Ace Combat 8 takes off today with an 88 and critics in love with clouds that change combat

After a seven-year wait, Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve hits stores this Friday (Oct. 2) on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC. Bandai Namco Aces' aerial combat game lands with an 88 average on Metacritic from 57 reviews, placing it among the best-reviewed releases of the year.

Critics single out the refined dogfighting across roughly 30 missions, the detailed aircraft and the new cloud system, which is not only gorgeous but affects dogfight strategy. GameSpot gave it an 8, praising the soundtrack, aircraft customization and the 'absurd' melodrama the story embraces as it follows Joker squadron.

It isn't all clear skies: reviews gathered by Kotaku point to cutscenes that stall the early pacing, too many quick-time events and twists that lose punch by the end. The standard edition costs $69.99 in the US.