Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve Review - Soaring Dogfights & Gripping Story

Ever found yourself physically leaning into a turn while playing a flight game? That's exactly what Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve does—it'll have you twisting and turning in your seat during intense dogfights. The game continues the series' traditions of breakneck speed, exhilarating combat, and killer soundtracks, but Bandai Namco's renewed focus on cutscenes makes the opening a bit slower. Stick with it, though, because once the story hooks you, the pace picks up and each mission delivers a brilliant burst of tight flight combat.

You play as Rex of Joker Squadron, a voiceless fighter pilot who becomes the legendary 'Wings of Theve'—a fabricated ace invented to inspire hope during an invasion from neighboring Sotoa. The real Wings, Cope, was killed in action, and his Johnny Silverhand-esque inner monologue fills the silence of your protagonist. The metanarrative around manufacturing a legend as a weapon is a constant undercurrent, with themes reminiscent of Metal Gear Solid: targeted misinformation, corporate war profiteering, and how they benefit regardless of the victor. It feels eerily pertinent today.

I was skeptical about the number of cutscenes at first—it took 45 minutes from booting up to finishing the first mission. But as the game progresses, cutscenes lessen and your attachment grows thanks to an excellent cast of wingmen, the best rival since Zero, and that compelling inner monologue. The story gets its hooks in, and you'll find yourself invested in the characters and the conflict.

Gameplay-wise, Ace Combat 8 doesn't reinvent the wheel. You tackle a 30-mission campaign, choosing planes, weapons, and parts to suit each objective. If you played Ace Combat 7, you'll feel right at home. Where Wings of Theve shines is mission variety: escorting ground troops through cities, fleeing in an underpowered craft, and causing maximum destruction in timed assaults. The rival encounters are a personal highlight—intense dogfights that test your skills. One mission has you juggling dogfighting, taking out anti-air guns, and protecting your troops simultaneously. It's overwhelming, but that feeling of being stretched thin is exhilarating and emphasizes the desperation of Usea's last stand.

By the end, you'll feel like the ace pilot you're supposed to be. Mechanical and narrative twists converge in some of the series' most bombastic final missions, even putting Top Gun: Maverick to shame. There's Avengers: Endgame-level flair in consequential moments, like a suicide run that defies all odds. The soundtrack is, as expected, phenomenal—epic orchestral numbers punctuate tense dogfights, while guitars and in-universe music add variety. The Shadows theme kicking in during mission 3 is a standout moment that'll give you chills.

Ace Combat Online, the multiplayer component, was only available for a single day during the review period, but what I tried was a fun selection of PvP and co-op missions. It's a promising addition, though we'll have to wait to see how it holds up. Also, Ace Combat Zero has been ported to modern platforms, but bizarrely it's only available as a preorder bonus. Locking it away is a shame, but if you can get it, it's highly recommended.

Overall, Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve soars thanks to thrilling dogfights and a genuinely gripping story. The slow start is worth pushing through for the exhilarating payoff. Will you be picking this up when it launches on October 2, 2026? Let us know in the comments!