I'm extremely upset that I had nobody in my life to pull me aside and tell me that this series is actually an anime as hell Metal Gear-esque pulpy war melodrama with super rewarding arcade gameplay rather than the dull military flight sim I expected it to be. This ended up being one of the most invigorating and intense gaming experiences I've ever had and NO ONE is more surprised than me! Every level has a unique and interesting mechanic that challenges and totally reinvents your concept of how to play, all alongside one of the most rousing soundtracks in modern gaming that's effectively used to create some real and memorable m o m e n t s. When the weather effects fog your windshield as lightning rages while dogfighting in a desolate canyon, all while the immense ost blasts... it's so fucking good. The story is INSANE anime gibberish told via these outrageous hyperstylized cutscenes and i wouldnt have it any other way. Can't wait to explore the rest of this series and see what I've missed.