Review - Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown Deluxe Edition

Developer: Project Aces

Publisher: Bandai Namco

Available on: PC (Steam), PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

Review system: Nintendo Switch

Work hard, fly right. On January 18th, 2019, the video game world heard the sound of the sound barrier being broken with the release of Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown. The aerial arcade combat game wowed players with its focus on real-life fighter aircraft, top-notch arcade gameplay, and a strong story of war and hope. Since then, five million copies have been sold and multiple pieces of DLC have been made available.

Five years later, Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown lands on the Nintendo Switch as Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown Deluxe Edition. With the team having spent two years on this port, the hard work pays off, and Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown Deluxe Edition soars with flying colors. This is among the best ports ever to grace the Nintendo Handheld, right up there with The Witcher III port.

Prepare for takeoff

Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown first launched on PlayStation 4, Xbox, and Steam. I took the opportunity to review the game and found it among the very best games of that year. More details regarding gameplay, story, and the game's legacy can be found in that review. For the 2024 Nintendo Switch release, Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown becomes Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown Deluxe Edition, featuring the base game and a bevy of extras, which includes newer planes and a separate campaign that goes alongside the main campaign.

Ace Combat 7 is an aerial combat game. The franchise started in 1993 and has seen its release on almost every major platform. Beginning with Air Combat on the PS One, the franchise became the definitive aerial combat game, known for giving players that "Maverick" feeling of fighting dozens of foes with the world's weight on your shoulders.

Know your targets

For the uninitiated, Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown Deluxe Edition takes place in what is known as the Strange Real, which is a mirrored version of our Earth. For example, the superpower country in the game, known as Osea, is essentially the United States, complete with a Biden-looking president and a White House. It's a world engulfed in turmoil and political intrigue, but also has its inspirations from science fiction and anime. When war breaks out, you, the nameless pilot, take to the skies in the hopes of turning the tides of many battles to potentially save the world.

Players fly serval dozen planes in white-knuckle aerial combat. These planes are licensed real-life aircraft from the F-16 Falcon to the F/A-18 Super Hornet. There are many other licensed aircraft within the game that cannot be piloted such as the B-52 Stratofortress and the B-1B Lancer. Players are briefed and given the choice of what aircraft and loadout they wish to bring to the mission. The right loudout can make a big difference to how well the mission goes and how well players are ranked. In addition to a sizeable campaign mode made to be replayed, there is online multiplayer for online dogfights and a free flight mode.

Mach 3 with your hair on fire

If you asked me if Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown Deluxe Edition would ever arrive on the Nintendo Switch, I would have been most doubtful. In fact, the last Ace Combat game released for a Nintendo Platform was Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Plus for the 3DS. However, like many other surprises this year, Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown Deluxe Edition arrived and has a performance on par with the PS4 version. Having played both, I'm astounded as the Switch version is identical, even with slightly noticeable blemishes one has to go out of the way to see.

Visually, Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown Deluxe Edition on Switch is stunning! The franchise has made a name on photo-realism with its aircraft and that returns here. Planes are modeled with many little details from the afterburner of the engines to the flaps. New to this installment are atmospheric effects such as icing, rain, and severe turbulence which do affect the aircraft during combat. Everything from the cockpit views to the stunning landscapes makes a solid return as well. The keen eye may notice small jagged edges here and there but visually, the game rocks.

Going Ballistic, Mav

The entire experience is here. Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown Deluxe Edition is the same experience found elsewhere, with the difference of having to use the Nintendo Switch. it took getting used to and my brain had to rewire the fact I wasn't using a PlayStation controller. However, everything fits like a glove in the control department. The vibration feedback works very well too.

The same great gameplay that graced the original release is back. Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown Deluxe Edition relishes in the Maverick fantasy. A target-rich environment, a war to win, and only you have what it takes to win the day. The game will challenge even the hardiest of players but welcome those unfamiliar with the franchise, thanks to the multitude of difficulty modes and control options. From the first mission, planes and missiles streak at a moment's notice and one reflex can turn the hunter into the hunted. Explosions blast away the skyline and lightning streaks across your wings. It is an unforgettable experience that stays with you.

Holes in the fuselage

The release of Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown Deluxe Edition comes with some special caveats. Several fictional aircraft are available upon the start of the campaign. These more sci-fi aircraft are anime-inspired with their abilities to shoot laser beams and have impossible flying abilities. They are helpful in multiplayer and levels set to ACE difficulty. In addition to a jukebox mode to listen to the game's soundtrack, there is also a special campaign. The special campaign has three gargantuan missions in an operation that feels like the anime interpretation of Tom Clancy's The Hunt for Red October.

However, not everything is clear skies. Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown Deluxe Edition is a great game and an excellent port, but many pieces of the DLC were not included with the game, becoming a la carte items that can be purchased in the eShop store. There are a bevy of planes and skins that are not included in the release. This includes favorites like the Top Gun: Maverick pack, which features aircraft from the movie. This is rather deceptive, given the title makes one believe all content is folded into the release as most ports go. However, this isn't the case, and this means all Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown Deluxe Edition content is well over $100.

Ace Combat is here

The only other game I can compare Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown Deluxe Edition to is Project WIngman, and even that game is special in being a love letter to the Ace Combat franchise. Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown Deluxe Edition is a special game and this new release is a special port. Now, many more will be able to experience this remarkable and hopeful game with its unforgettable combat and music.

While it took five years to get there, Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown Deluxe Edition is an excellent addition to the Nintendo Switch. Its incredible combination of gameplay, presentation, and story puts players into a world they will get lost in for hours, soaring above the clouds, and experiencing the deep blue skies at high speeds. Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown Deluxe Edition is an excellent game, and an excellent port, and should be in everyone's Switch library.

ACE COMBAT 7: SKIES UNKNOWN DELUXE EDITION IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED