Space Ace

This used to be a decent port but then in 2017 they updated it and basically ruined it. Achievements don't work, scenes repeat often and even on the highest difficulty, it's missing several parts.

As an owner of a Space Ace cabinet, I can verify that the timings of the moves are slightly off. I only mention this as that those "slightly" mistimed moves tend to screw up my playing on both Steam and an actual cabinet. Here ends my First World Problem rant.

2 thumbs up for the game, 1 thumb down for the port. -4 glitched cheevos -too barebones -screen transitions are off -timing is off -sometimes the game goes on even if you don't press an input, or even the incorrect button

I want to say first and foremost that I love this game. I really do. But while the Dragon's Lair games felt good and stable, this one had its issues, and I cannot in good faith put a positive review in while these issues are present in the game, even 7 years after they came in. The only way to get the achievements for playing through specific scenarios on Ace Difficulty or the Requesting Permission achievements is via downloading an older version of the game, which you have to do a lot of research on via the discussions and online, as the cool patch they gave the game for higher quality videos and quality of life changes broke them. Not only that, but the timing of the game is off as well, with an audio glitch only on cadet difficulty when going for air for some reason, and a scene in the final fight is bugged if you go a certain, yet unlikely, route, via not pressing the energizing button right away, which results in not visuals or audio playing until your character dies as you can't see a thing. Not to mention it is very likely that some death scenes are wrongly used in this version of the game. Honestly wish there was a way to combine the old and new versions together, just take the accurate timings and stable gameplay of the original and the quality of life in the new version, and I and many others would be so happy. But until that day comes, which will likely never be, this review will stay negative to ensure people are able to understand this problem before buying and playing the game. But I will say, I did 5 playthroughs of the game within my 3 hours of playtime with the move guide only being used for one of them which was a quick playthrough just for some basic achievements, and despite my frustrations with the game, I loved the experience and can't wait for the excuse to play this again.

Recomendo

[h3][b]Space Ace on Steam – An Arcade Classic That Shines Bright[/b][/h3] Playing [i]Space Ace[/i] felt like revisiting an old-school arcade but with a smoother and more polished experience. If you’ve played [i]Dragon’s Lair[/i], this game will feel familiar—but not in a bad way. Instead of medieval fantasy, we’re transported to a quirky, colorful sci-fi world that’s brimming with Don Bluth’s signature animation style. For me, [i]Space Ace[/i] played better than [i]Dragon’s Lair[/i]. The controls felt tighter, and the added energize mechanic brought an extra layer of strategy and fun. Here’s my breakdown of why it’s still an amazing game and worth your time. [hr][/hr] [h3][b]Historical Background[/b][/h3] Released in 1984, [i]Space Ace[/i] followed [i]Dragon’s Lair[/i] in using laserdisc technology to create an interactive movie-like game. This was a groundbreaking concept for the time. While most arcade games relied on pixel graphics and limited animations, [i]Space Ace[/i] and its predecessor gave players the feeling of controlling a full-fledged cartoon. Don Bluth, a former Disney animator, led the project, and it shows. The game’s visuals are top-notch even now, with fluid, hand-drawn animation that gives it a timeless quality. This Steam version stays true to the original while optimizing it for modern systems. [hr][/hr] [h3][b]The Story – Lighthearted Sci-Fi Fun[/b][/h3] The story is simple yet charming. You’re Ace, a brave (and slightly cocky) hero trying to stop the evil Commander Borf from using his "Infanto Ray" to turn everyone into helpless babies. Ace himself isn’t spared entirely—he starts off as Dexter, a nerdy teenager, but has the ability to "energize" back into his adult, heroic self when needed. This dynamic makes the game feel like a Saturday morning cartoon come to life. The narrative doesn’t aim for depth, but it’s so full of humor and playful energy that it doesn’t need to. [hr][/hr] [h3][b]Gameplay – Reflexes and Strategy[/b][/h3] The gameplay is what you’d expect from a game in this genre: a mix of quick-time events and trial-and-error progression. You watch a scene play out, and at the right moment, you press the correct direction or action button to survive and advance. Mess up, and you’re treated to an over-the-top death animation. What sets [i]Space Ace[/i] apart is the "Energize" feature. At specific points, you can choose to transform back into Ace, which changes the scene and your approach to challenges. Staying as Dexter usually means avoiding danger, while transforming into Ace lets you tackle threats head-on. This mechanic not only adds variety but also encourages multiple playthroughs to see all the possible outcomes. The controls on this Steam version feel much more responsive than earlier ports. Timing is still key, but I never felt like I was fighting the game’s inputs, which was occasionally an issue in [i]Dragon’s Lair[/i]. [hr][/hr] [h3][b]Visuals and Technical Achievements[/b][/h3] The animation is simply gorgeous. Don Bluth and his team didn’t just make a game; they created a piece of interactive art. Every scene feels alive with vibrant colors, detailed characters, and imaginative settings. From alien landscapes to chaotic space battles, there’s always something visually exciting happening. The Steam port has done a great job preserving these visuals while improving the technical side of things. Load times are non-existent, and the game runs smoothly, making it an excellent way to experience this classic without needing a laserdisc player. [hr][/hr] [h3][b]Sound and Music[/b][/h3] The voice acting is delightfully exaggerated, perfectly capturing the campy, lighthearted tone of the story. The sound effects—whether it’s the whir of a spaceship or the zap of a laser—are classic arcade fare. The music is dramatic and keeps the tension high, pulling you further into the game’s world. [hr][/hr] [h3][b]Final Thoughts[/b][/h3] [i]Space Ace[/i] is more than just a game; it’s a piece of gaming history brought to life for modern audiences. For me, it edges out [i]Dragon’s Lair[/i] because of the energize mechanic, which adds more interactivity and replay value. The story is simple but entertaining, the visuals are timeless, and the gameplay, while demanding, is rewarding once you get the hang of it. It’s not for everyone—if you don’t like trial-and-error gameplay or reflex-based mechanics, this might not be your cup of tea. But if you appreciate beautiful animation, a bit of campy fun, and a chance to experience one of the most unique arcade titles ever made, give [i]Space Ace[/i] a try. It’s a short, sweet ride that’s well worth the price, especially on Steam where it’s been lovingly restored.

I can't press the reactions fast enough >_< But yeah old school 80s animation, the characters act completely out of fiction (which is the point and i love), its not easy to win, you get auto-saves at certain points so you don't have to start over from the beginning, you can win the game in more then one way and wont always die from failing at interaction, you can die in several different ways. The game is just funny and nonsensical,

"Space Ace" almost gave me a ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ aneurysm, like what the hell is its problem. The animation is amazing but it is so fast paced I could not even pay attention let alone enjoy it. Unless you like ♥♥♥♥♥♥ Quick-Time Events, the animation is all "Space Ace" has. This re-release itself is horrible, they really put the bare minimum into it. There are NO extras or nothing which would be fine if only the game was like 4-5 bucks, but no it is 10 American dollars. WHAT WERE THEY THINKING. 4/10

《太空王牌》（Space Ace） 此游戏于1984年发行，开发商和发行商都是Digital Leisure，是一款由Don Bluth电影公司同名经典动画电影改编的游戏。这个游戏应该最开始是在街机上面发行的，看游戏的操作有些街机的感觉。游戏玩法也十分简单，QTE玩法，根据画面的提示按键就行了，我在STEAM上面还找到了另一款相似的游戏《Dragon’s Lair（龙之巢穴）》，在《太空王牌》在这款游戏中，玩家扮演一名太空英雄Ace阻止邪恶的指挥官Borf灭绝人类并侵略地球的计划。为此，玩家必须和美丽的金伯利一起并肩作战。从某种意义上说，整个游戏就像是一个交互式的视频，在关键剧情中屏幕上会显示出分支列表，玩家在其中选择并决定游戏剧情的走向，而虚拟摇杆用来进行移动，另一个按键可以发射激光。游戏中的敌人非常狡猾，开启游戏中武器和技能的要求也很高，游戏的大容量和高难度都是对玩家操作的挑战，打折到很低的价格的时候，可以买来当个动画片看看，游戏的QTE还稍微有些难度。

Space Ace is one of my top three favorite arcade games of the 1980s. Don Bluth is a master of animation like no other. I had hoped this game would do better than emulators. And in some ways, it did. The remastering of video and sound is superb. A lot of gameplay options make it easier to play casually. However, the actual gameplay, which is what made the original game exciting, is crap. It's one of the simplest kinds of gameplay: wait for a certain move in a certain time window. It's literally child's play to program. But Digital Leisure somehow couldn't get it right. If you enable the hint display and move when it tells you to, you probably won't have any problems playing. But if you want to go full nostalgia and play using only the hints that the game's animation gives you, things go horribly awry. Half the time, the move does not register. You can keep trying to make it register, and it might or might not register at some random later point, which might or might not be before it's too late and you lose a life.