WHAT IS IT?

A dogfight simulator.

IS IT GOOD?

It’s thrilling.

WHO SHOULD PLAY IT?

Maverick. Goose.

AIR COMBAT

I remember the first time I played an Ace Combat game. It was all the way back on the PS1, a demo of Ace Combat 2 included with PlayStation Underground magazine. I played the heck out of that demo, taken in by its exciting air combat, then-impressive lighting and water effects, and the thrill of taking down an enemy fighter with a well-placed missile. To this day, AC 2 is still considered one of the best PS1 titles, and one of the best and most accessible air combat games ever released.

Ace Combat 7, out now for PS4, blows its long-ago predecessor out of the water. The graphics are marvellous, the gameplay challenging but accessible, and the totally ridiculous story just as ridiculous as this series demands.

ELECTROSPHERE

Ace Combat is not, strictly speaking, a flight simulator. Only a few minutes with its friendly control scheme lets you know this is firmly on the arcadey, action-oriented spectrum. At the same time, its light sci-fi trappings belie an attention to detail, and real-world aircraft, one would normally associate with pure simulators. I’m constantly torn between playing in cockpit view for the realism, or third-person to admire the detail on my aircraft. Either way, the stunning vistas – the realistic clouds, the sun reflecting off a vast expanse of water below – remain impressive as ever. It also controls impeccably. Zipping through the air feels natural, even as a generous physics system allows for tricks that would have a real-world pilot imploding from the g-force.

Amusingly, Ace Combat 7 is deeply committed to its utterly extraneous world-building. For some time now, the AC games have been set in an alternate reality nicknamed Strangereal. Its primary purpose, as far as I can tell, is to allow for aircraft that depart slightly from their real-world counterparts. That said, the mythos has been expanded upon in increasingly convoluted fashion over the years, making much of AC7‘s plot borderline incomprehensible. It also means this Ace Combat is one of the most talkative to date – not since “DO A BARREL ROLL” has there been a flight game with this much combat chatter. It’s easy enough to ignore – I did – but I do wish it would get rid of those Metal Gear-style talking heads taking up screen-space in the top-right corner.

SHATTERED SKIES

Ace Combat 7 comes with an optional VR mode, which I wasn’t able to try, but which by all accounts is fantastic. I already love AC in the cockpit, so I can only imagine how amazing it feels in VR. AC7 also comes with a plethora of DLC content, including, most recently, a “Cutting-Edge Aircraft” pack featuring real-world aircraft and multiple emblems and “skins” that give existing aircraft some nifty makeovers. None of the DLC is, strictly speaking, essential, but the ability to acquire cool, licensed aircraft is definitely an example of microtransactions done right.

Last August, Bandai Namco confirmed the next Ace Combat is in development, a game that will presumably take advantage of next-gen hardware to make clouds so realistic you can feel the moisture on your face. Really, it’s hard to guess how AC8 will iterate on a formula so well-honed and so graphically impressive on last-gen hardware, but it’s fun to imagine. The sky, as they say, is the limit.

***
Final score: 8/10 spitfires.

Visit the official page for Ace Combat 7 here.

The post Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown (PS4) Review: Do a Barrel Roll appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

Luckily, there are many places you can enjoy the Labour Day weekend air show in Toronto without having to cross the picket lines. Here are a few of them.

1. Rooftop bars and patios.

There are several good hotels and restaurants that have rooftop patios and great views of the water and the aircraft flying over the city. BISHA Hotel, Hotel-X, Thompson Rooftop and Lavelle all boast amazing views and drinks so you can catch the show in comfort.

2. Parks

There are several waterfront parks that offer a great view of the air show while having the freedom that a public park offers. Little Norway Park, Coronation Park, Battery Park and Marilyn Bell park and Sunnyside are all great choices to catch the show.

3. The Toronto Islands

The Toronto Islands have some great views of the air show for the cost of a ferry ticket. Hanlan’s Point has some great sight-lines if you want to get more specific.

4. Ontario Place

Trillium Park and William G. Davis Trail at Ontario Place is a new spot to watch the air show since it opened last year. The renovated park allows visitors to enjoy the waterfront and the air show for free!

5. Your friend’s condo

If you have a friend with a south or south-west facing balcony or rooftop, it may be a great option to watch the air show. With so many new condo developments downtown over the past decade, surely someone you know has a place to watch the show.

6. Boating

Got a boat? Got a friend with a boat? Can you rent a boat? Boating is a great way to catch the Toronto air show from the water. You could even rent a canoe or kayak just for the show.

The Air Show takes place Saturday, Sunday and Monday from 12 – 3 pm.

The post Where to watch the air show without crossing the picket lines appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

Toronto photographer Gary Cummins sent us this great capture for our daily photo from Toronto of a plane landing over an on-looker. Check out Gary’s page for more of his images from around the city.

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The post “Plane Spotting” by Toronto Photographer Gary Cummins appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

Toronto photographer CJ Burnell sent us this great capture of a CF-18 from Squadron 433 in Bagotville returning to YYZ after a flyby for the Centennial Hockey Classic in Toronto between the Maple Leafs and the Red Wings. Check out his page for more images.

To have your photos featured on our website, please visit our 500px group.

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Photographer Gary Cummins sent us this photo of a plane during an air show for today’s daily photo. Check out his page for more images.

To have your photos featured on our website, visit our 500px group.

The post “Houston, We’ve Had A Problem” by Photographer Gary Cummins appeared first on Toronto Guardian.