Review for Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown. Game for PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, the video game was released on 18/01/2019 The version for PC came out on 01/02/2019
In recent years, the gaming industry has accustomed us to simulators of all kinds, from the classic virtual farm to the operating room. Yet when it comes to flight simulators, it is difficult to find titles capable of satisfying users., and if on the one hand Microsoft and its Flight Simulator comes to mind, on the other we find the Ace Combat saga. In 2017, Bandai Namco introduced to the world ACE COMBAT 7: Skies Unknown, but for various problems and choices of the team, everything has been postponed until today.
The game features two versions, classic and PlayStation VR, which offer different gaming experiences. Sony's headset will not be able to play the entire game, but only some missions built ad hoc with free flight. In this review we will only talk about the basic version, as VR deserves an article of its own.
It is immediately necessary to underline that ACE COMBAT 7: Skies Unknown is not a simulation game in the strict sense of the term. We will take the part of various pilots driving a good variety of planes, but we certainly cannot speak of a classic simulation experience: this does not mean, however, that various elements have been faithfully reproduced, both as regards the planes and the surrounding environment.
In Ace Combat 7, every natural element really risks endangering the missions you face, for example, ice can ruin the plane, especially if it settles on the wings; with the fog, on the other hand, you risk not seeing obstacles in flight, and literally entering some clouds can make you lose track and also keep in mind the turbulence, which will make the plane oscillate making it difficult to control. All these elements mean that each mission can be tackled in various ways: boredom is therefore not allowed, but frustration could show up on occasion. One of the tactics we immediately tried is to hide inside the clouds and then come out in the tail of some enemy aircraft and this is just one of the many possibilities you will have, and looking for new ways to take advantage of the weather and the environment is something that will really enjoy you. much.
A story to be told
The main mode is obviously the Campaign, which through the eyes of a young girl passionate about flying, tells us about the war between the Hosean Federation and the Kingdom of Erusea. All the cutscenes in between, really well done and engaging, are mainly focused on the story of this young woman, who ended up in the middle of the conflict by pure chance.
Despite this we will play as "Trigger", a new pilot of the Hosean Federation, who will find himself fighting a war born out of nowhere. As per the tradition of the series, the story is intriguing thanks to the large amount of films all rigorously created in computer graphics, and the twists are always around the corner. The other modes consist of single missions and competitive multiplayer, which unfortunately we could not test due to the obvious lack of online users in the review phase.
A very arcade simulation
As already mentioned above, the Bandai Namco title could make those looking for a real simulation turn up their noses. The game is in fact easily accessible for everyone, both for those who know the brand and for those approaching the genre for the first time. This does not mean that it is simple, and it is no coincidence that three different difficulties have been included: easy - normal - expert.
Before each mission, it will be possible to choose the type of aircraft and armaments through the “aircraft tree”, consisting of the classic branches that from the basic model allow to arrive at the various variants. All this allows a good dose of strategy for each mission faced, having to adapt to every situation we will face: if for example the battlefield will consist mainly in the sky, having a fighter with excellent air / air armaments will be fundamental.
It must be said that, even if with greater difficulty, missions can be completed with any aircraft, but the sooner we complete the objectives, the more MRP credits, the game currency, we will earn, and the same goes for kills and little damage taken.
Nel blu di blu dipinto
ACE COMBAT 7: Skies Unknown for the first time uses theU. Visually one is pleasantly surprised, the feeling of driving a plane is real, as are the explosions, the smoke trails and the effects of the weather on the plane.
But our curiosity immediately turned to rendering the clouds with the trueSKY technology, main reason why the game is so late in its release. The wait was really worth it, crossing the clouds chased by an enemy fighter is exciting, with our plane starting to wobble realistically as we see nothing more. Finally, everything is seasoned with the soundtrack of Keiki Kobayashi, historical composer of the saga, which will increase our adrenaline in each new game.
ACE COMBAT 7: Skies Unknown manages to be modern while maintaining its origins. The compromise reached between simulation and arcade is perfect, as is the whole audio visual sector. The trueSky technology and VR remain icing on the cake that are difficult to ignore by the player, making the title even more attractive. Your library cannot and must not miss a title that will literally make you spend hours and hours in heaven.
► Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown is a Simulation-type game published by Bandai Namco for PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, the video game was released on 18/01/2019 The version for PC came out on 01/02/2019
