Ace Combat 7 Pilot Has Everyone Making The Same Top Gun Reference

Bandai Namco's "Ace Combat" series has stood the test of time. Since the original debuted in 1995, it has seen six sequels and multiple spinoffs. Players control various aircraft while engaging in action-packed dogfights. Although the games are fast-paced, they feature semi-realistic mechanics with users in control of the aircraft's yaw, pitch, and roll, similar to "Flight Simulator." But "Ace Combat" has one major difference that distinguishes it from many simulators: It features rich storylines and characters that keep players returning for more than just gameplay.

The franchise has such a devoted fanbase that people are still playing "Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown," the most recent entry that released in 2019 on PS4, Xbox One, and PC. Gamers also continue to post clips and share their love for the installment on the "Ace Combat" subreddit. One such video uploaded in 2022 led everyone to make the same reference to one of the most iconic movies of all time.

In the month following the release of "Top Gun: Maverick," user Brian_the_Teutonic made a thread on the "Ace Combat" subreddit titled "Well that happened." The post featured a video showing the player accompanied by another friendly aircraft flown by a pilot codenamed "Scream." As the second ship flies upside down, the player gets their jet right under it, and the two fly at the same speed in tandem. Unfortunately, the stunt doesn't last long, as the jet crashes soon after being shot by missiles.

Commenters pointed out that the stunt evokes a famous scene in "Top Gun." During the sequence, in an attempt to have a little fun and mess with his fellow pilots, main character Pete "Maverick" Mitchell flies his jet upside down within a few feet of a friendly jet flying in the same direction and snaps a polaroid picture. The top comment on the Reddit post even reads: "Is this your idea of fun Mav?" — a quote from that very scene. One person replied, "So you're the one," another famous quote from the movie where a character references the upside down stunt.

It's no surprise gamers quickly made the connection, as the imprint of "Top Gun" on "Ace Combat" is hard to miss. In the past, "Ace Combat" even joined forces with "Top Gun" to create a collaboration pack. Of course, it also helped that "Top Gun" was on everyone's minds thanks to the long-awaited sequel finally hitting theatres.