About Space Ace
Space Ace is another animated arcade game from the creators of Dragon’s Lair. Players control Ace, a hero who must battle against the evil Borf to save the galaxy. The game uses the same quick-time event mechanics as Dragon’s Lair, where players must react to on-screen prompts to guide Ace through perilous situations.
Developer & Publisher:
Space Ace was developed by Don Bluth, a former Disney animator who had worked on classic films like The Fox and the Hound and Robin Hood. Bluth’s animation studio was instrumental in bringing high-quality, hand-drawn animation to arcade games. The game was published by Atari in North America and Bally Midway in Europe. Don Bluth’s involvement helped set Space Ace apart from other games at the time, creating a visually striking, story-driven experience that stood out in the arcade market.
Levels:
Space Ace is a laserdisc video game featuring interactive animation. Players control the character Ace, a space hero, as he embarks on a mission to rescue Princess Brittany from the evil Borf, an alien villain. The game is divided into a series of animated sequences with interactive segments where the player must make quick decisions to help Ace navigate challenges. The game includes several levels, each corresponding to different stages in the story: The Space Station: The first level introduces players to the game's controls and Ace’s ability to switch between his normal and "Space Ace" forms. Ace must overcome various obstacles as he works to board the space station and begin his mission. The Planet of Doom: The second level takes Ace to a dangerous planet where he must fight off Borf’s minions and navigate hostile terrain to rescue Princess Brittany. The Death Star-like Space Fortress: A series of levels culminate in an intense battle on Borf's space fortress, where Ace must defeat enemies and avoid traps to ultimately face Borf and save the princess. The levels are filled with quick-time events that require precise timing and split-second decisions to succeed. If players fail to make the right choices, they are sent back to previous sections, making it crucial to memorize the sequences and react quickly.
High Scores:
The high score in Space Ace is determined by how well players perform during each animated sequence, with points awarded for successfully completing each interactive event. Players earn bonus points for completing stages quickly, using fewer lives, and making the correct moves at key moments. Unlike traditional arcade games where players need to clear levels or defeat enemies to progress, Space Ace focuses more on precision and timing. Players can replay sections to perfect their performance and earn a better score. The game’s challenge lies in its high degree of difficulty in memorizing each sequence and knowing the precise moment to take action. High scores in Space Ace were typically recorded on arcade machines, with competitive players aiming to rack up the highest possible score by navigating the game’s animated challenges flawlessly.
Legacy:
Space Ace is considered a pioneer in the use of laserdisc technology for arcade games, offering players a cinematic experience with highly detailed animation. Following the success of Dragon’s Lair, Space Ace was one of the first games to bring animation to the forefront of interactive gameplay. Though it didn’t achieve the same widespread success as Pac-Man or Donkey Kong, Space Ace carved out a niche as an arcade favorite due to its unique gameplay and visually stunning animation. The game’s use of interactive storytelling and high-quality animation made it a precursor to future games in the adventure genre, influencing the development of story-driven games in later years. Space Ace also saw multiple re-releases on home consoles and computer systems in the 1990s, helping to preserve its legacy for new generations of players. Space Ace remains a beloved title in the arcade gaming world, not only for its animation but for its contribution to the evolution of interactive storytelling in video games. The game’s use of visual narrative and quick-time events foreshadowed the development of future interactive movie-style games like The Walking Dead and Heavy Rain. Today, Space Ace is still fondly remembered and available in various retro gaming collections, continuing to influence the design of modern interactive experiences.