I still can't believe Ace Combat 7 exists in today's market

[Not Spaceghost]

Ace Combat 7 is one of the most interesting games to release in the current generation.
I am not talking about this with regards to the game's quality or story content or anything like that. I am talking about this purely from a publishing stand point and the way the industry seemingly operates currently.

Ace Combat 7 feels like an absolute anomaly in the current market.

It is a 2019 release with the following "features":

• A primarily single player experience
• A relatively short single player experience with emphasis on replayability (10 hours is the upper bound for 1st play through length if you watch all the cutscenes)
• A rather niche franchise
• Almost no micro transactions outside of the season pass
• The last major entry was a critical disaster and after that all we had was a cult F2P game that was also a critical disaster.
• An attempt to return to the series strongest point, which many would say is the PS2 era.
• The 7th mainline game in a 20 year old franchise with a world that keeps being built upon.

The reason I find AC7 to be so interesting is because it's a bit of a weird time capsule. It's effectively a playstation 2 era game repackaged and released in the modern era. All the things that publishers seem to be so adverse to are part of AC7 in some way. Ace Combat 7 didn't try to go for mass appeal, it didn't try to reinvent itself for the modern age, it didn't try to load itself up with microtransactions. No, ace combat 7 only tried to appeal to the people who it knew would buy the game, in many ways it's a game for the fans who have been with the franchise for so long. It's especially interesting that Kazutoki Kono has been the face of AC7 and while he is credited as a producer this time around he has been labeled as a brand manager in interviews. It's like the devs were more interested in making a game that was distinctly a call back to ace combat's glory day's rather than a modern adaptation of the franchise conventions.

I also say this franchise is niche because, if you strip away its story and setting it's an arcade jet fighter score attack game. Most other games similar to it are either full on simulators, or tiny indie games. There just doesnt seem to be a huge market for these kinds of games.

It's a game that if we were to believe what the publishers say about the market should not exist. Yet not only is it real, but it reviewed well and apparently is selling well enough for the developers and publishers to be happy about it on twitter for whatever that's worth.

I used to joke that after infinity Ace Combat was dead but here we are.

Sorry if half the post doesn't make sense or feels like stream of consciousness ramble, I typed up half of this on my phone and didn't proof read.

 

[Dreamboum]

AC7 is a miracle, and I hope it sells well even though it will never achieve AC4 numbers. Felt like I was playing a PS2 game, in a REALLY GOOD way

 

[RLCC14]

AC7 is a miracle, and I hope it sells well even though it will never achieve AC4 numbers. Felt like I was playing a PS2 game, in a REALLY GOOD way

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It charted in NPD and is like the second fastest selling AC (second to 4). I'd say it sold pretty decently.

 

[Tortillo VI]

I agree with all that you say. I find it amazing that it's selling so well given how the market works nowadays and I'm already dreaming with part 8. If VR becomes bigger next gen, I think AC8 would become one of its "top guns" for how well it adapts to the format.

 

[janusff]

warmed the heart to see it sell well on the NPD chart. Hope they make more.

on a side note, also hope EA takes notice that these kinds of games can sell and resurrects Rogue Squadron.

 

[ZKenir]

AC7 is a miracle, and I hope it sells well even though it will never achieve AC4 numbers. Felt like I was playing a PS2 game, in a REALLY GOOD way

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[Evolved1]

I watched a GDC talk recently called "Darks Souls is the IKEA of Games" or something like that. Anyway it 100% explains the viability and approach of something like AC7. Great talk, and it's on YouTube if you're interested in Why / How these types of projects can be successful.

Edit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vid5yZRKzs0

 

[Desma]

Yeah, really happy to see it doing so well.

Still need to get my copy, tho

 

[Deleted member 364]

It's because it's a Japanese publisher that knows how to budget its games so they don't need to sell 5 million and be GaaS'd up.

 

[Doom_Bringer]

I didn't like most of the missions in this game. But yes at least I got to play a new AC title

 

[IgorL]

Right there with you man, i'm really glad this game exists.

 

[Massa]

It's my first AC game, I bought it thanks to the PSVR mode... having a blast, it's really great.

 

[Dreamboum]

It charted in NPD and is like the second fastest selling AC (second to 4). I'd say it sold pretty decently.

Click to shrink...

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The fanbase is eating good for once

 

[ClarkusDarkus]

Even implemented a fantastic VR experience too.

 

[Outrun]

I enjoyed the game.

I did not appreciate that it kept on overheating my XBX.

 

[Evolved1]

I haven't bought it yet because I want to use a flight stick (I had planned on day 1 purchase) but things got in the way. Soon though. I LOVE classic Ace Combat.

 

[cakely]

It is amazing and I rewarded them with a day-1, full price purchase.

 

[Yuri P]

I feel the same.
I was genuinely surprised by how well it sold in Japan. I hope we won't have to wait another 10 years for AC8 now that AC7 is a success.

 

[Deleted member 16876]

It warms my heart to see it selling well. Game is truely one of the best games this generation. Infact it is one of the best if not the best one in the series itself (which is one of those that have so many good games).

 

[Slythe]

Right there with ya. I played AC4 a coupe years ago and the game totally sucked me in. With AC7 I was completely shocked how much it mirrored the AC4 experience, right down to the menus, mission prep, UI, encounter design, soundtrack - just everything. Yet it still felt fresh.

I know that between this and RE2 there is absolutely a market for these focused single player games that hearken back to the early days.

 

[Black_Stride]

It has the Sand Storm mission....and then the mission directly after that. 2 hours to pass two 15 minute missions. (I had to change planes and memorize patterns after failing so much)

Ace Combat 6 was a better game and the DLC skins made MP great nobody ever picked default skins.

But by jove the sand storm mission is one of the most frustrating things ive ever done in my life.
I basically had to fail it multiple times so i could "muscle memory" my way to completion.

 

[Moebius]

Waiting for 21:9 support before I buy it. It looks really cool.

 

[Daedardus]

It's a game not riding on a massive development and marketing budget trying to recoup ridiculous costs but instead focuses on what fans of the genre want from it and delivering on that aspect. Keep in mind more 'realistic'-ish flight sims have become a rare breed these days, but the market that exist for them is rather fanatic and has purchasing power. Like you said they carved their niche and carved it well and it paid off.

 

[KiNolin]

Lots of successful games in the last couple of years fit your criteria, AA and singleplayer games are doing great. The biggest difference is AC being in a niche/dead genre.

 

[Deleted member 11421]

warmed the heart to see it sell well on the NPD chart. Hope they make more.

on a side note, also hope EA takes notice that these kinds of games can sell and resurrects Rogue Squadron.

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All they need to do is call Factor 5 back and set them up to work with Criterion and...that'll never happen.

On-topic I really disliked the campaign but it feels so good to play in spite of the questionable mission design. It's a good game that I never want to revisit for the story again lol

 

[ShiftyRat]

I'm just glad the game exists. The fact that it came with an upscaled version of AC5 was icing on the cake.

 

[MysticGon]

Yep its a treasure.

 

[mao2]

• The last major entry was a critical disaster and after that all we had was a cult F2P game that was also a critical disaster.

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Ace Combat Infinity was actually very successful according to producer Kazutoki Kono.
https://www.dualshockers.com/ace-combat-7-interview/

G: Switching gears for a moment, Ace Combat Infinity was definitely a bold experiment. Is it considered a success at Bandai Namco?
KK: The project was really successful. It has been going on for three years, and that wouldn't happen if it wasn't successful. In Japan this console free to play version is going well, and it's the only version of the franchise that you can play for free all over the world. That said, I think that many elements of the game could have been done better.

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[Araujo]

Mission 15 is still kicking my ass tho...

managed to score 18560/19000 when the timer ran out... ugh!

 

[Not Spaceghost]

Ace Combat Infinity was actually very successful according to producer Kazutoki Kono.

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Oh yeah I knew AC:I made them cash but I said critical disaster lol. Game is still sitting at 50 something on MC I believe.

 

[Arklite]

Yeah, wish we had more instances like that, and it sold pretty well too I think. Still waiting for From to bring back Armored Core.

 

[Deleted member 135]

It was exactly what fans wanted down a T and also is accessible enough to a new audience.

It's one of the best games I've played this generation, in part because it's one of the few games that actually exceeded my expectations.

 

[Mud]

My style. I dont own it but glad we have options like that.

 

[Yan]

And I can't believe it has such a good soundtrack! The composer really overdid it, in a good way.
Were the ost's always this good in AC?

 

[mescalineeyes]

honestly this thread would've been way more fun if we all pretended AC7 doesn't exist and just absolutely drive OP crazy.

 

[Mechaplum]

Op you forgot to mention that they even risked some resources to develop the VR segments, which were amazing and not a dlc or some bs like that.

 

[NESpowerhouse]

Don't forget the surprisingly solid multiplayer mode included as well.

 

[Not Spaceghost]

honestly this thread would've been way more fun if we all pretended AC7 doesn't exist and just absolutely drive OP crazy.

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Oh god the ultimate gas light.

 

[JamboGT]

I absolutely loved it and am delighted it did well! I really hope this leads to more and Namco's success with this and Tekken paves the way for a traditional but awesome Ridge Racer.

Honestly with Ace Combat 7 the only thing I would like to add is some co-op multiplayer like the Infinity modes.

 

[mescalineeyes]

Oh god the ultimate gas light.

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it'd be like that one movie where only one guy remembers The Beatles only way sadder lol

 

[VariantX]

God if we could get a new Ridge Racer and Klonoa id be back in the PS1/PS2 glory days again.

 

[Not Spaceghost]

God if we could get a new Ridge Racer and Klonoa id be back in the PS1/PS2 glory days again.

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I really hope this leads to more and Namco's success with this and Tekken paves the way for a traditional but awesome Ridge Racer.

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I'd love a new Ridge Racer.
I've been playing tons of RRT4 on my vita.

Honestly with Ace Combat 7 the only thing I would like to add is some co-op multiplayer like the Infinity modes.

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Agreed, I would have loved some co-op missions. Maybe even something like RE5 mercenaries but in ace combat would've been great. Increasing difficulty with waves and seeing if you can survive to the end.