Space Ace Review (PS3)
Borf has never looked better.
Posted by Robert Workman on Sunday, March 23, 2008
1984's Space Ace had a pretty big following, one almost as strong as Don Bluth's previous laser disc arcade release, Dragon's Lair. Now, 24 years later, the game hits the PlayStation 3 on Blu-ray. If you can look past its low replay value, you'll find some bang for your buck.
In the game, you play Ace, a galactic warrior who, along with his hot assistant Kimberly, keeps the galaxy safe. A menacing madman named Commander Borf who blasts everything in sight with his devastating Infanto Ray. He intends to use this weapon on Earth, turning everyone on the planet into babies. Ace is hit by the ray, which temporarily transforms him into a nerdy kid named Dexter. Throughout the game, he switches back and forth between the two characters with the help of an Energizer watch. It's all hokey science fiction stuff, but it holds together.
- Oh, yeah, he's evil.
Bluth, an animator who worked on such films as An American Tail and The Land Before Time, really knows his stuff when it comes to old-school animation. Space Ace is an invigorating game experience, one filled with exciting scenarios and stage design. One minute, Ace dodges electrical cylinders while shooting henchmen. The next, he avoids an "evil" version of himself, who triples in size and attempts to eat him.
What's impressive, however, is Digital Leisure's restoration process. On Blu-ray, Ace looks amazing. It runs cleanly, without any hints of slowdown. It also sounds better, thanks to the re-mastered audio; the theme song is still great after all these years.
There really isn't that much to the gameplay. It's set on a timing system, with trial and error heavily involved. You must hit the right moves at the right time, or else you'll watch Dexter or Ace perish in humorous fashion. (If that's not enough, Borf taunts you after each loss. "You cannot win!") Veterans of the arcade game will finish it in a matter of minutes. Amateurs and first-timers may take longer, but no more than a couple of hours. It's worth noting, though, that Digital Leisure transferred the old "acceptance" and "failure" sound effects from the arcade game, which is very cool.
- Gimme a kiss!
In addition, Digital Leisure threw in a few extras that make the purchase worthwhile. Along with being able to watch the game in its entirety, you can also access a new video commentary with Bluth, Rick Dyer and Gary Goldman. They discuss the game in detail, dropping little trivia factoids. There are also separate interviews with the team, as well as an animation comparison to show you how Ace looks on other platforms. You'll also find in-game subtitles, in case you can't figure out what Borf says with his low, garbled voice.
With that said, there isn't much game here. Space Ace is just an interactive cartoon with nothing much to offer once you beat it. There are three difficulty levels, but their differences are minor at best. Still, the nostalgia value is very high on this game, and it has never looked and sounded better. Fans of Space Ace will immediately want to invest in this Blu-ray disc, and newcomers should give it a look as well.
"Later, space invaders!"
Final Score: 8/10
