Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown: Nintendo Switch Review

Developed by Bandai Namco Studios
Published by Bandai Namco Studios
Platform: Nintendo Switch

 the Ace Combat series (the clue is in the 7 of the title), Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown gives a very good case for being a great fun simulator for even the most useless of pilots.

Set at a time of fragile peace between two continents, Osea and Erusea, it's the story of Avril Mead a mechanic who lands in hot water after a surprise attack. You take up the mantle of Trigger, a pilot who finds themself in the middle of the scrap, and forced to take to the skies to try and save the day.

It's fair to say that Ace Combat 7 is as much for the casual player of flight combat games as it is for the hardcore fighter; but how much mileage you get out of it will depend on which category you fall into.

That said, while a lack of tutorials is occasionally galling, it's fairly simple to pick up the basics of the game, but it may be harder to grasp the intricacies of hurtling around the skies in your combat jets.

Each mission leads you further into the story, and gets you along unlocking elements of the development tree for your craft. But it's when the game slips into histrionics and somewhat cliched territory that some of the more glaring elements stand out - notably some lunk-headed dialogue and some overly scripted cut scenes.

But once you get into the skies, Ace Combat 7 does come into its own.

Whether it's flying through a storm cloud and finding droplets on your windshield or watching portions of debris fall from the sky after you've blasted your enemy to pieces, Ace Combat 7 really does look the part when it absolutely needs to.

To all intents and purposes, Ace Combat 7 Skies Unknown is a game that manages to appeal to a broader audience than just air combat enthusiasts.

With a bit of patience, it's rewarding and challenging enough to overcome its basic level scripting problems. In fact, you could almost say it takes to the skies with ease when it needs to.

Particularly with the new Nintendo Switch version more or less matching frame rates and never once losing anything of the gameplay or the speed and ferocity of the air combat world, this port makes a case for being one of the best handheld air fighter games that is out there. With long missions to sink your teeth into and plenty of the DLC added in, this is a compact and thrilling package that even non-airfighter fans will enjoy.