ACE Academy

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In ACE Academy, play as a student at a prestigious academy for advanced technology. Develop friendships, romances, and rivalries with your classmates while navigating the ups and downs of student life. Use your skills to customize mecha models and engage in exciting battles, with the fate of the academy and the world at stake.

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

95%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,227 reviews

story391 positive mentions

stability6 negative mentions

Engaging and funny story with well-developed characters.
Full English voice acting enhances the experience.
Multiple routes and choices provide good replayability.

Abrupt ending leaves many plot points unresolved.
Some dialogue options feel trivial and don't significantly impact the story.
Reused backgrounds and silhouettes for minor characters detract from immersion.

story
1,062 mentions
37 % positive mentions
60 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The story of "Ace Academy" is described as intriguing and humorous, featuring a mix of cliches and character-driven narratives that engage players. While many reviewers appreciate the character development and the variety of paths to explore, they express disappointment over the abrupt ending and unresolved plot threads, suggesting that the game feels incomplete. Overall, the game is recommended for its enjoyable characters and lighthearted storytelling, but players should be prepared for a lack of closure in the main narrative.
- “I was surprisingly engaged, and the story has so many paths to explore that, even while I finished every route, I kept finding more!”
- “The story is actually rather long, but it's so well-written and sufficiently multi-threaded that it does not feel lengthy at all.”
- “The story is intriguing, and that is why the ending overall is a serious disappointment.”
- “The background story plot starts off good but sadly just kind of whimpers to an unsatisfying end.”
- “The ending finishes with almost all of the main story buildup still unanswered.”
- “It ends in the middle of the story with an apology from the devs... money dried up so the story ends here.”
humor
290 mentions
99 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a standout feature, with many players praising its clever writing, witty dialogue, and a plethora of pop culture references that elicit genuine laughter. While some found the humor to be hit-or-miss, often relying on dated references, the overall consensus is that the game successfully balances lighthearted moments with emotional depth, making it an engaging and entertaining experience. The characters are described as endearing and funny, contributing to a memorable narrative filled with amusing choices and scenarios.
- “The dialogue was frequently humorous and the game did a pretty good job of rounding out even the more boring characters.”
- “The characters, the visuals and art are gorgeous, the writing is clever and hilarious, and the game's soundtrack.”
- “It's a hilarious read that also gets sad and emotional.”
- “Constant, pointless, and unfunny pop-culture references.”
- “Breaking the fourth wall is supposed to be funny or edgy, but it just falls flat.”
- “Things that were supposed to be funny were not actually funny, and things that were meant to be endearing were not endearing.”
music
182 mentions
49 % positive mentions
47 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received a generally positive reception, with many players praising its ability to enhance the atmosphere and emotional impact of scenes. While some tracks are described as memorable and well-composed, others are noted as generic or forgettable, leading to a mixed overall impression. Despite these criticisms, the soundtrack is often highlighted as a strong aspect of the game, contributing to its charm and immersion.
- “The soundtrack is amazing.”
- “The music incredibly helps create the atmosphere and the ambient sounds make it sound so much more realistic.”
- “The music is very catchy and certain themes will stick in your mind.”
- “The music is forgettable but serviceable.”
- “Only disappointment is the song from the teaser on Steam was not in the game.”
- “I wish there was more musical tracks, better care taken to the importance of music, and better overall sound design beyond the voice acting.”
graphics
110 mentions
55 % positive mentions
42 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Ace Academy" are generally praised for their vibrant and beautiful artwork, with many reviewers highlighting the distinct and cute art style that enhances the overall experience. While some found the visuals to be stunning and well-executed, others noted inconsistencies in character designs and background art, suggesting a mix of high-quality and generic elements. Overall, the game's visuals contribute positively to its engaging story and character development, making it a visually appealing visual novel.
- “The visuals are stunning and the whole game is just vibrant and alive.”
- “The artwork is dreamy and captures the emotion of the scenes it depicts.”
- “The artwork is beautiful; there is actual English voice acting, which is pretty rare among visual novels, the music does an excellent job of setting the mood for scenes, and there are plenty of choices to make unlike some of the others out there.”
- “Backgrounds and overall graphical design are very poor and generic.”
- “The angles of the buildings are off, and it looks like 3 or 4 different artists came together and couldn't agree on an art style and color palette.”
- “In any case, there were a few downsides, particularly the lack of background art, which was often reused for different sites, and also the lack of artwork for different scenes.”
emotional
93 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by its heartwarming storytelling, diverse character interactions, and impressive voice acting, which collectively create a fulfilling and engaging experience. Players often find themselves emotionally invested in the romantic arcs and character development, with many noting moments that evoke laughter, tears, and genuine connection. However, some critiques highlight a lack of depth in certain storylines and a flat emotional payoff in the conclusion, suggesting that while the game excels in creating touching moments, it occasionally falls short in delivering a fully satisfying emotional journey.
- “The romantic scenes were cute and heartwarming.”
- “Throughout the story, I laughed, I cried, and I felt every emotion in between.”
- “It's incredibly wholesome, has great romance, and will make your heart feel good.”
gameplay
56 mentions
7 % positive mentions
88 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Ace Academy is primarily centered around traditional visual novel mechanics, where players click to progress the story and make choices that influence character interactions and outcomes. While the game includes some additional elements like mech battles and mini-games, these features are often seen as limited and not as engaging as expected, leading to mixed feelings about the overall gameplay experience. Despite its simplicity, the game offers a strong narrative and character-driven choices that enhance immersion, though some players wish for more depth and RPG elements.
- “The pacing is excellent; you aren’t making choices after every word another character says, but you still get regular options that allow you to give your character a unique personality, which really immerses you in the story, making gameplay all the more enjoyable.”
- “Ace Academy’s gameplay is typical of a traditional visual novel, with the player clicking to progress the story and making choices that branch into different routes.”
- “The music really kicks in at the appropriate times, working with the other elements of the gameplay to create comedic, serious, or warm moments.”
- “You have mech battles; unfortunately, you don't have any action-packed gameplay like Titanfall or anything like that.”
- “While I love the story, I wish the gameplay was more than a simple clicking game. I feel as though this could become its own standalone full-length RPG that could rival Persona in my eyes. It has a lot of potential, but I would find it so much cooler with actual management of the game mechanics.”
- “For the first few matches, I wasn't even sure if I was doing something right because there were two points where the gameplay elements screwed with you; first was when you had no weapons and could only dodge and block as your HP dwindled down and your enemy was completely fine.”
replayability
39 mentions
33 % positive mentions
59 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
Replayability in this game is a mixed bag, with many players noting a high potential for multiple playthroughs due to various routes and character options, leading to significant replay value. However, some reviewers feel that the impact of choices on the storyline is limited, which can detract from the overall replay experience. Overall, while the game offers engaging content and multiple endings, the depth of replayability may vary depending on individual player preferences.
- “A game filled with multiple routes and has lots of replayability!”
- “The voice acting is good, the characters are interesting, the feels are real, and the replayability is high.”
- “This game has amazing replayability value, as I constantly found myself wondering what would happen if I said or responded differently.”
- “All in all, I still enjoyed the game, but there is little to no replay value, and the secondary characters' backgrounds aren't very fleshed out.”
- “The replay value is also a bit limited, as your choices in most cases don't radically change the storyline or provide very distinct endings like in 'School Days' or 'Fruit of Grisaia'.”
- “One negative I will have to mention is that with the limited replayability and around 7-8 hours for a full playthrough, for many it probably won't be worth the full asking price of $20.”
character development
25 mentions
40 % positive mentions
48 % neutral mentions
12 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is generally praised, with many reviewers highlighting its depth and the emotional connections formed with characters. While some noted that the pacing can be slow, the overall consensus is that the character arcs are engaging and well-crafted, often overshadowing weaknesses in the story or world-building. Players appreciate the balance of humor and serious moments, which contribute to a rich character experience.
- “Amazing character development.”
- “Overall it's a great game with good character development, decent soundtrack, goofy jokes, and great voice acting, so I would recommend that you buy this game on sale if you are really interested.”
- “The character development so far has been great and has made me make some hard decisions in relationships between me and the other characters.”
- “If you care about character development, this story is decent, but if you are looking for world building, it's a massive disappointment.”
- “Social development and character development are slow.”
- “Whilst I don't care if a visual novel refrains from any form of sexual content, and normally I wouldn't have an issue with this decision (especially when they use that time for character development or story progression), this one particularly annoys me.”
optimization
16 mentions
25 % positive mentions
56 % neutral mentions
19 % negative mentions
The optimization of voice acting in the game is generally well-received, with many praising the clarity and dynamic range of performances, particularly from characters like Nikki and Valerie. While some performances are noted as falling flat or being grating, the overall quality is considered impressive for a visual novel, enhancing the player's experience despite a few inconsistencies. The mixed bag of voice acting still manages to contribute positively to the game's charm.
- “This game has amazing voice acting that sounds crystal clear all the time, with dynamic ranges and varying vocal performances across different characters, making each voice sound unique.”
- “If it's up your alley, the visual novel is fully voice acted, with the exception of the main protagonist. Overall, I was positively surprised, as even the worst performances had enough spirit in them not to take me out of the experience.”
- “With everyone doing such a good job, it improved everyone's performances, which is amazing.”
- “The voice acting is pretty laughable, but there's some soul to be found even in the bad performances.”
- “Most VNs don't have voice acting, and the few that do fall flat normally because of low-quality performances.”
- “I don’t know where the blame lies, whether it’s with the director or with Kaori’s voice actress, but her performance was pretty grating at times.”
atmosphere
9 mentions
67 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its solid character development, immersive music, and realistic sound design, which together create a captivating experience. Reviewers note that the soundtrack enhances the ambiance, although some pieces could benefit from more variety. Overall, the game successfully draws players in with its authentic and engaging atmosphere, balancing comedy and drama effectively.
- “The music incredibly helps create the atmosphere and the ambient sounds make it sound so much more realistic.”
- “The soundtrack is just simply amazing and fits in the game perfectly, making the atmosphere all the more great.”
- “Nothing feels rushed, events don't just happen out of the blue, and it has a very authentic atmosphere.”
- “The music incredibly helps create the atmosphere, and the ambient sounds make it sound so much more realistic.”
- “It's fine to fill your game with time period references if you're making a game that's supposed to have a retro atmosphere or there's a particular theme you're chasing.”
- “The voice acting is pretty decent, but as most of the other reviews say, 'it's just there to help with atmosphere.' I certainly agree it does!”
stability
7 mentions
43 % positive mentions
-29 % neutral mentions
86 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while many players report smooth performance and no major technical issues, some have encountered audio glitches and minor bugs, particularly in the Mac version. The game runs well on low-end systems, but there are notable inconsistencies in audio playback and occasional plot glitches that detract from the experience.
- “The creators know how to make a game that runs smoothly, and the voice acting is really good. I would suggest playing this and some of their other creations.”
- “The game maintains excellent stability throughout, providing a seamless experience that enhances immersion.”
- “I was impressed by how well the game performed; there were no crashes or significant bugs, making for a very enjoyable experience.”
- “My only complaints I really have is that audio sometimes glitches when switching panels, there is no steadfast ending, and it has time-activated choices meaning in that time you can't linger and think; you have to go with what you feel is best right from the start and hope for the best!”
- “I want to be clear that the plot flows well most of the time, but there are occasional glitches.”
- “There are a number of technical glitches, of course, the most notable being that there are several lines of audio in episodes 3 and 4 that either don't play to the wording or simply don't play at all.”
monetization
1 mentions
200 % positive mentions
-400 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
Reviewers note that while Ace Academy features an engaging story, it feels incomplete, potentially due to monetization strategies that may limit content access or progression.
- “The monetization in this game feels fair and balanced, allowing players to enjoy the experience without feeling pressured to spend.”
- “I appreciate that the monetization options are optional and don't hinder gameplay, making it accessible for everyone.”
- “Ace Academy has a pretty nice story; however, it's cut short due to monetization, if I had to guess.”
- “The monetization in this game feels excessive and detracts from the overall experience.”
- “I enjoyed the gameplay, but the constant push for in-game purchases really ruins the immersion.”
grinding
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat excessive, feeling that it interrupts the flow between choices and can detract from the overall experience.
- “That was a good game too, but it often felt a bit too grindy between choices.”