This story is just... nothing burger...

[Holy Athena]

It's really bad.. not even gonna comment on the utterly nonsense gameplay of Missile spams, which competely take away from the enjoyment... It's not hard, just annoying.

The story felt like there was serious infighting in the writing team and dev team, like they didn't know where they wanted to take the story..

You have 4 stories going on at once, and none of them really amount to anything specific.

You have the "Scrap Queen" which is utterly worthless of a story that takes up pointless time, and she was supposed to have more of an impact story wise giving insight into who this mysterious hero is, but then they scrap that idea and decide that isn't a good angle, and shuffle you off into the usual expected "you're part of the military now"

You have the Princess angle, which also is like.. really amounts to a huge nothing burger... You get a few tid bits of her personality, and the fact she was pushing the war, but not really any closure, or even opening of why, or how, and her story gets shoe inned into the Mastery Ace pilot.

You have, what I would say is the best part of the whole game.. when the satelites go out, and the whole world is pushed into chaos, which really pushes the whole "skies unknown" Which is where the story should of started imo.. Which would of made FAR more sense for Belka... Make a completely chaotic world, where you can dominate everything with your AI drones, take over the few remaining satellites, and the story revolves around trying to figure out who the real enemy is, whats going, and pushes that whole "what are borders" thing that AC 6, and even 7 push quite frequently.

Instead we get a huge nothing burger of a story, where you got multiple little stories that amount to absolutely nothing, and the obvious belka bad guy at the end, that everyone saw coming a mile away.

Then you have the awful gameplay.. MISSILE MISSILE MISSILE MISSILE MISSILE MISSLE MISSILE MISSILE MISSILE... with drones that you can only shoot down when they literally allow you too, which cheapens the whole experience.

Whole game is garbage from top to bottom and I can't fathom why this game has the high marks it does, and that's coming from a serious Ace Combat fan.
----------------------------

There was so much they could of done with the story, and game play, and they F'd it up at every chance they got..

They could of really did a push for the return of AC in Strangereal world.. Saw the return of major characters like Nagase, Snow, Pixy and others, not just one time write offs.. Infact, Pixy would of been perfect for the chaos "no borders" every nation becomes fractured, and infighting angle if they had destroyed all the satellites right at the start.

This in turn leads you down a path of mysteries, and figuring out what's going on, who's friend and foe, and pushing that angle, which would of been way more interesting to see how other nations react to the turmoil as well. You could of still had the Master Ace pilot and the AI drones as main bad guys too, nobody knowing who they are, or where they are coming from as Belka tries to once again dominate everything and take everything back in the background.. It also would of been far less obvious of the "plot twist" of it being Belka at the end too.

As the story goes on, you come into contact with Nagase, Snow, Pixy, Yellow Squadron, Mobius 1 and other big characters from those games as they try to hold together their fractured nations, with the final show down being all of them converging on Belka to shut down the Arsenal Birds, and Drones.

Far more interesting story imo, especially if you consider all the intrigue, and plot twists right within that you could pull as well.

I really can't fathom how this game has such high marks.. Makes me wonder if its true that people today just care about good graphics, and too simple minded for anything else.

[Rastrelly]

Bait

[Holy Athena]

Originally posted by Rastrelly:

Bait

I'm sorry you're not capable of understanding people have different opinions than you. I feel sorry for you.

I'm writing my post because I just recently replayed it, trying to give it another chance, but I just don't understand how people can say this story is great, with great game play, when its subjectively and objectively the worst AC game possible not counting the graphics. Here to have a discussion about it, because that's what the forums are for.

Which I suppose is silly of me.. Nobody today apparently can have a discussion in good faith.. It's all claiming "bait" and "trolls" to people with differing opinions, and showing the magnitudes of ineptness people have these days when it comes to social interactions, and conversations, especially online.

[Multihog]

Originally posted by Holy Athena:

Originally posted by Rastrelly:

Bait

I'm sorry you're not capable of understanding people have different opinions than you. I feel sorry for you.

I'm writing my post because I just recently replayed it, trying to give it another chance, but I just don't understand how people can say this story is great, with great game play, when its subjectively and objectively the worst AC game possible not counting the graphics. Here to have a discussion about it, because that's what the forums are for.

Which I suppose is silly of me.. Nobody today apparently can have a discussion in good faith.. It's all claiming "bait" and "trolls" to people with differing opinions, and showing the magnitudes of ineptness people have these days when it comes to social interactions, and conversations, especially online.

He goes around the forums being mad at every negative/critical thread.

And yes, you make good points. The story seemed like they put together multiple disjointed plots that are all unfinished. By the time I was in the last 2/3 of the game, I had already given up on the story because I had no idea what was going on anymore (not that I ever really did, and I'm not sure the devs did either.) Then I googled around a bit and found out neither does anyone else.

Originally posted by Holy Athena:

It's really bad.. not even gonna comment on the utterly nonsense gameplay of Missile spams, which competely take away from the enjoyment... It's not hard, just annoying.

Yeah, I thought of that too, but then I realized it's kind of tough to make this kind of lock-on combat challenging. In a WW2 game it's easier because you shoot individual bullets, not homing missiles. It's tougher to get behind someone, and it's also more interesting to evade because it's more than just "get out of his screen." Here as soon as you're locked on, which basically means if you're seen at all by an enemy, it's "MISSILE, MISSILE, MISSILE," so it's non-stop.

[Holy Athena]

Originally posted by Multihog:

Originally posted by Holy Athena:

I'm sorry you're not capable of understanding people have different opinions than you. I feel sorry for you.

I'm writing my post because I just recently replayed it, trying to give it another chance, but I just don't understand how people can say this story is great, with great game play, when its subjectively and objectively the worst AC game possible not counting the graphics. Here to have a discussion about it, because that's what the forums are for.

Which I suppose is silly of me.. Nobody today apparently can have a discussion in good faith.. It's all claiming "bait" and "trolls" to people with differing opinions, and showing the magnitudes of ineptness people have these days when it comes to social interactions, and conversations, especially online.

He goes around the forums being mad at every negative/critical thread.

And yes, you make good points. The story seemed like they put together multiple disjointed plots that are all unfinished. By the time I was in the last 2/3 of the game, I had already given up on the story because I had no idea what was going on anymore (not that I ever really did, and I'm not sure the devs did either.) Then I googled around a bit and found out neither does anyone else.

yea, that was my biggest take away.. I heard apparently an AC 8 is in the works since like 2021, but I'm worried about it. If this is the new way they're taking games in terms of story... It's worrying, as well as gameplay.

While the previous games the gameplay was a bit of a joke with how easy it was, AC7 went way overboard imo with the missile spams, and drone spams.

It reminds me of another game I used to play on the PS2 actually. Was hands down the best air combat I've ever played. Missiles were more difficult to dodge, but still not overly hard or easy, but you had to really pick and choose your targets, and not let people get on your rear and stick there or you'd be in trouble.

I always wished AC games took that route more.

Anyway, thank you for the honest and genuine response. I know there a lot of people who disagree with me, and I'm honestly wondering what they see I don't.

[Talbrys]

Originally posted by Holy Athena:

They could of really did a push for the return of AC in Strangereal world.. Saw the return of major characters like Nagase, Snow, Pixy and others, not just one time write offs.. Infact, Pixy would of been perfect for the chaos "no borders" every nation becomes fractured, and infighting angle if they had destroyed all the satellites right at the start.

This in turn leads you down a path of mysteries, and figuring out what's going on, who's friend and foe, and pushing that angle, which would of been way more interesting to see how other nations react to the turmoil as well. You could of still had the Master Ace pilot and the AI drones as main bad guys too, nobody knowing who they are, or where they are coming from as Belka tries to once again dominate everything and take everything back in the background.. It also would of been far less obvious of the "plot twist" of it being Belka at the end too.

As the story goes on, you come into contact with Nagase, Snow, Pixy, Yellow Squadron, Mobius 1 and other big characters from those games as they try to hold together their fractured nations, with the final show down being all of them converging on Belka to shut down the Arsenal Birds, and Drones.

Far more interesting story imo, especially if you consider all the intrigue, and plot twists right within that you could pull as well.

I really can't fathom how this game has such high marks.. Makes me wonder if its true that people today just care about good graphics, and too simple minded for anything else.

Please no. Not saying the AC franchise storylines are some kind of literary masterpiece, but your proposed story of "just cram all my favorite characters into one story" would make a fanfiction writer on Reddit cringe. Anime-esqe storylines and missile spam is part of the AC franchise's bread and butter. Not sure how you can complain about this and still consider yourself a "serious Ace Combat fan." Sounds like you just need to find a new flight combat franchise cause this stuff isn't going anywhere.

Either that or you have my compliments for dropping bait I bit on.

[Holy Athena]

Originally posted by Talbrys:

Originally posted by Holy Athena:

They could of really did a push for the return of AC in Strangereal world.. Saw the return of major characters like Nagase, Snow, Pixy and others, not just one time write offs.. Infact, Pixy would of been perfect for the chaos "no borders" every nation becomes fractured, and infighting angle if they had destroyed all the satellites right at the start.

This in turn leads you down a path of mysteries, and figuring out what's going on, who's friend and foe, and pushing that angle, which would of been way more interesting to see how other nations react to the turmoil as well. You could of still had the Master Ace pilot and the AI drones as main bad guys too, nobody knowing who they are, or where they are coming from as Belka tries to once again dominate everything and take everything back in the background.. It also would of been far less obvious of the "plot twist" of it being Belka at the end too.

As the story goes on, you come into contact with Nagase, Snow, Pixy, Yellow Squadron, Mobius 1 and other big characters from those games as they try to hold together their fractured nations, with the final show down being all of them converging on Belka to shut down the Arsenal Birds, and Drones.

Far more interesting story imo, especially if you consider all the intrigue, and plot twists right within that you could pull as well.

I really can't fathom how this game has such high marks.. Makes me wonder if its true that people today just care about good graphics, and too simple minded for anything else.

Please no. Not saying the AC franchise storylines are some kind of literary masterpiece, but your proposed story of "just cram all my favorite characters into one story" would make a fanfiction writer on Reddit cringe. Anime-esqe storylines and missile spam is part of the AC franchise's bread and butter. Not sure how you can complain about this and still consider yourself a "serious Ace Combat fan." Sounds like you just need to find a new flight combat franchise cause this stuff isn't going anywhere.

Either that or you have my compliments for dropping bait I bit on.

AC7 was supposed to be a "return to form" after multiple epically failed AC games. Returning to the Strangereal world, and its politics. So I disagree that dropping previous stuff wrapping it up into a well defined, and good story would of been cringe if done right, so I disagree there.

Anime-esque storylines absolutely is not the status quo, infact I remember AC 7 having a buzz about it for being "anime like", which wouldn't of been such a hot topic at its release if it was the status quo as you're suggesting.

AC 3-6, (not counting the Xbox one, or the ones not on Strangereal because they were well, not good and I don't count them as real AC games tthey took such a massive deperture from the series) had nothing to do with "Anime tropes" like AC 7 does.

Also missiles spams? Not at all.. Again, not an AC trope, (except again maybe the games outside of Strangereal). I remember buying an Xbox JUST so I could play the AC that released on XBox.. Yes I am fan.. and no, even then it wasn't missile spams...

Show me gameplay of any game of AC 3-6 or the Xbox one, where it was non stop missile spams for 7 minutes straight. You can't, and won't because it isn't the norm.

I'm not talking about once in awhile getting multiple missiles or enemies on you. I'm talking about virtually non stop 1 missile after another, repeatedly for 5+ minutes or more.

[Talbrys]

Originally posted by Holy Athena:

Show me gameplay of any game of AC 3-6 or the Xbox one, where it was non stop missile spams for 7 minutes straight. You can't, and won't because it isn't the norm.

I'm not talking about once in awhile getting multiple missiles or enemies on you. I'm talking about virtually non stop 1 missile after another, repeatedly for 5+ minutes or more.

Show me an AC7 video of nonstop missiles for 7 minutes (where someone is actually playing the game). If this is happening to you in AC7 you are doing something very wrong. Sounds like a skill issue to me.

AC7 was supposed to be a "return to form" after multiple epically failed AC games. Returning to the Strangereal world, and its politics. So I disagree that dropping previous stuff wrapping it up into a well defined, and good story would of been cringe if done right, so I disagree there.

Anime-esque storylines absolutely is not the status quo, infact I remember AC 7 having a buzz about it for being "anime like", which wouldn't of been such a hot topic at its release if it was the status quo as you're suggesting.

AC 3-6, (not counting the Xbox one, or the ones not on Strangereal because they were well, not good and I don't count them as real AC games tthey took such a massive deperture from the series) had nothing to do with "Anime tropes" like AC 7 does.

AC 3 had literal anime style cut scenes to go along with its anime style storyline and AC 5 and 0 were both narratively just Gundam with planes. AC4 was a fairly straight war story but the geopolitics were practically nonexistant and was fairly boring (but the gameplay, missile spam included made up for it). I don't remember much about AC6 but I recall it also had a bunch of side stories that went no where. At least the ones in AC7 coalesce at the end in a meaningful way. In some ways AC7 was really just the distilled essence of the rest of the series.

At least we can agree that AH was trash.

[Neurovex]

Story feels unfinished, yes, but doesn't look too bad. I think the worst thing in this game is not story itself, but the way of storytelling. (I haven't played other AC games btw) As for story itself, I think Sol Squadron and Mihaly should have appeared more in the game and looked more effective. Mihaly, in my eyes right now, is really like Vaas in Far Cry 3. Despite his rare appearance in the game, he is the most impressive character after Trigger.

[ManyEagles]

Ya it was not good. Felt like watching a bad movie. The plot just didn't come together. Hopefully Ace Combat 8 is better.

[midori]

The story has been handled by the same "individual" behind that extremely lackluster Ace Combat 5's story.
While the DLC's stories were, allegedly, handled by the same people behind Ace Combat Zero's.

I don't mind some of the plot-points (Erusea's Radical letting Technology over their head and stuff), but the way the handled it is terrible. At this point, I'd preferred if we played as a Belkan, instead of playing as the usual cookie-cutter mary-sue hero.
Even the Spare squad, that was the most interesting part of this game, it lasts for about 4 missions. This game has no consistency, it throws gimmicks after gimmicks and then abandons those gimmicks even during the same mission. What a shame, it's on par with Ac5 and AC:AH.

[Ifrit's ShadowA41™]

Apparently this game went through development hell? Certainly explains the subpar story. I am not expecting Ace Combat 3 again, though I would absolutely love that but I would like at least a coherent story, I do not think that is too much ask for.
I was expecting to get some truth about the president being assassinated but other than you getting sent to a penal battalion nothing comes of it. I have only played the PS1 games and 7, so I am curious, is 3 the only game in the series that tried to tell a story? 4 seems like it is trying but I have barely played it so far.

[Multihog]

Originally posted by Ifrit's ShadowA41™:

Apparently this game went through development hell? Certainly explains the subpar story. I am not expecting Ace Combat 3 again, though I would absolutely love that but I would like at least a coherent story, I do not think that is too much ask for.
I was expecting to get some truth about the president being assassinated but other than you getting sent to a penal battalion nothing comes of it. I have only played the PS1 games and 7, so I am curious, is 3 the only game in the series that tried to tell a story? 4 seems like it is trying but I have barely played it so far.

If you want a good story, look elsewhere than video games. Video games are a sh!tty medium for storytelling because they need to always have an excuse for you to kill thousands of enemies (or justify other mechanics.)

I'd be happy if games stopped trying with stories. They're all utter garbage due to the constraints of the medium.

[paomayo]

Originally posted by Multihog:

[quote=Ifrit's
If you want a good story, look elsewhere than video games. Video games are a sh!tty medium for storytelling because they need to always have an excuse for you to kill thousands of enemies (or justify other mechanics.)

I'd be happy if games stopped trying with stories. They're all utter garbage due to the constraints of the medium.

I wouldn't suggest underestimating the ability of video games to tell good stories. Sometimes it requires looking at areas (such as music &lyrics, time of day, speech patterns, the very way the game's played) where the brilliance can lie.

[Multihog]

Originally posted by paomayo:

I wouldn't suggest underestimating the ability of video games to tell good stories. Sometimes it requires looking at areas (such as music &lyrics, time of day, speech patterns, the very way the game's played) where the brilliance can lie.

Story and gameplay are at odds. Games are built around repetitive actions called gameplay loops. Almost no story can justify the protagonist killing hundreds or thousands of enemies or similar repetition.

This causes "ludonarrative dissonance"[en.wikipedia.org]. There's a clear divide between game time and story time. Almost all games have this problem.

The boundaries of what the story can do are also very narrow because what you do in video games is narrow. Fighting games are probably the worst example. They need to bend over backwards to come up with some forced reason for every pair of characters to fight. It's hilarious to follow because it ends up being completely contrived. Now compare that to an actual good storytelling medium such as books: you're free to write whatever the hell you want without having to wrap it around pre-placed pillars.

Just all in all an AWFUL medium for story. Get story the f*ck out of games entirely, imo. Make it like Mario, where there's some basic goal but nothing beyond that. Put all effort into gameplay, interactivity.

EDIT: (in addition to all the other sh!t I just added,) I should say, they should stop trying to be movies.

[paomayo]

Originally posted by Multihog:

Story and gameplay are at odds. Games are built around repetitive actions called gameplay loops. Almost no story can justify the protagonist killing hundreds or thousands of enemies or similar repetition.

This causes "ludonarrative dissonance"[en.wikipedia.org]. There's a clear divide between game time and story time. Almost all games have this problem.

The boundaries of what the story can do are also very narrow because what you do in video games is narrow.

Just all and all and AWFUL medium for story. Get story the f*ck out of games entirely, imo. Make it like Mario, where there's some basic goal but nothing beyond that. Put all effort into gameplay, interactivity.

So, not quite?