Ace In Space

[b]Content Warning[/b]: This game’s protagonist has cancer, and its treatment is extremely relevant to the story. This material might be too sensitive for anyone who has experienced this themselves or watched a loved one experience it. (Yeah, it’s technically a spoiler, but it’s literally the first thing you learn about the protagonist. Literally the first thing you read about upon starting the game, so get over it. The CW is more important than spoilers.) A benevolent race of aliens descend upon Earth, willing to take away the sickly and “unwanted” members of society in order to give them a second chance at life. Given that the protagonist will certainly die from cancer due to inferior medical technology on Earth, they immediately opt to go with the aliens. They [i]literally[/i] discover a whole new world – Neo Terra – and begin their journey to recovery in a utopia catered to human life. No catch. No, really, there isn’t a catch. The aliens are just that awesome. [u]Praises[/u] • Protagonist is half-black/half-white, enby, and asexual. • Basic information on nonbinary folks and asexual folks is provided in the story here and there. • So much purple! So much galaxy! • Amusing references that poke fun at western pop culture (as the protagonist is Canadian). • Cute artwork/CGs. • CG Gallery. • Cute romances. • Several endings. (Realistically, a lot of them are sad though. But there are two legitimately happy endings, so it’s not [i]all[/i] sad.) • There are cats. Two cats. :3 [u]Complaints[/u] • The text size is way too small and there’s no way to adjust it. • A lot of the romantic build-up between characters happens “off screen.” The implication is that time passes and they spend time together. • One of the endings is unnecessarily dark. It feels out of place from the rest of the game. [spoiler]Sero’s ending.[/spoiler] • The cats aren’t present in the story enough. (Joking. … Sort of.) Yes, I f*cking recommend this game! It’s so f*cking cute! It’s informative for people who don’t understand asexuality or nonbinary people. It’s got a bunch of cool sci-fi stuff and a genuine utopian society. Hell, if the aliens asked my partner and me to leave with them, I’d be like “Hell yeah! F*ck this sh*thole planet!”

Ohh, this game was really lovely. I purchased it because well, space, robots, visual novel format, and an enby ace character maybe or maybe not doing the romance thing. It did indeed deliver on all of these things. The art is sort of a cute cartoon, little bit of anime style and it's impressive that the artist put so much work into designing different settings, a cast of unique and cool looking characters (and some plants and creatures), and even plenty of different expressions for each character to display according to what was happening with the script. It's fun, colourful, and I really liked the diversity in the Guardian designs. Not to say that Enby and Pierre weren't also very nice. The gallery CGs added a bit more insight into the personality to the characters, so that was a nice point as well. The writing was interesting for sure. There are a lot of themes like space travel, life on a different planet, dealing with (potentially) terminal illness, discussions about sexual and gender identity, discussions of different view points of dying, the limits and potential of technology, and of course all the things that come up with robotic beings and sentience and sapience (among other themes). I enjoyed learning about the setting the story takes place in and how the different characters fit into it. Without spoiling anything (hopefully not spoiling anything at least), I have to say the romantic scenes were interesting because they did have the relationship aspect but didn't ignore ongoing issues from before these scenes. The ability to pursue a platonic relationship, close friendship, with the one character was also a nice addition. For set up of the game, the menu was pretty easy to navigate and I didn't run into any glitches while playing, saving, or loading. The few things that I had an issue with, only a few, were mostly to do with personal preferences. I would have LOVED to have been able to spend more time getting to know the characters and the setting. There isn't anything wrong with shorter games, but when it's good you want to play in that world a little more, right? The second thing is to do with the endings. I understand why in most of them things go the way they do (it makes sense story wise and reality is like that), but the sappy and perhaps unrealistic side of me wishes things could have had a happier conclusion. That's not to say that the endings as they are weren't happy in some way, it was just bittersweet. The third, and final!, criticism that I would have is that if you go to the developers web page there is all kinds of helpful information (guides, extra info, trigger warnings), but there is no link or direction to go to the web page for this kind of help within the game. It would have been nice if the trigger warnings at least had been included or mentioned somewhere within the game. That's it really. It was a fun game with plenty of smiles and tears (I have to admit I didn't have the will to go for the bad neutral ending) and I would definitely recommend it to others.

I got this a while ago because it's ace and I'm ace. And it made me feel really silly for doing so. Just because we're the same orientation doesn't mean I would mesh with the game's creative vision, that's the lesson learned here. This game fails to follow basic writing 101. As in, the story lacks a central conflict. The protagonist has cancer, but there isn't enough focus on that to call it a central conflict. Instead the focus is on how the protagonist gets whisked away to a perfect paradise, and the world building of said paradise. In most endings, the protagonist suddenly dies of cancer. I don't understand what tone this is going for.

This is so much fun, I haven't unlocked all the endings yet, but its great enby/ace representation. I hope this gets way more popular.

While I was excited for an enby aspec character with a space adventure, this has been more like a graphic novel (with a general focus about complaining about healthcare) instead of an actual game. I've been playing for 30 minutes and I've had the opportunity to make a choice (say nothing or compliment the medical officer) TWICE. What kind of a game is that? I mean, if the writer for this game just had some beef with the way they were treated at a medical facility, write a blog, an article, film a youtube, whatever floats your boat, but using a "game" to do that is just asinine. The soundtrack and aesthetic were fanastic, though. I will continue to listen to the soundtrack long after I'm finished.

[h1]Overall Rating: 40%[/h1] [b]Summary: [/b] Ace In Space is a short visual novel that touches on the topics of asexuality and non-binary identity. Unfortunately during my playthrough, I was unable to really get into the game and felt like it wasn’t focussed enough on those topics. Maybe that’s just me. Since the price is quite low, I would probably still recommend it to people who are desperate for something completely out of the ordinary. For everyone else this is most likely a pass. [h1]💚Pros:💚[/h1] [list] [*]Cool artwork [*]Fitting soundtrack [*]Unusual topics, especially for this genre [/list] [h1]🔻Cons:🔻[/h1] [list] [*]Misleading description on the store page [*]Main story is too short, endings feel rushed [*]Some seriously disturbing content [*]The game focuses on several topics but stays superficial most of the time [*]The whole healthcare topic takes up way too much room [/list] [h1]Achievements: [/h1] [table][tr][td]⏲️ Time for 100%[/td] [td]1 – 5 hrs[/td] [/tr] [tr][td]🏋️ Estimated Difficulty[/td] [td]1/10[/td] [/tr] [tr][td]🔍 Missable[/td] [td]Several[/td] [/tr] [tr][td]🎮 Multiplayer[/td] [td]0[/td] [/tr] [tr][td]🦗 Glitched/Bugged[/td] [td]0[/td] [/tr] [tr][td]🚫 Unobtainable[/td] [td]0[/td] [/tr] [/table] [b]Notes:[/b] Obtaining all the achievements will most likely take around 5 hours of time. Obviously, it can be done much quicker, if you skip all of the dialogue.. but why would you do that? In a game like this? Technically, some of the achievements are missable since there are different routes that each lead to a different ending. But since there are only around 3 points in the game where you have to make a major decision, it’s not a big deal at all. Simply save at those points, reload the save once you are done with one route and work towards a different ending. [h1]Detailed Review:[/h1] First of all, I have to say that I really do not like to write negative reviews. But as much as I want to like this game and give it a pass, I simply can’t. When I first stumbled across this game, I was immediately intrigued. I am ace, the main character of this game is ace and the game appeared to be a mixture between a dating sim and a visual novel. It doesn’t cost much, we don’t get much asexual representation in media anyways, so taking a closer look surely doesn’t hurt, right? So, I went into the game expecting some kind dating sim, something like a HuniePop-clone or maybe a game similar to Kitty Powers’ Matchmaker, but with an asexual twist to it. Well, what I got was a short visual novel with mediocre writing which doesn’t give the player many opportunities to make impactful decisions. This game is not a dating sim at all, and I find it quite frankly misleading that it is advertised as one. Almost all the gameplay elements from classic dating sims are missing. You don’t get to play cheesy minigames, the main character doesn’t have any stats that you could raise, you don’t amass any kind of currency. You don’t have to remember much about the other characters, and you never get quizzed about their hobbies, interests and stuff. I guess you could argue that you run errands for your potential romantic interests but even that argument would be a big stretch because the game is “on rails” for the most part. Okay, so Ace In Space is a visual novel. Is that a bad thing? Well, no.. not really. But unfortunately the VN part is also lackluster. I have to agree with several other reviews: the plot and writing are unfortunately underwhelming and often times kinda weird. The game starts of with the protagonist (Adrian Clarke / Enby) getting diagnosed with cancer. The condition is terminal, so without a miracle they are going to die from it. Despite the fact that they have complained multiple times about severe chest pain and health problems, their caretakers decided to downplay the whole issue and blame it all on Enby’s anxiety attacks (I kid you not). So we’re off to a great start. This is a prime example of neglect from the caretakers. Luckily for Enby, a race of benevolent robots decides to visit earth and grant a couple of hundred people a second chance on a planet that they call Neo Terra. For the most part poor and sick people get granted this chance. Enby lucks out and so the robots take them with them. The plot advances on Neo Terra. Enby gets to know all of the robots and also the other settlers, the lucky ones that got granted a new life. Enby also works as a reporter and writes a blog about the life on Neo Terra. They still have to fight for remission because, as it turns out, even the advanced medical technology of the aliens can’t miraculously cure cancer. At this point in time, it felt like the plot already lost a lot of steam. The opening is super dramatic, but the daily life on Neo Terra is quite mundane. It’s only towards the end that the plot picks up pace again, and you get hit with a lot of stuff. Speaking of endings: I could only identify 3 points during the game where you have to make impactful decisions, decisions that ultimately decide which route you’re on and which ending you’ll get. Most of the endings involve the main character’s death in one form or another. It seems like towards the end, you get one chance to meet the medical officer for your cancer treatment.. and if you miss that option (because you work towards a different ending), Enby dies. Which is odd, because the game implies that quite some time passes on Neo Terra (I believe it’s one year?) and Enby seems to be doing just fine, it seems like their condition is at least under control. But as soon as I miss one session that’s it? Lol, you dead? Come on. For me personally, the whole medical topic did take up way too much room anyways. I thought this game was about asexuality, non-binary people and romance and less about getting mistreated, misdiagnosed and cancer treatment in general. I think there 2 or 3 routes in total, where asexuality and non-binary identities get discussed and explained (well, kind of.. in a couple of sentences). For me, that’s not good enough, especially considering how much of the game you have to play before you eventually reach those routes. Also, at least for me, some of the endings are certainly disturbing. Sero’s ending, especially, stands out. I remember playing through it and thinking “Wtf did I just witness?” I don’t know what made the devs think “Yeah, this is just what the game needs” but for me, it was just super creepy and problematic from an ethical standpoint (to put it mildly!). So, all things, considered, I didn’t enjoy Ace In Space all that much. It’s a short visual novel that touches on the topics of asexuality and non-binary identities. But ultimately, at least in my opinion, it falls short and could’ve been much better if it focussed more on those core topics. I expected so much more from this game, maybe that’s why I didn’t enjoy it all that much. I feel like I could send someone a link to AVEN, and they would learn much more about what it’s like to be an ace than what they could take away from this game. But credit where credit is due: the artwork is overall very nice, the soundtrack is fitting, the price of admission is low. So if the game goes on sale it’s probably still worth a buy for people who desperately want to experience something completely different. It’s just not for me.

I LOVE the idea of a dating sim with a sci-fi twist, and in this one you can date a bunch of robots! I love robots! I've never seen another game where you date robots, so I knew I had to get this one. Buying this game was one of the rare times where I bought a game at full price because I was too excited to wait for it to go on sale, and I can say now after 100-percenting the game that I don't regret that decision in the slightest :) Ace in Space is overall a lovely, sweet, and heartwarming experience. I liked all of the characters a lot! I thought Enby was a really great and fleshed-out player character, both in terms of personality and backstory. I ended up enjoying every single route (which is really rare for me in a dating sim/VN) since I just loved this little world the game builds and the characters that populate it. I really did feel attached to the characters, even the player character, who is usually an underdeveloped "blank slate" kind of character in dating sims. I really grew to care about Enby though, and[spoiler] it really broke my heart every time I had to hear about Enby dying at the end of most of the routes. On a slightly brighter note, I guess that makes the few endings where Enby lives just that much more worthwhile. [/spoiler] The sci-fi setting isn't meant to be hardcore realistic and the characters live in a basically paradise-like setting, but that doesn't mean things are perfect all the time. The game puts a greater emphasis on the characters' personalities and their interactions with each other rather than the specifics of how the space colony functions, and I think the writing really shines in the way that it portrays different types of relationships and the difficulties that can come with them. Another strong point is the way the game portrays the MC as struggling with chronic illness and mental health. I also really liked learning more about the robot aliens as a species, that was really cool too. The game has wonderful music and art. The soundtrack is really catchy and electronic, I liked it a lot! It really helped establish the atmosphere and emotions in different scenes. The art is a little rough around the edges in some places, but it's still very bright, colorful, and delightful to look at. I do have some nitpicks with the game, as much as it pains me to say so. The main issue I have is...I want more. Some of the routes felt very short compared to others. But even in the longer routes, I would have liked to have more scenes and interactions with the characters, since, well, what I already had was so good! A lot of times I felt that the routes kind of...ended abruptly. And I totally get that a huge reason for this is [spoiler]because Enby has cancer and they usually die from their illness in most routes. [/spoiler]But is it a bad thing that I want more? I wouldn't mind more. One other minor nitpick I had involved [spoiler] Sero's route. Like ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥, that ending got DARK. Sero is clearly undergoing some kind of issues and I never felt like I really understood what was going on. Would've liked to learn more about what's going on with her, but also holy ♥♥♥♥ was that ending dark. [/spoiler] [strike] Also technically not every dateable robot is smoochable, would have appreciated more robot smooching. [/strike] I know that some people might be hesitant to play a game with LGBT themes since it may not be relatable to them, or perhaps they are worried that the LGBT themes/representation were handled poorly. I personally don't think this was the case with Ace in Space. Things like asexuality and gender are discussed, but these topics are neither presented in a heavy-handed way nor are they put in spotlight all the time -- as I said, the game focuses mainly on its characters and their relationships/interactions. I'm neither asexual nor nonbinary but I still had a great time playing this game; relatability wasn't an issue since the game's strength lies in its characters. I actually thought that playing from the perspective of an asexual nonbinary person was pretty interesting since it was a perspective different from mine and not one I've really seen portrayed in media. I know I'm not the kind of person to ask if the representation in this game was done well, but I trust the dev team -- they seem very dedicated to portraying good LGBT representation (and, per their website, they are willing to listen to and address any missteps they may have made). So, bottom line: Do you want to date some robots? Does the premise of the game sound interesting to you? Then I'd definitely recommend this game. I know a sci-fi/robot/LGBT dating sim where the MC has cancer isn't likely going to appeal to everyone, but if it does, check it out! The game is quite good! :) The dev team also seems really cool, would love to see more stuff from them in the future.

Game is really cute? but also rather sad. Very educational if you're not familiar with Aces or Enbys. I just wish there were a few more happy endings. :< Thanks for the opportunity to play it tho Rose~

I've not finished all playthroughs yet, and will need to update this when I have. But so far I really love this game. I evidently read it a LOT slower than most people, it took me 6 hours to do what other reviews indicate should only take 60 minutes, due to my disabilities and sleep disorder!! However, that doesn't reflect on how engaged I was with this game. Having a brown, non-binary, asexual alone was extremely rewarding, as it's a bunch of my identities all in one character which never happens! Enby/Adrian is a cute character, their behaviour isn't frustrating or hard to understand. I liked most of the other characters. I didn't feel like I had a good chance to get to know the ones I have done a route with. Likewise I found the relationships happen rather quickly, but this makes sense as they have potentially terminal cancer and are highly aware of this. I first playthrough I did had a huge focus on identity education and consent. It was almost like a handbook on how to have a healthy relationship, but it still felt organic and realistic based on my own experiences! Themes: *Cancer, medical neglect, terminal illness, *Gender, non-binary main character, genderless aliens, *Sexuality, asexual MC, panromantic love interests, *Consent, namely for sexual/romantic relationships, medical treatment and therapy, *Making the most of whatever time you have, *Self care (I believe there is a self care route!) Accessibility: *As this game is a visual novel, the gameplay is simply reading the story and picking a few options. Therefore this only requires a mousepad or mouse, and no remapping is necessary. *The colouring is pleasant and not too jarring. *The text is easy enough to read but there aren't options to make it bigger. With the blog, the text is white on a pink background, but the speech box shows the same text in a good contrast for actual reading, which shows awareness of accessibility! *The sound isn't too jarring, the music is fairly pleasant. I liked the evident effort to make music match each character. Issues: *Sometimes the music would go silent then repeat itself slightly. It's a minor glitch and didn't happen a huge amount, but it did happen a handful every few hours, and it was disorientating. *The trigger warnings are not on the steam page, although they are on the original website. It's important people check these out. I recommend this game for: *Spoonies (representation), and people wanting to play games featuring those with disabilities, or life threatening conditions, *Asexuals (representation), and for individuals wanting to learn a little more about asexuals, (they're not heavily explained but it's a nice example of allo/ace relationships), *Non-binary (representation), and folk wanting to see games featuring a range of non-binary folk (good range of non-binary characters all with different comfort levels regarding being gendered), *People wanting to see wholesome, non-sexual but validated romantic relationships. *Young teens, (I wouldn't recommend it for young children without supervision and emotional support due to the triggers).

Ace in Space is very short and sweet with a universe I find quite interesting with a cast of characters that feel very unique. I myself am nonbinary and aspec and having a character that was like me was a breath of fresh air and ultimately relieving. The story this game tells is Escapist or more better put, hopeful even with what would be considered gloomier subject matter its never too overwhelming and never lets you spiral or dwell on those thoughts, they let them be concerns but its ultimately its about the people you love and enjoying yourself. The game isnt too long but I don't think its an issue, the game does very well to show the world and the personalities of the people in it even if its length makes some of the relationships feel rushed but I believe its part of the narrative of life is too short. I totally recommend the game though I am the sappy type but I did really enjoy this.