Do spectacular Blu-ray visuals save a remastered Space Ace from the ravages of time?

Like a dusty pair of acid washed jeans dredged from a basement closet, Space Ace serves as a sobering reminder of the past. Its cutting edge 1983 laserdisc technology merged hand drawn traditional animation with simon says pattern recognition that took arcades by storm. It was among the first crop of “premiere” coin-op cabinets that charged 50 cents per play, and its blistering difficulty punished those slow on the draw to sink a never-ending stream of quarters into its slot until the fabled videogame crash of the following year. While time hasn’t been kind to its simplistic mechanics and classic visuals, Space Ace on Blu-ray delivers enough fan service to please its target audience, but no one else.

Let’s get one thing straight—Space Ace on Blu-ray is not a PlayStation 3 game. It is an interactive Blu-ray disc that can be watched on any number of BD players, empowering players to determine Ace’s fate with some quick button presses from a remote control. That stated, the gameplay elements likely work best on Sony’s powerhouse console since the lightning-fast response of a bluetooth controller is more dependable than that of a traditional infrared remote.

Space Ace is an animated short that lasts around eight minutes from start to finish when played as a film. You control the exploits of the titular hero, and must react with split-second precision to escape numerous traps, dodge laser beams, and save the beautiful Kimberly from the evil clutches of Borf. Off the bat, Ace is struck by Borf’s “Infanto Ray” and transformed into Dexter, a scrawny nerd with a whiny voice. He can occasionally beef up during select encounters and pummel the opposition, but the transition is temporary.

Though Space Ace has multiple difficulty levels, they are all ridiculously hard and require lightning reflexes. A typical scenario places Dexter in the midst of chaos. As he is swarmed by legions of menacing robots, an onscreen hint will briefly flash that clues the player on what action to take next. He can draw his blaster and shoot back, move in four different directions, or transform into the hulky main character for a short time. Make the wrong move and you’ll die a horrible death, followed by a replay of the same scenario. Thankfully, you are supplied with unlimited continues at the sacrifice of a high score, so the game quickly devolves into a test of pattern recognition and reflexes.

The average gamer will cry in frustration over Space Ace’s unforgiving gameplay, though traditional animation fans will weep over its meticulously restored footage and 5.1 surround sound. It doesn’t hold up to the simplest of flash games in terms of mechanics, but when taken as a work of passive entertainment it’s enjoyable to watch. What’s especially fascinating are the director commentaries and interviews with creator and ex-Disney animator Don Bluth and his partners Gary Goldman and Rick Dyer. Also included are side-by-side comparisons of the various re-releases of Space Ace and Dragon’s Lair through the years and some playable demos.

On the whole, Space Ace on Blu-ray is a niche product that appeals to a very specific consumer. If you’re a longtime gamer with a soft spot for arcade nostalgia, you’ll get something out of it. Fans of Bluth’s work will also find value in the director commentary. PlayStation 3 owners looking for a fresh spin on a familiar franchise will likely find disappointment in the game’s short length and high challenge factor.