Reaching the pinnacle of flight games! Experience the VR mode of "ACE COMBAT 7:SKIES UNKNOWN" to feel the possibilities of the game!

The "ACE COMBAT" series lets you experience the feeling of flying through the sky as a fighter pilot and the power of dogfights. This popular series is loved in Japan and around the world, and the latest title, "ACE COMBAT 7: SKIES UNKNOWN" ("ACE7"), was recently released on January 17, 2019.

The profound worldview spun by Sunao Katabuchi, director of the award-winning 2016 film "Kono Sekai no Katasumi ni" (In a Corner of the World), and the "Campaign Mode" in which you can enjoy the process of becoming an ace pilot and deciding the course of the war, are undoubtedly the biggest attractions of this title! The "Campaign Mode" is the most attractive part of the game.

In addition, the online multiplayer mode, in which up to 8 players can compete against each other with their favorite aircrafts, is also very interesting!　Although it is rare to beat a skilled player whose piloting technique is jokingly referred to as "perverted maneuvering," dogfights involving numerous aircraft are fun in their own right.

However, I will venture to report here on another attraction, the "VR mode! As the name suggests, "VR Mode" allows players to enjoy unique missions created exclusively for the PlayStation VR (hereinafter referred to as "PS VR"). Naturally, you will need a PS VR to play this mode, but it is a mode that you should definitely try because it offers a different experience from the "Campaign Mode" and "Multiplayer Mode. Incidentally, the author purchased a PS VR for this title, and it was well worth it!

*The PlayStation VR (sold separately) compatible "VR Mode" included in the PlayStation4 version allows you to play new missions exclusively for VR. Other modes are not compatible with PlayStationVR.

The appeal of VR titles is the realistic feeling of being in the game world. In "ACE7," you can experience a series of events from the pilot's point of view, such as briefing, boarding the aircraft, launching into battle, landing, and returning home. What you are doing is no different from the "Campaign Mode," but I was surprised at how completely different it felt when I actually played it.

First of all, the way the UI is displayed is cool!　When you start a mission, messages, UI, etc. appear directly in your field of vision. It is as if they are projected on the helmet you are wearing.

Before going out on a mission, you can view the aircraft from various angles. In the main game, you can move the camera around to see every detail of the fighter model, but seeing the fighter in VR is something else!　The main difference is that the viewpoint is based on that of a real person, so you get a true sense of the scale of the fighter. Although the viewpoints are limited to a few designated areas, it is very exciting to be able to climb the ramp and see the aircraft from the cockpit area. There are a total of four types of aircraft that can be used, and the number of available aircraft increases as conditions are met.

Once you have decided on the mission, aircraft, and special armament, it is time to launch. If the "F/A-18F" is selected for the first mission, the game begins with a scene of a ship launching from an aircraft carrier. As a fan of robot animation, I couldn't help but get excited at this scene alone.

What surprised me was that I felt my body being pulled backward as if I could really feel Gs during the launch scene. Of course, this is not true in reality, but the high-speed backward flow of the view as the car starts off must have created an illusion in my senses. This was a sensation that I did not feel even when playing the regular campaign mode from the cockpit perspective, and it was a moment when I felt the possibilities that only VR can offer.

Incidentally, the "VR missions" are episodes that are independent of the main story, but the call sign of the main player is "Mobius 1. This name is familiar to fans. In fact, he is the main character in "Ace Combat 04: Shuttered Sky. The player's AWACS (airborne warning and control system) "Sky Eye," which also appeared in the same game, gives him instructions during combat. It's a nice touch for fans of the series.

The combat controls are the same as the EXPERT controls in the campaign mode, but since the game is in VR, you are (naturally) playing from the cockpit perspective. This makes it possible to see missiles approaching from behind, which makes intuitive evasive maneuvers easier.

In addition, a special weapon, the QAAM, can be used for visual lock-on. Although it is necessary to shoot after capturing the enemy aircraft in front of you in order to hit it, you can shorten the lock-on time and attack immediately by capturing the enemy aircraft in your field of vision first. Above all, the act of being able to lock on to an enemy plane in your field of view is very hot, reminiscent of a certain robot anime!

Speaking of hot, the beginning of Mission 2 is a must-see!　You are launching your plane while your base is under attack, and as you proceed down the runway, you see a machine gun glancing off the side of your plane and your bomber crashing into the ground.

The cockpit of the fighter is also well reproduced, and game information such as radar and remaining missile ammunition is displayed on the cockpit panel. This means that the viewpoint must be slightly tilted downwards when checking the information, and I felt that this kind of action enhances the immersive feeling of the experience.

Frankly speaking, I am amazed at how well VR and fighter jets work together. The weight of the head-mounted display is reminiscent of a helmet, and perhaps one of the reasons for the great compatibility is that it gives you the feeling of actually sitting in the cockpit. The sensation of the boundary between reality and the game fading as your field of vision moves intuitively is something I would like you to experience.

And it is not only the exhilaration that can be experienced in the game. You can also feel the tension at the moment a missile crosses your field of vision, or when your aircraft is hit and spews fire. It is no exaggeration to say that the game has reached the point where it can truly fool the human senses.

In addition to the episodic "VR missions," the game also offers "free flight," in which you can freely fly around the field, and "air shows," in which you can watch a variety of flight performances.

The "air show" in particular is so complete that it should be seen at least once!　Although I do not fly the aircraft myself, but simply watch the show on the deck of the aircraft carrier, watching the fighter planes gracefully soar above the sky with audio commentary is an entertainment in itself.

Of course, it is fun just to watch the show, but the key point is that it also introduces surprisingly practical movements. I learned how to incorporate them into the missions in the main game to make them more vivid, or use them as techniques to win in multiplayer games.

The "VR mode" offers a different experience from the main game. It is definitely one that allows you to feel immersed in the game, so if you have a PSVR, please give it a try. This time we played with a regular DualShock controller, but if you have a flight stick, I think you can enjoy an even greater sense of unity!

The images of the VR mode experience shown on this site were taken by the editorial department using the PS VR's "social screen" function.Please note that the appearance and quality of the images may differ from the actual VR experience.

All trademarks and copyrights associated with the manufacturers, aircraft, models, trade names, brands and visual images depicted in this game are the All trademarks and copyrights associated with the manufacturers, aircraft, models, trade names, brands and visual images depicted in this game are the property of their respective owners, and used with such permissions.

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