ACE: Air Combat Emulator

Computer and Video Games (CVG) (9 out of 10) (90%)

Not that there is anything stunningly new about the game, it's just incredibly well presented. Congratulations to Cascade on a good game.

Zzap! (90 out of 100) (90%)

This is without doubt THE most exciting flight sim on the 64 to date. The graphics are excellent with extremely fast update on the horizon and very realistic ground 3D with trees mountains and the enemy forces all zooming up to you at high speeds. There are many really original aspects to the game itself, like the brilliant mid-air refuelling (an exciting sequence), the two player option and the excellent rear view camera. These touches put Ace a notch above the rest. Don't be put off by the fact it's classed as a simulator - it's more of a true to life shoot em up since it is so easy to fly - and the game has scoring.

Computer Gamer (85 out of 100) (85%)

If you want an accurate and detailed boring flight simulator then I would look elsewhere. However, if you want fast action with enough realism to add to the action and plenty of mission options and weapons payloads, along with in-flight refuelling and weather changes, then have a good look at this game.

Commodore User ( ) (80%)

This is by far the best (certainly one of the only) dedicated Plus/4 games I've seen. If you've got one, go out and buy this. It's er, ace.

Commodore User (8 out of 10) (80%)

Not so much a flight simulation with some combat thrown in for good measure, but more of an aerial combat simulation with flight simulator overtones. [...] There are better simulations available, but none at this price, so why not give it a whirl?

Commodore User (4 out of 5) (80%)

Most of the best flight simulators are a compromise between cockpit realism and entertaining , playable action. ACE (Air Combat Emulator) seems to have found the right balance very nicely indeed. The depiction of the cockpit may not be as stunning as Spitfire 40, or Dambusters, the outside views may be a little crude, but the action itself is fast, compulsive and full of variety. [...] Although the speech is fairly crude, it does sound remarkably like aircraft cockpit radiospeak, thereby adding considerably to the atmosphere. And for once it isn't a gimmick - the speech gives you important information. Until now Cascade Games have made their money sending out mail order tapes stuffed with vast numbers of pretty lousy programs. This is an impressive entry into the world of real software. It's a bit expensive but you do get a watch into the bargain.

Your Sinclair (8 out of 10) (80%)

Don't get cheesed off at the start - it takes some time to get into. And once you get the hang of it, you're gonna be hooked for days before you actually manage to come anywhere near succeeding. If you want a realistic combat simulation, forget it - you'll learn more from the movies. If you want a high-speed shoot 'em up with planes, go get it - it's ACE!

Commodore User (4 out of 5) (80%)

The action is extremely fast and difficult to master even in daylight (other options are dusk and night flights) so it's unlikely you'll earn your wings overnight and become bored with it.

Zzap! (78 out of 100) (78%)

A cut-down version of the 64 original, but still very playable. More of a shoot 'em up than a flight simulation, with reasonably effective graphics and a fair share of action.

Commodore Format (3 out of 4) (75%)

When it was released over five years ago, it was the best thing since fixed-wing jets; it shook off the 'flight sims are boring' image with fast graphics, furious arcade-style gameplay and all the basic sim paraphernalia to boot. [...] Add a gripping mid-air refuelling sequence, superb dogfights, a rear-view camera and some scratchy speech, and you have one hell of a game - even by today's standards.

Your Commodore (28 out of 40) (70%)

ACE is a game that no Plus/4 owner should be without, it will keep you occupied for hours.

Computer Gamer (13 out of 20) (65%)

If an excellent flight simulator with equally excellent graphics is what you want I would recommend this one every time. However, if you are looking for an exciting and fast-moving game I would look elsewhere.

Amtix! (58 out of 100) (58%)

ACE is a curious mixture of a combat and a flight simulation and it has left me somewhat confused. What are we supposed to be doing - shooting the enemy and ignoring the controls perhaps or maybe we should be flying so well that we avoid the enemy altogether? The graphics are reasonable, if a bit jerky, and serve their purpose. It didn't do anything for me.

Commodore Force (57 out of 100) (57%)

Ah, listen to that ear-grating speech, feast your eyes on the sparse instrumentation and search every wing and thruster for the gameplay. When it made it's first public debut ACE received cheers all around, but not many old timers can beat a spring chicken in a sack race. ACE is now a very old man that he can't even climb into the sack, let alone race in it.

Amstar N/A

Dans ce simulateur de vol, vous avez même la possibilité de choisir votre saison de vol (hiver, été) ainsi que la période (jour, nuit) ; pour ce qui est du graphisme, il faut dire que les écrans sont relativement vides avec, par exemple, une végétation très éparse... Malgré tout, vous trouverez de l'action et vous pourrez même voler et combattre avec un compagnon !