Originally launched almost five years after Ace Combat: Infinity and four years after the release of 3DS Assault Horizon Legacy+, 2019’s Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown was the first game in the main series in over a decade and returned the series to Strangereal, the franchise the fictional attitude of the Earth.
Now, five years on, Bandai Namco is bringing Skies Unknown to the Switch in Deluxe Edition form. Assault Horizon’s 3DS entries introduced Nintendo gamers to the series’ arcade-style flying combat, but we’re very happy to see this particular entry suddenly land on the Switch – and perhaps a little dismayed at how this port will stay in hybrid system.
We’ll be jumping into the booth to work on our review as soon as possible, but in the meantime, we were recently able to ask game producer Ryunosuke Hagiwara a few quick questions about this Switch port. ..
Nintendo Life: News of the Switch’s “successor” is on everyone’s radar right now, and it’s been a while since an Ace Combat game was released on a Nintendo platform. We’re very happy to see it back, but our first question is: Why flash this Switch port at this point?
Ryunosuke Hagiwara, Producer: Development of this Switch version began in 2022, before information about its successor was available. When we conducted a survey of Ace Combat users around the world, we found that there were players who were interested in Ace Combat but couldn’t play it because they didn’t own a game console.
Therefore, we decided to release a Switch version of the latest title in the series so that more people can enjoy it.
For Switch players who may not be familiar with the series and its storied history, can you tell us what you think sets Ace Combat apart from other fighting and flight-sim games?
The Ace Combat series is a series of flight shooter games in which the player becomes an Ace pilot, flying freely in 360 degrees in a graphical space that follows a realistic view of the sky. Enjoy the experience of becoming a hero and saving the world by controlling a fighter jet with random controls that are different from those found in flight simulators.
The Switch is already home to some impressive “impossible ports,” but there are plenty more to come. What were the biggest challenges in bringing the full Ace Combat experience to Nintendo hardware?
The realistic rendering of ACE7’s new cloud could not be reproduced on Switch during the verification phase. [However]we were able to achieve the quality of the production version after a long period of trial and error to ensure frame rates without compromising gameplay.
What framerate are you aiming for on the Switch?
30 fps (variable).
Ace Combat 7 was the first game in the series to feature volumetric clouds, real-time condensation, and aircraft ice. Did these features make the jump to the Switch? If so, were they difficult to implement?
Ace Combat 7 featured realistic rendering of clouds and weather that affected gameplay in real time. After a lot of trial and error, we did it [in porting] game on Switch so that players can enjoy the same realistic weather expressions and volume that were reproduced in the original version.
It wouldn’t be a proper Ace Combat game without a deep and complex plot in Strangereal. Can you talk a little about how you approach story development for a game like this? Also, can we expect a 1:1 experience of single player content on Switch compared to the 2019 version?
When considering the story, it’s important to portray each product as a standalone story so that players who are new to the series can enjoy it even if they haven’t played the previous titles. However, we believe that the appeal of the series lies in the fact that, although independent as stories, each story can be seen as an event in the shared world of Strangereal and feel connected to each other.
To achieve this contradictory environment, we held many discussions with staff members who have been involved in the development of the series for a long time, designed the scene with great precision, and spent a long time creating the story together with director Sunao Katabuchi. , who is responsible for the script.
We noticed that the trailer didn’t mention the Top Gun: Maverick DLC including the Darkstar prototype. Should Switch owners scratch the “need for speed” from the pre-flight check? Is all other previously released DLC campaign content included?
Due to the popularity of the Top Gun: Maverick Aircraft set with players around the world, we are pleased to announce that the Top Gun: Maverick Aircraft set will also be available for Switch, it will be sold separately. We hope you enjoy the Top Gun experience on Switch.
Online multiplayer was an enjoyable experience with the right group of friends within the original version of AC7. Did it survive the transition or is the Switch version strictly a one-country affair?
This Switch version supports the same online multiplayer mode as the original version. We hope you will compete with other ACE pilots from around the world and aim to become the strongest in the world. Online play requires an internet connection and a Nintendo Switch Online subscription. However, note that the multiplayer mode does not support cross-platform play.
Is there anything you’d like to add that our questions haven’t touched on?
This edition of Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown for Nintendo Switch will be a deluxe edition that includes the main game, three original aircraft sets, plus three SP missions and other content. Enjoy the thrilling experience of sky battles on Nintendo Switch, in the comfort of your room or outdoors!
Finally, what games have you been enjoying in your spare time lately – on Switch or elsewhere?
I’m a member of the Ace Combat team, so I play other companies’ AAA titles every day as a gamer, even if I say it’s for reference purposes.
Recently, I got hooked on Rise of the Ronin. I loved the thrill of meeting real historical figures in an open-world environment of the Bakumatsu period, and the thrill of using swordplay action to take out enemies, partly because I’m a fan of Bakumatsu.
This interview has been lightly edited for clarity. Our thanks too Ryunosuke Hagiwara, and Claire in Bastion for setting this up.
Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown Deluxe Edition comes out today on Switch — we’ll have our review with you as soon as we can.