# Digital Media Concepts/Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown

Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown is a arcade flight simulator developed by Project Aces and published by BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment. It was released on January 18, 2019 for the Xbox One and PlayStation 4. It was later released for PC on February 1, 2019 on Steam. Ace Combat 7 is the eighth game in the mainline series and the eighteenth in the overall series. The games features a set of exclusive missions that is supported for virtual reality for the PlayStation 4.

## Development and Release

Ace Combat Infinity, the previous entry before Ace Combat 7, received less than favorable reviews, was well received by veteran fans. This caused Bandai Namco to have a revived interest in the series and instructed internal development team Project Aces to develop a sequel to the Xbox 360 exclusive Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation. Ace Combat 7 was originally set to be released in 2017 exclusively to the PlayStation 4 but was delayed to 2018 as the director of the game said that the development team needed more time realize the vision they had for the final product. Ace Combat 7 would later be delayed again to 2019 for the final time. Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown was finally released on January 18, 2019 for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One and February 1 of the same year. Ace Combat 7 is the first in the series to use Unreal Engine 4, a highly advanced version of Unreal Engine 3. The biggest change is the switch to Physically Based Rendering (PBR) which allowed for more dynamic and realistic graphics. After the game's release, the game received downloadable content in the form of missions and aircraft.

## Gameplay

Instead of the more realistic controls of a typical flight simulator, Ace Combat 7 favors a more arcade-like gameplay that can be accessible to new players. The game includes two different control settings which are Novice or Expert, with Expert allowing to execute more realistic aircraft maneuvers. The game features a total of 28 aircraft for the base game and an additional 10 as downloadable content for a total of 38 aircraft to use. Most of the aircraft in the game are used in the real world, but some are a set of fictional superplanes that are original to the series.
Missions start off with a briefing that gives information about the current objectives and mission completion requirements. Then the player selects which aircraft to use for the mission. Each mission offers a series of different objects such as taking down air or ground targets or a mix of both. A mission could start off with taking down ground targets before suddenly changing objectives to start destroying air targets. After completing missions, players can earn in-game currency that can be used to buy new aircraft or parts. Parts can be purchased that can help improve your aircraft in a variety of ways, such as having more ammo, increasing speed, maneuverability, weapon damage, ect.
The game also features a multiplayer mode where players can take on each other together in a team deathmatch or alone in battle royale.

## Setting

The setting of the Ace Combat universe takes place in a fictional world known as Strangereal. It is a world that is similar but different to our own world with fictional countries, geography, and events. It is the setting of most of the Ace Combat games, with Ace Combat 7 being the 13th game set in the Strangreal world. The main background of the games is usually about an asteroid hitting the planet and it's affects on the countries around the world. This event would often lead to many problems in the Strangereal world due to aftermath of the asteroid hitting the planet, such as refugees, limited resources, and countless conflicts to name a few.

## Plot

Become an ace pilot and soar through photo realistic skies with full 360 degree movement; down enemy aircraft and experience the thrill of engaging in realistic sorties! Aerial combat has never looked or felt better! Taking place in the year 2019, tensions soon turn into conflict as the fictional countries of the Kingdom of Eursea and the Osean Federation go to war with one another. Players take control of an Osean fighter pilot named "Trigger." Trigger is accused for taking down a VIP in failed mission and is tried and found guilty by court-martial. Trigger is then transferred to the expendable Spare Squadron and is forced to take on dangerous missions in order to prove his innocence.

## List of Aircraft

* Base Game
** F-104C
** MiG-21bis
** F-16 Fighting Falcon
** F-14 Tomcat
** MiG-29A Fulcrum
** F-2A
** Mirage 2000-5
** F/A-18F
** A-10C
** Su-33
** MiG-31B
** Gripen E
** F15-J
** F-15C
** F-15E
** Typhoon
** Rafale M
** Su-30M2
** Su-34
** Su-37
** Su-47
** F-35C
** Su-30SM
** Su-35S
** YF-23
** F-22A
** Su-57
* Downloadable Content
** ADF-01 Falken
** ADF-11F Raven
** ADFX-01 Morgan
** ASF-X Shinden II
** CFA-44 Nosferatu
** F-4E Phantom II
** F-15 S/MTD
** F-16XL
** FB-22 Strike Raptor
** XFA-27