ACE COMBAT™ 7: SKIES UNKNOWN

I initially wanted to 100% the game, but upon knowing that the game has multiplayer-only achievements, it is hard to accomplish, and is very dependent on the playerbase population, so I didn't. It is unfortunate, I would've tried to 100% the game by now. STORY 10/10 - Super Deep Lore I will argue that it is on the same level as Metal Gear Solid series level of the level of lore or higher. It is important to understand that the story is taking place in Strangereal. Let's say that the story is independent of itself. then the game easily lifts its own weight given how there are multiple level designs that correlate with how the story is going that follow rising action, climax, main plot, and then resolution. LEVEL DESIGN 9/10 - Super In-Depth and Explores Every Movement and Aiming Mechanic There are levels that focus on taking out fleets, (ground targets) there are levels that focus on taking out the air targets, and there are some levels that force you to fly accurately as you have to scan per enemy if they are a friend or a foe, and of course, the famous Ace Combat tunnel missions where you have to fly accurately across. It loses a point in my opinion due to how there are some planes that have too much of a wingspan where I am dominating the air battle prior, and then struggle in a mission because of a tunnel mission. I think Project Aces should think about the experience of each aircraft per mission, but then again, I can't expect the A-10 to dominate air battles. There are pros and cons, yes, but some supermaneuverable aircrafts have insane wingspans. (The XFA-27 has super good maneuverability, but the wingspans force the player to fly accurately or risk ground damage in certain missions) ARTSTYLE 10/10 - It Isn't Everyday You get to Soar Through the Skies I absolutely love how it feels like I am soaring through the clouds and I feel free, and I enjoy that. I enjoy being in cockpit view and feel the thrill of battles, and feel the shear speed and adrenaline of being of a jetfighter, and that speaks volumes given I played the game through a 16-inch gaming laptop, not a full-width gaming monitor. There are levels where you actually feel the lore build up, as you are flying through the skies, like Shilage Castle, and their heritage, the Space Elevator and how it impacts the world around it, the shear size of Huge Aircrafts, how it straps you in the adventure and thrill as you get through the game. OPTIMIZATION 9/10 - It Is Insanely Good, but It Can be Better I am an enthusiast for game optimization, especially because personal computers have become more and more expensive by the day, hence the reason why I said "it can be better." With my laptop specs posted (ASUS ROG Strix G16 laptop, RTX 4060 8GB 140W - Laptop, i7-13650HX) I consistently hit 120+FPS and I feel that through the speed and adrenaline of my gameplay. They had done an insane job with optimization, but I do see models that aren't pre-rendered and they "pop" in my screen as I get closer to them, which is reasonable for optimization, but it makes up for it for art style, and breathtaking environments. BOSS FIGHTS 10/10 - It Felt Like I Felt EVERYTHING in the Boss Fights For context, my first ace combat game was Joint Assault in the PSP, and there is a pattern I have seen in those battles, the bosses are strong in defense, but weak in their offense. I used this against Mihaly, and I bait him to fire missiles, and his railgun, for me to do a high-G-turn and pull my own attack since the bosses are typically weak in their offense. Still, with that knowledge, it felt like one experience I love. The bosses feel like they pull my flight skills to the test, where it doesn't feel hard, not too easy, but brings my skills to the test. I do love watching the antagonist's flight styles too, the way the boss dodges missiles, the way he implements the circling of a glider to "minimize the damage when he's hit" to gain flight is a masterpiece of a flight style. Ace Combat does have good art style and good gameplay "experience." OVERALL 9.8/10 - INSANELY GOOD for What It Is