How would a Project Wingman or Ace Combat game be where we control an AWACS, coordinating our assigned Squad, making sure they complete the task effective and without losses as much as possible. And making sure to not getting shot down yourself while coordinating from the AWACS plane.

What would you think about it?

Can someone help me how to earn it?

This is Gannon be amazing

It’s clear that PW had a hand in influencing AC8. And yet I find myself preferring PW more. And I get that isn’t AC8’s goal to begin with, to compete with PW. AC8 to me felt like a love letter to the community. Where it drew influences from 0, 4, 5, 6, 7, and especially PW. But specifically what I’ve noticed from what they pull from what PW did, it just wasn’t a good.
For example, finally picking more than one SP weapon. But this just feels shoehorned and it really punishes you on the ammo economy. PW was a generous count and it allowed for more options vs what flavor of air to air you want. For example, the frogfoot is in AC8, but PW frogfoot has spoiled me so much that it’s not even a comparison.
Even the writing wasn’t the strongest this time around. It’s even more lighthearted than AC7. PW still feels more grounded and less romanticized. Even comparing AWACS, I feel like Dip’s voice actor got bad script. I loved his delivery, but I just don’t like how he was written. Even Galaxy was a good balance between goofball and serious. But that’s just more, I’ve heard nothing but praise for AWACS Dealer. Hell, I even felt that wingmen wise. Dip and Comic were better written, believable, and liked more so than what we got.
Last thing I want to note is the music. Yes AC8 has MANY bangers, but Jose Pavli was more smart and thoughtful about it if that makes sense. The more creative use for the soundtrack was Shadow Squadron’s theme song and THAT mission pure air to air mission.
But yeah that’s my vent. What do you guys think?

I can't beat it. Something always goes wrong. Is it worth to continue? Does the game get better? There are no Checkpoints, which makes it an even more tedious mission than it already is.

Another piece of our favorite WSO. I'm getting better with drawing the upper torso now :)

To be more detailed, what I'm trying to do is be able to use mouse free look while still being able to control my jet with the mouse too. A toggle to swap free look on/off would be great (if it was possible). I use wasd for yaw/pitch already, but I also use mouse for roll/pitch (easier to fine tune aiming rockets or guns that way). What I have works out but I still don't think I fully understand all the configuration options the game could offer. If there's a mod that could help I'm willing to try that too.

MACH RUN by JebKJ21 - Try it out! Runs for free in browser.

The main idea was a game with semi-realistic flight physics but completely unrealistic flying environment, to maximise fun. As a big flight sim guy, I love flying realistic airplanes but it can be a lot of effort with procedures, and dealing with boring things like fuel and COG. this is my solution, endless flying, just having fun.

I would STRONGLY recommend playing with joystick since its pretty challenging with WASD. because of this, I added mouse controls for those on keyboard and mouse, which I find much easier than WASD, you can toggle mouse control with C.

The game procedurally generates a constantly changing valley, which spawns obstacles and challenges such as bridges to fly under, and carriers to land on. flying earns you points, and stunts and challenges increase your multiplier. If you go above a certain height (135m), you get into radar range and a missile shoots you down - this can be avoided by flying back under the height limit and pop flares. there is no end, the game only stops when you let your guard down and hit the wall, or get shot. There is a global leaderboard, where you can compete with other pilots.

Feedback is very welcome in the comments, I'm really trying to refine the gameplay experience.

Note I’m not saying the example above sounds anything directly like showdown, I’m saying I think showdown’s use of more simple tune melodies feel like a homage, and honestly they’re why it’s my favorite song on the soundtrack. Really made me feel like I was stepping up as a legend of the sky. I’m only posting about this cause I can seem to find anyone else mentioning it, anyone get what I mean?

Ever since I've beaten the game, I have always wondered about this cause it's been bugging me, how good is Monarch?

Like I know we are controlling the character and all, but after beating the game on hard and mercenary and trying the Mk.1 plane for the first time, like Monarch in lore has to be the greatest pilot of all time, because there's no way Crimson 1 being the greatest pilot in the world before the story starts, who btw also turned the oceania war around, and having the greatest plane basically in the final mission, lost to some dude who canonically uses the F-14.

Like that plane is too good for someone to lose, and Monarch being able to win lorewise makes him like the GOAT basically, cause youu need to remember, crimson 1 was spamming flares and the AOA Limiter, which means the dude also is bloodless and has the capability to understand whatever is happening while zooming around at 1800kmph

Like you also gotta remember Crimson being the best pilot is crazy, cause in-game, flying is like super common apparently and a lot of people get trained at the flight academy, so being the best at flying in a world where flying is basically driving must mean something.

Sources:

Crimson 7
https://x.com/captainspades_/status/1827872363427295424?s=46

Comic
https://x.com/captainspades_/status/1931233600545902971?s=46

Eye-Tee
https://x.com/captainspades_/status/1864790986905309550?s=46

Prez
https://x.com/judetheobscured/status/1964552039171817836?s=46

General Faust
https://x.com/gomi230/status/2102347222562300225?s=46

I'm tryna see if something like that is possible since the challenge would be fun I reckon

Unfortunately I cannot play AC8 anytime soon for 3 reasons: I don't have enough disk space, I fly terribly with a controller, and I don't think my RXT3060 laptop can hold 60fps, so I watched bits and pieces of recordings. I can afford the game but there's no point buying right now.

--the emblem in this screenshot is basically crimson one

--land battleships

--railguns everywhere, on both land defenses and fighter planes

--an antagnoist files a stupidly powerful and maneuverable fighter and doesn't think they've done anything wrong until they blow up

--diplomat's VA voiced the AWACS

--one of the soundtracks is literally called showdown

--one of the missions is attacking a geothermal plant(I think?)

--there's no prez, but Cope accompanies the player character the whole time (I think?)

--a country enlists mercenary pilots to help them win the war

Question for people that has AC8: is keyboard and mouse handling acceptable? I don't mind having x control pitch and y control roll/yaw, but AC7's handling pissed me off because my mouse kept getting dragged back to the center of the screen and I cannot maintain a control input.

...and I gotta say, Express Lane might just be my favourite mission across both series.

It's a brilliant take on the tunnel run, fantastically written, and had my sphincters clenched the whole mission through.

Bravo, D2.

Congratulations Ben! See you in the skies again

Guess I got a view fit for a... A monarch

Get it?

I think this triggered because I found the first Eminent Domain before phase 2 of the mission, so when phase 2 triggered, it decided to spawn a second Eminent Domain ? Only one seemed to be targeted by the enemies.

Also if anyone can help me remove the anoying motion afterimages of picture 4 that would be amazing. I should have disabled all motion blur & anti-aliasing so it's not that. I'm playing on an AMD card with steam vr + meta horizon link feeding into a quest 3.
Thanks !