After defeating multiple squadrons of enemy fighters and helicopters targeting the final port held by my beleaguered country, I headed back to base on the old aircraft carrier. There, a business leader allied with our small force demonstrated how he was altering images on his phone to suggest we had a larger air force, using deception to appear stronger.

Strangereal receives an infusion of 2026 realities.

As the initial Ace Combat title in seven years and the first for this console generation, Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve features numerous technical and narrative updates. During a preview event in Los Angeles, I experienced several hours across six missions. The game fully captures the series signature style of intense aerial action while avoiding the steep demands of hyper-realistic simulators.

It remains firmly rooted in the Ace Combat universe of Strangereal, where stylized European-inspired countries clash in prolonged conflicts using authentic aircraft alongside enormous flying wings and massive land battleships reminiscent of anime. Yet during my sessions, the elements drawn from our actual 2026 world proved most memorable.

These aspects shape Project Aces approach to Ace Combat 8, emphasizing bonds between pilots and those near the player. The story begins with an unnamed protagonist rescued from the ocean and brought aboard a carrier that represents the final military stand of the Federation of Central Usea after its loss to the Republic of Sotoa. Soon the player assumes the role of the Wings of Theve, a legendary flyer whose identity stays hidden so successors can step in if one falls.

The theme of upholding a legend is classic, yet it gains fresh relevance here. Project Aces aimed to shift focus from grand skies to personal connections with shipmates. Between missions, players interact with these characters who record smartphone clips of the Wings of Theve shared widely as morale-boosting material. Even in the surreal Strangereal setting built for epic wars, the inclusion of real-world phone-based propaganda feels striking in a series known for jet dogfights.

As CNET mobile editor, seeing social media tactics enter a military aviation game feels unusual. During discussions with series brand director Kazutoki Kono, he described the smartphone elements as part of the player's growth into an ace.

"There are huge boss encounters, varied challenges, and tough dogfight scenarios including rival aces," Kono noted. "On a broader level, social media and misinformation represent another hurdle teams must handle today. It forms one of many obstacles players overcome to experience that sense of progression."

This choice stands out given what was left out, such as drones now common in real conflicts. Kono mentioned earlier that drone foes in Ace Combat 7 drew fan criticism, as players preferred direct human-versus-human dogfights with radio exchanges and tension.

"We always target a certain reality threshold," Kono explained in December. "Yet we avoid crossing it if it harms enjoyment, since fun remains our core design goal."

Playing Ace Combat 8: Becoming the wings of legend

I considered this balance of fact and fiction while preparing for the preview. Kono's remarks on avoiding UAVs prompted thoughts on how much the game preserves classic dogfight fantasies from films like Top Gun amid real shifts toward drones and long-range combat.

Following rescue and crew introductions, the player flies as a passenger behind the current Wings of Theve, whose sunglasses and confident grin evoke Pete Mitchell. The pilot Cope also has inflated kill counts as part of the misinformation theme. When an enemy ace downs the plane, Cope perishes and the player inherits the title, with Cope returning as a spectral guide. This handover adds flavor while supporting the silent protagonist.

Post-prologue, the first mission casts the player as the Wings of Theve for publicity to sustain morale. Missions two and three introduce squadmates including the Professor, a former community college instructor, the quiet Noise, and ex-stunt pilot Tasha with striking hair.

Players can direct squad focus, let them act freely, or have them form up. This offers flexibility, though tracking their actions proved tricky amid objectives. Their radio banter provided enjoyable moments.

Squad loadouts can be customized with aircraft and weapons for each mission, though differences between A-10s and Eurofighters were subtle. Starting in the F/A-18C, players unlock over 30 real and fictional planes with varied stats and options suited to air or ground roles.

Unlocks follow a tech tree from the F/A-18C, adding planes plus perks like better missiles or bigger bombs. With over 100 standard missiles and many more options, armaments emphasize arcade-style combat over strict realism, supporting the heroic pilot fantasy and reducing frustration from misses.

The preview jumped ahead for later segments. Mission four mixed air and ground targets around harbors defended by fighters. Mission nine featured a land battleship resembling the USS Iowa on tracks, requiring immobilization amid heavy defenses including guns, quadcopters, and drone swarms. Several attempts were needed amid collapsing structures.

Mission eleven involved massive flying-wing transports carrying battleship components. Radar jamming forced tracking via contrails, followed by close-range attacks with squad support. Fighter escorts added intensity to the cloud-filled sequence showcasing the Cloudly tech.

This exhilarating sky adventure forms one of three core design pillars for Ace Combat 8, per Kono. All choices support these pillars.

"The first is photorealistic skies with full player freedom," Kono said. "The second involves choosing targets and enjoying dogfights. The third covers becoming an ace, advancing from novice to hero." He added that music might represent a fourth pillar given fan enthusiasm.

Despite efforts toward realism in aircraft and effects like cockpit moisture, Ace Combat delivers the fantasy of a sky fighter upholding justice. While the social media elements surprised me, the growth of the pilot legend remained compelling, achieved best through skilled flying and missiles rather than edited videos.