planes. That was enough for me to enjoy the game, but unless you really really like aerial combat I don't think this game was worth buying. I will try out the multiplayer for a bit to see if that's worth anything but this is a pretty old game at this point so I'm assuming the multiplayer is either dead or filled with sweats.

Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown
by Bandai Namco Studios
on January 18, 2019

## Gameplay
Ace Combat 7 stands as the gold standard of arcade flight combat games. While not pursuing full simulator realism, it offers HOTAS and VR support for those wanting to channel their inner Maverick. Veterans of the series will find themselves in familiar skies, while newcomers can jump in without fear of an overwhelming learning curve. The gameplay loop is delightfully straightforward: select your aircraft, equip secondary weapons and performance mods, then unleash hell on various military targets within reasonable time constraints. Mission completions and multiplayer matches reward you with in-game currency to expand your hangar and upgrade capabilities. The Normal difficulty presents genuine challenges that transform each mission into a tactical puzzle, requiring thoughtful loadout decisions rather than just twitch reflexes.

## Performance
The game delivers impressive performance across platforms. Even on the Steam Deck's modest LCD display, the game runs exceptionally well with default settings, maintaining smooth framerates during intense combat scenarios. While the panoramic vistas would undoubtedly shine on a large OLED display, the portable experience remains thoroughly enjoyable. Multiplayer performance is equally solid, with only occasional lobby crashes marring an otherwise stable experience. The game's optimization allows for seamless Steam Link play to mobile devices without noticeable input lag or visual compromises.

## Overall
Ace Combat 7's narrative strikes an entertaining balance, never taking itself too seriously while still delivering genuine emotional weight. The storytelling evokes the dramatic flair of Gundam anime, complete with politically complex world-building and over-the-top superweapon confrontations. There's something undeniably satisfying about hearing enemy pilots panic over radio chatter when they realize the legendary "Three Strikes" (you) has entered their airspace.

With few competitors in the arcade flight combat space, Ace Combat 7 fills a unique niche in modern gaming. For series veterans, supporting this title ensures Bandai Namco continues the franchise. For newcomers who enjoyed Top Gun: Maverick or harbor aviation fantasies, the game's current price point makes it an easy recommendation. After several years on the market, you can typically find it at a significant discount, making this high-flying adventure accessible to pilots of all experience levels.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​