Gaijin Entertainment’s Aces of Thunder comes roaring onto PSVR2 with a promise of cockpit-first dogfighting that aims more for authentic aerial simulation than arcade flair, a choice that defines both its appeal and its limits. Drawing from the pedigree of War Thunder’s physics and damage models, the game throws players straight into the seat of legendary World War I and II aircraft with little introductory handholding, creating an experience that feels weighty, unforgiving, and visceral right from the outset. While this design ethos delivers remarkable immersion – especially in virtual reality – it also underscores a steep learning curve that may test patience more than exhilarate newcomers.
From a narrative or structural standpoint, Aces of Thunder doesn’t lean on dramatic storytelling or cinematic arcs so much as it leans into historical context and mission variety. The single-player missions and thematic “War Stories” stitched across iconic WWII theaters provide a functional backdrop for dogfights, yet there’s little in the way of connective tissue or emotional engagement beyond the thrill of flight itself. There’s a touch of historical flavor in flying aircraft like the Spitfire or Fokker Dr. I, but players looking for narrative drama will find the mission progression more procedural than cinematic.
Gameplay mechanics are at the heart of the Aces of Thunder experience, and here the game shines and stumbles in roughly equal measure. The flight and damage models are complex enough to satisfy sim enthusiasts to some degree – managing throttle, lift, stall, and energy in a way that feels mechanically significant rather than superficial. However, this depth comes with a cost: controls can feel opaque without prior flight game experience, and there’s a distinct lack of robust tutorials or onboarding that could ease new pilots into its systems.
The control schemes themselves offer flexibility – from PSVR2 controllers to HOTAS setups – and while this breadth is commendable, the implementation doesn’t always gel. Interacting with cockpit switches and menus via virtual hands is immersive in principle, but in practice the UI navigation and pointer interactions can feel clumsy, especially when fine adjustments are critical and time is limited. Players using non-VR controls or conventional gamepads will likely find the experience less intuitive, struggling with convoluted button mappings that make even basic actions feel awkward.
Visually, Aces of Thunder makes a strong first impression. The aircraft and cockpits are modeled with care, and atmospheric lighting combined with detailed terrain lends weight to the hovering tension of a dogfight. Yet the visual fidelity isn’t uniformly excellent: some environmental textures and map elements fall short of the standards set by the aircraft interiors themselves, which can momentarily pull players out of the otherwise convincing VR illusion. Audio design supports the core simulation with authentic engine roars, gunfire, and environmental soundscapes, though it largely remains functional rather than cinematic – powerful but not necessarily memorable.
Despite its rough edges, Aces of Thunder delivers a compelling sense of flight that is hard to shake once you acclimate to its demands. Multiplayer dogfights add a competitive layer that rewards mastery without diminishing the tactical nuance of aircraft handling. However, players seeking a more accessible or narrative-driven experience may find its uncompromising sim focus off-putting; the absence of substantial in-game guidance and the initial barrier to entry are persistent barriers that could dampen broader appeal.
In the end, Aces of Thunder feels like a love letter to cockpit-first flight sims – ambitious, occasionally unwieldy, and deeply rewarding for those willing to wrestle with its mechanics. On PSVR2, where immersion is king, it arguably delivers one of the more textured aerial combat experiences available, even if it stops short of being universally approachable or polished. For flight sim devotees and VR purists, there’s a rich sky to conquer here; for casual flyers, Aces of Thunder might just be too turbulent a ride.
Score: 7.5/10
Press Play Media 