Standard turns left or right directly with the left stick. Expert uses the left stick to roll, then pitch to turn. Choose the handling style before tuning difficulty.
Mode behavior confirmed by Bandai Namco; exact platform bindings not independently verified.
Choose your control mode
Standard suits players who prefer direct left/right steering. Expert provides control over roll and pitch for a wider range of maneuvers. Bandai Namco says you can select the flight-control mode when loading into the aircraft.
Change difficulty separately
Control mode and difficulty are separate choices. The official introductory guide recommends Pilot for new or returning players and describes Rookie as a story-focused option with collision-damage assists. Reduce the challenge while learning your input setup rather than changing everything at once.
Before your first sortie
Our setup checklist: use the control screen for your current platform and device, then practise one action at a time in a familiar mission. Exact button and keyboard assignments are omitted until verified.
- Check pitch, roll or steering, yaw and throttle.
- Find target selection, weapon selection, fire and countermeasures.
- Find camera, radar and squadron commands.
- Try a controlled turn, then an attack pass; change one setting at a time.
Use your squadron
The publisher confirms focused attacks, dispersed attacks, defensive support and special-weapon orders. Locate these controls as part of setup so you can direct support during combat.
Sources & further reading
- Bandai Namco: control modes and difficulty
- Bandai Namco: flight, weapons and countermeasures
- Bandai Namco: squadron commands
Sources were reviewed on 2026-10-05. A source review is not an in-game test. Suggest a correction.