The very last thing you’d consider influencing a fantasy series that’s all about characters being forced into heroism is a militaristic flight simulator. However, once you read between the lines, the fact that Ace Combat 7 inspired Sentenced to be a Hero isn’t too surprising.
In a recent interview with Anime News Network, Sentenced to Be a Hero writer Rocket Shokai explores this very connection, highlighting what made both the original light novel series and its anime adaptation by Studio KAI so appealing. They note the penal unit episodes in Ace Combat 7 as directly influencing the concept of “hero sentencing,” which makes a lot of sense in retrospect.
Although odd on the surface, this revelation should come as no surprise to Ace Combat fans. The flight simulator, which was originally released in 2019, still offers some of the most cinematic dogfights and aerial action you’ll get in a modern video game. All the while, it’s oozing with very similar themes presented in Sentenced to be a Hero, nailing that moral gray zone and the transactional essence of war with expert precision. Microsoft Flight Simulator simply can’t match.
