In ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE, players step into the shoes of Rex, a silent protagonist and ace pilot who achieves remarkable feats in aerial combat. However, a popular theory has recently gained traction among Japanese Ace Combat enthusiasts, playfully suggesting that when not in the cockpit, Rex is actually quite scatterbrained. This idea has been fueled by the game’s interactive cutscenes and specific story moments, leading Rex to become the fandom’s beloved “single-brain-cell-baby.”
Be advised that this article touches upon some plot points from Ace Combat 8’s main narrative.
Ace Combat 8 unfolds in the series’ shared fictional universe of Strangereal. In 2029, the Federation of Central Usea (FCU) is blindsided by an invasion from the Republic of Sotoa, resulting in the loss of much territory and military might. Rex is plucked from the ocean by the aging aircraft carrier Endurance and given the moniker of the legendary ace known as the “Wings of Theme,” a symbol of hope for the FCU. Yet, this legend isn’t quite as it appears, and Rex must join forces with his newfound comrades to liberate their occupied homeland.
As the story progresses, Rex racks up victory after victory in the skies, transforming from a bearer of “false wings” into a true ace. However, while he’s a reliable hero in the air, players have found it hard not to notice the amusing contrast with Rex’s seemingly awkward behavior on the ground.
AC8’s cinematic sequences are experienced from a first-person perspective, allowing players to move the camera, zoom in on details, and occasionally press buttons to trigger actions in a Quick Time Event-like manner. During these sequences, there’s sometimes a brief delay before the game acknowledges the player’s input, or the player might take a moment longer to react. This results in Rex appearing as though he’s struggling to recall what to do when offered a handshake, or doesn’t realize he’s supposed to stand up with the rest of his crew when the executive officer (XO) enters the room.
When examining the story, numerous scenes have been pointed out as further evidence. For instance, when Rex is picked up by the FCU Endurance while stranded at sea in a lifeboat, the person with him is not a co-pilot or a member of his squadron, but Major Jenkins, a maintenance officer. They weren’t rescued from a downed fighter jet, but from a helicopter. This has led some players to speculate that Rex was late for the fighter jet scramble, and ended up escaping aboard a helicopter with Jenkins instead.
Later in the game, Rex crash-lands in the mountains with Baxter due to circumstances beyond their control. One scene appears to show Rex getting tangled in a tree and needing Baxter’s help to get down. Afterward, he’s knocked over by charging sheep. When the pair seek shelter and encounter a Sotoa military officer, Baxter tries to hide out of sight, while Rex seems to just stand there in plain view. In another scene, the XO fires a shot behind Rex and tells him to take one step to the left, but he fails to react in time and has to be pulled aside by Baxter at the last second.
With so many instances of apparent clumsiness scattered throughout the story, it’s no surprise Rex has earned the reputation of an airhead outside of the cockpit. The fact that he’s largely a silent protagonist, with relatively little explicit characterization within the game, has also likely played a role, as it gives players plenty of room to imagine his personality.
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is now available on PC (Steam), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X❘S.