Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve Hands-On Preview

There were plenty of moments during my time with Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve that I forgot I was playing a preview build in a dark room filled with other people. What began with an explosive, dramatic prologue that had me grinning from ear to ear without even realizing it eventually took me into some of the most intense flight combat scenarios the series has ever seen, to the point that taking my eyes off the screen even for a second would have meant my demise. Ace Combat 7 already knew how to make aerial combat exciting and accessible enough for an unprecedented demographic, but Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve makes it feel bigger, more cinematic, and far easier to get pulled into than anything the series has ever done before.