Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown - Top Gun: Maverick Aircraft Set is an arcade-style aerial combat game available on PlayStation 4. Players take control of advanced fighter jets in fast-paced dogfights and mission-based sorties set against a backdrop of large-scale aerial warfare. The included DLC expands the roster with aircraft inspired by the Top Gun: Maverick film, such as the F-14A Tomcat and F/A-18E Super Hornet variants, along with additional emblems, nicknames, and multiplayer background tracks.
Gameplay
The core loop centers on piloting jets through varied mission objectives that mix air-to-air combat, ground strikes, and defensive maneuvers. Controls offer two schemes: a simplified novice layout that handles basic turns and targeting, and an expert mode that incorporates realistic pitch and roll inputs for sharper handling. Players lock onto targets with missiles, fire guns in close range, deploy flares to break locks, and select from special weapons like long-range air-to-air missiles or cluster bombs for specific threats.
Progression relies on an aircraft tree where mission earnings fund new planes and performance upgrades. Parts improve speed, armor, or weapon capacity, with limits on how many can equip at once. Upgrades carry over between single-player and online play in most cases. Weather effects and cloud cover influence radar and missile tracking, adding tactical layers to positioning during engagements. The Top Gun: Maverick Aircraft Set integrates directly into this system, letting pilots select film-themed jets with matching skins and call signs for both campaign replays and competitive matches.
Game Modes
Single-player focuses on a campaign of story-driven missions that shift between dogfighting swarms of enemy aircraft, destroying ground installations, escorting allies, and completing time-limited score attacks. Objectives evolve within missions, requiring quick adaptation from offense to defense or air-to-surface strikes. Free Flight and Air Show options allow relaxed exploration or scripted maneuvers without combat pressure.
Multiplayer supports up to eight players in two formats. Team Deathmatch pits squads of two to four against each other in point-based dogfights. Battle Royale functions as a free-for-all scramble where pilots accumulate points by downing opponents within a set time. Matches emphasize positioning and quick target switches rather than last-player-standing rules. The DLC adds two multiplayer music tracks and cosmetic options that appear in these sessions.
PlayStation 4 owners gain access to a separate VR mode with three dedicated missions that place the player inside the cockpit for immersive flights against drones and other targets.
Progression and Customization
Earnings from campaign sorties and multiplayer matches unlock additional aircraft and parts through a shared progression system. The Top Gun: Maverick set contributes six playable jets, including standard and movie-specific versions of the F-14A Tomcat and F/A-18E Super Hornet, plus a 5th Gen Fighter and Dark Star. Ten emblems drawn from the film and twelve nicknames become available for personalization. These elements apply after campaign completion in story mode and immediately in multiplayer.
Is It Worth Playing?
The game delivers consistent aerial action through responsive controls and mission variety that rewards repeated play for higher scores or hidden ace encounters. Multiplayer remains active with straightforward matchmaking for short, intense sessions. The Top Gun: Maverick Aircraft Set provides recognizable jets and cosmetics that fit naturally into existing progression without altering core mechanics. Players who enjoy arcade flight combat with a focus on dogfighting and upgrade experimentation will find substantial content across the campaign and online modes. Those seeking deeper simulation elements or extensive post-launch support may find the experience more limited, though the base package and DLC together offer a complete package for the genre on PlayStation 4.
