Space Ace (Mega-CD)

For the identically-named electromechanical arcade game, see Space Ace.

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Space Ace
System(s): Sega Mega-CD
Publisher: ReadySoft
Developer: ReadySoft
Distributor: Tec Toy (BR)
Licensor: Epicenter Interactive, Bluth Group
Genre: Action
Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code US 1994-12 $59.9959.99 T-121025 BR 199x 063410
Non-Sega versions 3DO Arcade CD-i IBM PC Jaguar CD Macintosh

Space Ace is a is a full-motion video game released for the Sega Mega-CD in 1994. It is based on the LaserDisc arcade game of the same name. Gameplay is reliant on quick-time events. A Sega Saturn version was also planned for release in September 1995.

The game features animation from former Disney animator Don Bluth. It is the spiritual successor to Dragon's Lair, which was also ported to the Mega-CD.

The game includes trailers for Space Ace, Dragon's Lair, and Brain Dead 13, though the latter was never released for the Mega-CD.

Story

Space Ace follows the adventures of the dashing hero Dexter, better known as "Ace." Ace is on a mission to stop the villainous Commander Borf, who is seeking to attack Earth with his "Infanto Ray" to render Earthlings helpless by reverting them into infants.

At the start of the game, Ace is partially hit by the Infanto Ray, which reverts him into an adolescent, and Borf kidnaps his female sidekick Kimberly, who becomes the game's damsel in distress. It is up to the player to guide Ace, in his adolescent form of Dexter, through a series of obstacles in pursuit of Borf, in order to rescue Kimberly and prevent Borf from using the Infanto Ray to conquer Earth.

Characters

Dexter

The adolescent form of Ace after he has been hit by the Infanto Ray. He can temporarily transform himself back into ace with his wristwatch.

Ace

A fearless hero who must defeat Borf and rescue Kimberly.

Kimberly

Ace's partner, who is abducted by the evil Borf.

Borf

A blue-skinned humanoid alien who wants to conquer Earth with his Infanto Ray.

Gameplay

Energize

Like Dragon's Lair, Space Ace is composed of numerous individual scenes that play out in a mostly linear order. The player does not control Dexter's actions directly but controls his reflexes, with different animated segments playing for correct or incorrect choices. The player must execute an action at the correct time by selecting , , , or or pressing to fire Dexter's laser gun.

Dexter has a wristwatch gadget that allows him to "ENERGIZE" at certain points by pressing and temporarily reverse the effects of the Infanto Ray. This turns him back into Ace for a short time to overcome more difficult obstacles in a heroic manner. Dexter usually progresses through scenes by avoiding obstacles and enemies, but Ace goes on the offensive, attacking enemies rather than running away. An example can be seen in the first scene of the game, when Dexter is escaping from Borf's robot drones. If the player presses the fire button at the right moment, Dexter transforms temporarily into Ace and can fight them, whereas if the player chooses to stay as Dexter, the robots' drill attacks must be dodged instead. Most scenes can be completed as either Dexter or Ace.

The player has limited lives with which to clear the game and returns to a checkpoint after losing a life. Some scenes are occasionally mirrored horizontally for additional challenge.

Levels

	Level 1
	Level 2
	Level 3
	Level 4
	Level 5
	Level 6
	Level 7
	Level 8
	Level 9
	Level 10
	Level 11
	Level 12

Production credits

Sega Conversion

• Produced by: David Foster
• Directed by: Tony Bozek
• Programming by: Stéphane Leblanc, David Foster
• Technical Coordination: Mike Boulet, Torin Marsden
• Product Manager: J. David Elton
• Utilities Programming: Kavita Joshi
• Graphics Retrieval and Technical Assistance: Joe Verissimo
• Assistant Technicians: David Bird, Roman Muklewicz, Pejman Saifi
• Background Touchup: Glenn Guenette, Shawn Pascuttini
• Graphics Touchup and Processing: Mike Abunowara, Gairy Ali, Ian Ball, Jawade Chaudhry, Paul De Leon, John Durno, Cindy Kong, David Magerman, Martina McKenna, Shawn Moore, Andrew Shepard, Jason Silverberg, Eric Soetikno, Nadia Yee, Natasha Yee
• Additional Programming: Anselm Hook
• Public Relations: June Brown
• Materials Coordinator: Kelly Bryan
• Technical Support and Game Testing: Steve Marshall

Source:

In-game credits

Magazine articles

Main article: Space Ace (Mega-CD)/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Print advert in Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) #63: "October 1994" (1994-xx-xx)

Print advert in EGM² (US) #5: "November 1994" (1994-1x-xx)
also published in:

• Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) #65: "December 1994" (1994-xx-xx)

Print advert in GamePro (US) #64: "November 1994" (1994-xx-xx)
also published in:

• GamePro (US) #66: "January 1995" (199x-xx-xx)

Print advert in Sega Visions (US) #22: "December/January 1994/1995" (1994-xx-xx)

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source

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Based on 0 review

Sega Retro Average
Publication Version Score 1700 igr dlya Sega (RU) 40 GamePro (US) NTSC-U 78 Next Generation (US) NTSC-U 25 VideoGames (US) NTSC-U 60

	51
Based on 4 reviews

Space Ace (Mega-CD)

Mega-CD, US
Cover
Disc Manual

Mega-CD, BR
Cover

Technical information

Main article: Space Ace (Mega-CD)/Technical information.