Space Ace – Review
By App Type: Uncategorized
Our rating: 
By: Dragon's Lair LLC
Version #: 1.01 (iPhone OS 3.0 Tested)
Date Released: 2009-07-03
Developer: Space Ace
Price: 4.99
User Rating:
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Please note that this review is of the free "lite" version of the app which contains only the first level of the game.
One of the factors that led to Don Bluth becoming an animation icon was his work in video games. During the 1980’s, he created Dragon’s Lair, the first video game to use animation clips, and it’s follow-up Space Ace. It says a lot about the progress of video game technology that Space Ace can now literally fit in the palm of your hand with the exact same animation.
(I would ask why Dragon’s Lair wasn’t released on iTunes, but after some research I see that a movie franchise is in pre-production and the creators probably want to wait for that to succeed before releasing any video game promotion.)
They even use the classic introduction for the game. It’s a retro reminder of how good 2D animation used to be.
Playing the game is pretty simple. There are directional arrows and a circle for firing your weapon. When one of these controls lights up, you’re supposed to hit it to get past that particular obstacle (be it death lasers or robot drills). There is a beep to indicate that you hit the control, but that can be deactivated in the settings.
There is some dragging in the continuity of play as the clips change, something gamers aren’t used to nowadays.
Despite being a quarter of a century old, the game is still a unique and fun experience for gamers of any age. It’s well worth the five bucks for a download when you consider that people twenty years ago were popping in fifty times that amount in quarters for continuous play.
Pros: Terrific animation. Easy game play.
Cons: There is some drag during clip changes. Where’s Dragon’s Lair?
In Space Ace you play the heroic Ace who must stop the evil Commander Borf from taking over the Earth! Borf plans to reduce all of humankind to infants and take over the planet. Only two people have the courage and strength to stop Borf and save Earth: the beautiful Kimberly and the heroic Ace. But as they approach Borf’s stronghold, Ace is hit by the Infanto Ray, changing him into a child, and Kimberly is kidnapped by the evil madman. Armed with only a laser gun, Ace must find and destroy the Infanto Ray, rescue Kimberly and save the Earth.The fate of Earth is in your hands!
This release of Don Bluth’s legendary animated arcade game features video transferred directly from the stunning high definition master, delivering the sharpest images and most vibrant colors ever – far better than the original laserdisc release.Simply press on the direction pad to guide Ace in the right direction or fire your laser gun and blast those aliens away.Don Bluth and his production teams are the creative genius behind such beloved classics as The Secret of NIMH, An American Tail and Anastasia to name but a few.Dragon’s Lair LLC and Digital Leisure look forward to bringing many of the classic arcade games you’ve come to enjoy to the palm of your hands. Use your iPhone or iPod Touch to visit our website at www.digitalleisure.com/iphone for exciting updates and exclusive upcoming releases.We hope you enjoy Space Ace!
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