Space Ace

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.

Recommended

Space Ace on Steam – An Arcade Classic That Shines Bright

Playing Space Ace felt like revisiting an old-school arcade but with a smoother and more polished experience. If you’ve played Dragon’s Lair, 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, Space Ace played better than Dragon’s Lair. 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.
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Historical Background

Released in 1984, Space Ace followed Dragon’s Lair 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, Space Ace 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.
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The Story – Lighthearted Sci-Fi Fun

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.
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Gameplay – Reflexes and Strategy

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 Space Ace 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 Dragon’s Lair.
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Visuals and Technical Achievements

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.
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Sound and Music

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.
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Final Thoughts

Space Ace is more than just a game; it’s a piece of gaming history brought to life for modern audiences. For me, it edges out Dragon’s Lair 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 Space Ace a try. It’s a short, sweet ride that’s well worth the price, especially on Steam where it’s been lovingly restored.

For what this game is, and as someone who had never experienced it in its heyday, this was pretty neat. I enjoyed it more as a novelty than anything else. It's a cool idea and it's a shame more didn't come of it but it felt like good value for money. I dont know if it's something I did wrong, however, but in spite of beating it on Ace mode, most of the achievements never popped for me. It's not a big deal but a bit of an oddity for such an old game to have broken achievements.

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 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,