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How to choose your first campaign unlock
Additional campaign fighter jets are unlocked with MRP earned in missions. Bandai Namco’s official ACE COMBAT 8 walkthrough describes the currency this way: “You will be able to unlock additional fighter jets using MRP, an in-game currency earned in mission.” MRP therefore has an opportunity cost: buying an aircraft competes with spending on its weapons and upgrade parts.
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Use the mission objective as your filter, rather than choosing from a single overall ranking. The publisher’s guidance is: “Consider the mission objective and your playstyle and pick the best aircraft for the job.” Special weapons and upgrade parts also affect how an aircraft can be tailored.
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- Read the next mission briefing. Identify whether its demands point toward air combat, ground support, or strikes against threats at sea.
- Check whether your candidate is carrier-capable. The Endurance is the campaign’s aircraft carrier and main base, and carrier availability can matter for mission access.
- Compare role and traits. Look for a supported match to the mission, then consider useful characteristics such as speed and maneuverability.
- Weigh the whole spend. Consider whether the aircraft itself serves an immediate need or whether parts and upgrades for an aircraft you already own better address the briefing.
Why keep a carrier-capable option
Bandai Namco describes the Endurance as the campaign’s aircraft carrier and main base. Separately, a launch-period review by Tom’s Guide reports that some mid-game missions restrict aircraft selection to carrier-capable planes. That restriction is a reviewer-reported practical consideration, not a rule established in the publisher’s walkthrough. Keeping a carrier-capable choice in your available lineup is a sensible hedge as you progress.
#1 Best Overall
- ACE COMBAT 8 DELIVERS HIGH-OCTANE AERIAL ACTION! Step into the cockpit and take flight as an elite pilot across stunning skies. Enter intense dogfights, eliminate threats, and rise through gripping missions to earn your wings. The game is developed by PROJECT ACES, the acclaimed team behind the franchise.
- AERIAL WARFARE IN LIVING SKIES. Campaign Mode showcases stunning visuals with dynamic multi-layered cloudscapes that capture the majesty of living skies. Feel the rush of a fast-paced arcade-style gameplay and deploy powerful weapons to dominate the battlefield.
- A VISCERAL JOURNEY FROM COCKPIT TO GROUND. Beyond the chaos in the air, breathtaking first-person scenes reveal your pilot’s story through breathtaking cinematics. Experience the pressure of command, the weight of decisions, and the bonds forged in battle. Between missions, bond with your squad members, rise to meet adversity, and prove yourself as a true ace.
A flexible candidate: Mirage 2000-5
Bandai Namco describes the Mirage 2000-5 as a multirole fighter with balanced speed and maneuverability. That makes it a reasonable candidate to consider if you want flexibility across mission types. The description does not establish that it is the best first purchase, however, and the available official information does not state its tree cost or when it becomes available.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Make the purchase fit the next mission
Aircraft utility depends on the work ahead, and no complete cost tree or validated optimal route is established here. Rather than saving for a supposed must-buy on a universal list, choose an aircraft when its role fits an upcoming mission and account for any parts or upgrades you also want to fund. Reassess after each briefing; a choice that suits an air-to-sea strike need not be the best answer for a ground-support mission.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- Unreal Engine 4 Technologies - Breathtaking clouds coupled with highly detailed aircraft and photorealistic scenery make this the most engaging Ace Combat to date.
- Dynamic Weather - Witness the sudden changes during your flight and strive to fight the environmental conditions to take advantage over your enemy.
- Return To Strange Real-World - The alternative Ace Combat universe is composed of real-world current and near-future weapons, but with a history steeped in Ace Combat lore.
Rank #3
- TAKE FLIGHT AS AN ELITE ACE — Step into the cockpit and soar through thrilling missions, intense dogfights, and high-stakes aerial combat developed by PROJECT ACES.
- AERIAL WARFARE IN LIVING SKIES — Experience stunning visuals featuring dynamic multi-layered cloudscapes, realistic weather conditions, and breathtaking skies that transform every battle.
- FAST-PACED ARCADE AIR COMBAT — Engage enemy aircraft, deploy powerful weapons, and dominate the battlefield with the signature high-speed gameplay the ACE COMBAT series is known for.
- A VISCERAL PILOT STORY — Experience dramatic first-person sequences, cinematic storytelling, squad relationships, and the pressures of command between missions.
- THE LARGEST ONLINE MODE IN SERIES HISTORY — Explore the franchise's first online lobby, customize your avatar, and sortie into online missions with pilots worldwide.
Rank #2
- Magnetic contactless sensors provide smooth, accurate input and long‑lasting durability
- Independent throttle & brake levers offer fast, intuitive control for rapid speed adjustments during combat
- Ambidextrous, symmetrical design
- Dedicated High‑G Mode button for instantly trigger High-G turns
- Officially Licensed by Bandai Namco Entertainment and SONY
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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