Ace Combat 7 Multiplayer Gameplay Revealed

[AlphaAtlas]

As Ace Combat 7's release approaches, more and more gameplay is starting to come out. We've already seen snippets of several singleplayer missions, but Shacknews managed to play first 15 minutes of the campaign, as well as try a few sessions of the multiplayer mode. Interestingly, the game has both FFA and team deathmatch modes, with up to 8 players each, and the footage from matches looks pretty intense. Unfortunately, Bandai Namco didn't allow the reviewers to directly capture in-game footage, but you can still check out a video of the multiplayer mode on Shacknew's website.
https://www.hardocp.com/news/2018/12/12/ace_combat_singleplayer_multiplayer_gameplay_revealed
Check out 15 minutes of singleplayer gameplay here.

While the AI pilots in story mode can be predictable enough when trying to lock on and blast them with a missile, but human opponents are a whole other creature altogether. The 8-player frenzy is a constant ballet of trying to avoid being locked onto by an enemy missile while hoping you can keep up with your own target. Fortunately, a kill isn’t necessary to accrue points. Getting any sort of hit whether its a couple of bullets to a chassis or a direct hit with a missile will help players get on the scoreboard...Team deathmatch is a whole other ballgame compared to free for all. Having three other players who can bait an opponent into chasing them down or help you shake someone off your tail isn’t as frantic as going solo, instead, it relies on more on strategy and communication with your team. Working with a capable team definitely helped beef up my overall rank post-match.

 

[JR688755]

Team death match seems like it can be a lot of fun to play with friends.

 

[Rahh]

That's a helluva a lot of HUD and UI noise on the screen. Looks like a mess even if it does resemble what it might look like in a pilots helmet. Can't see crap int he view their using but I imagine this stuff can probably be changed? For instance it would be so much better without the actual plane in the view and then just have the HUD? That cockpit piece cuts out a ton of vision!

 

[Darunion]

That's a helluva a lot of HUD and UI noise on the screen. Looks like a mess even if it does resemble what it might look like in a pilots helmet. Can't see crap int he view their using but I imagine this stuff can probably be changed? For instance it would be so much better without the actual plane in the view and then just have the HUD? That cockpit piece cuts out a ton of vision!

Hmm, i don't mind it myself. Looks like a fun play though. There may be options to turn on or off elements of it (which would be great to have the choices).

 

[Flogger23m]

Team death match seems like it can be a lot of fun to play with friends.

Not really. If you played previous Ace Combats in split screen you'd see the formula simply doesn't work. Get two skilled players and you'll literally be flying circles around each other for minutes. 68-80 missile counts just don't work; it is constantly dodging and the missile tracking is poor so you can easily evade. Personally I think they should have went with realistic loadouts for the multiplayer mode. I'd go so far to even change the missile dynamics to make it more skillful and tactical with longer ranges, missiles plotting intercept courses and all that. Campaign could have remained with the same weapon style as previous games.

Only way to progress in one of these MP modes is to have so many players that it becomes chaotic (like the FFA mode) or give the players OP / skill-less weapons or abilities (like in that horrid Assault Horizon spin off game). One of the reasons why I wished they'd drop the MP and put more effort into the campaign. Gameplay just doesn't work well for MP. I wouldn't mind a standalone MP game that played more like Over G Fighters or Strike Fighters (and its various offshoots) in term of realism. But these guys just don't have the budget for a good SP & MP mode in one game.

 

[focbde]

I really hope that's not the final voice acting - I know it might seem petty, but it really does have an effect in terms of enjoyment/immersion when the voice doing the mission briefing is really bad...

 

[JR688755]

Flogger23m

I never played split screen I was referencing PC where everyone has their own full screen. I can see your point where the amount of missiles and dodging can get annoying.

Either way I always had fun with these games - if I was looking for a more realistic game I definitely would not pick up any from the AC series.