Rave Reviews for Ace Combat 8 Demo; Kotaku Sees 'Boundless Ambition'

Ace Combat 8: Shihar's Wing Earns Enthusiastic Hands-On Preview From Kotaku

Kotaku played through the first five missions and full cutscenes of Ace Combat 8: Shihar's Wing at Summer Game Fest, giving readers a solid first look. The game is scheduled for an October release.

The preview editor's session got messy. Multiple enemy waves, missed special weapons, a few botched turns, even a restart after mission failure. By typical standards, that's a red flag. But the editor owned it—attributing the failures to their own skill rather than flaws in the game design. That kind of self-criticism is itself an endorsement.

The flight controls feel solid, and the visual fidelity hits hard. Teammate dialogue rings natural and tense, making you feel the emotional bonds with your wingmates. Most flight combat games isolate you in a lonely cockpit. Ace Combat 8 clearly avoids that.

Story-wise, the game picks up where Ace Combat 7: Unknown Skies left off. Players step into the role of an Erusean Federation Air Force officer, inheriting the callsign of ace pilot Rex, who was killed in action. The narrative foundation is strong, and continuity stays intact.

Kotaku put it plainly: even stumbling through the experience, the game leaves you motivated to sharpen your skills. That's a hallmark of great game design. The best titles don't make you want to quit when you mess up—they make you think "I'll nail it next time."

Longtime fans will find plenty to love, and newcomers have a solid entry point heading into October.