ACE Academy

95%
Game Brain Score Based on 2,456 reviews
  • story
  • humor
  • music
ACE Academy Game Cover
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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.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
  • Linux
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

95%
Audience ScoreBased on 2,456 reviews
story784 positive mentions
stability12 negative mentions
  • Engaging story with well-developed characters that evoke genuine emotions.
  • Humorous writing with plenty of pop culture references that enhance the experience.
  • Fully voiced in English, which adds to the immersion and enjoyment of the game.
  • Abrupt ending that leaves many plot points unresolved, making it feel incomplete.
  • Some dialogue options feel repetitive and do not significantly impact the story.
  • Reused backgrounds and silhouettes for minor characters detract from the overall visual experience.
  • story2,117 mentions

    The story of "Ace Academy" is generally well-received, praised for its engaging characters and humor, though many reviewers note that it feels incomplete, with an abrupt ending that leaves several plot threads unresolved. While the narrative offers a mix of slice-of-life and mecha elements, some players express disappointment over the lack of significant impact from their choices and the overall pacing. Despite these criticisms, the game is recommended for its enjoyable storytelling and character interactions, with hopes for future expansions or sequels to provide closure.

    • “The writing and story are awesome, and the characters are fun to interact with.”
    • “This is one of the best visual novels I've ever played; the voice acting is great, it has all the generic characters that feel very fleshed out, and the story feels real enough to be a book, but not so much that it is boring.”
    • “The story is definitely fulfilling and offers multiple routes to head down.”
    • “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.”
    • “The only negative I can give is the story, as it isn't focused much and some problems are still left hanging.”
  • humor579 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised for its clever writing, engaging dialogue, and a mix of lighthearted and self-aware jokes, often incorporating pop culture references that resonate with players. Many reviewers noted that the comedic elements are well-integrated into the story, making for a fun and entertaining experience, although some references may feel dated over time. Overall, the humor is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's charm and replayability.

    • “The comedy was hilarious and got me laughing many times.”
    • “It's a visual novel that is simple to understand, hilarious and fun to read and listen to, and a really damn good novel for anyone who wants to get into the visual novel craze.”
    • “The dialogue was frequently humorous and the game did a pretty good job of rounding out even the more boring characters.”
    • “Constant, pointless, and unfunny pop-culture references.”
    • “Like breaking the 4th wall is supposed to be funny or edgy or something.”
    • “Things that were supposed to be funny were not actually funny, and things that were supposed to be endearing were not endearing.”
  • music365 mentions

    The music in the game has received a generally positive reception, with many players praising its ability to enhance the atmosphere and fit the emotional tone of various scenes. While some tracks are described as catchy and memorable, others are noted as generic or forgettable, leading to mixed opinions on the overall quality. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a strong aspect of the game, contributing significantly to the immersive experience, despite some minor criticisms regarding repetition and occasional mismatches with on-screen events.

    • “The soundtrack is just simply amazing and fits in the game perfectly and makes the atmosphere all the more great.”
    • “The music incredibly helps create the atmosphere and the ambient sounds make it sound so much more realistic.”
    • “The art is beautiful, and I'm not exaggerating when I say that the music for Ace Academy is one of the greatest video game soundtracks ever.”
    • “The music is forgettable but serviceable.”
    • “I wish there was more musical tracks, better care taken to the importance of music, and better overall sound design beyond the voice acting.”
    • “The soundtrack was so forgettable I can't recall a single track.”
  • graphics220 mentions

    The graphics in "Ace Academy" are generally praised for their vibrant and colorful visuals, with many reviewers highlighting the beautiful artwork and character designs. While some found the art style distinctive and charming, others noted inconsistencies and a lack of variety in backgrounds. Overall, the game's visuals are considered a strong point, contributing positively to the engaging story and character development.

    • “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.”
    • “In conclusion, with all the effort put forth in just the visuals and sound quality of Ace Academy, you would be hard pressed to find another visual novel with as outstanding a presentation as this.”
    • “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 backstory which sadly leaves lots of questions, the overall satisfying but slightly too quick ending, the lack of background art, which was often reused for different sites, and also the lack of artwork for different scenes.”
  • emotional186 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by its heartwarming storytelling, diverse character interactions, and impressive voice acting, which collectively evoke a range of feelings from laughter to tears. While many players found the romantic arcs and character development touching and engaging, some noted that certain plotlines felt shallow or lacked emotional payoff, particularly towards the end. Overall, the game successfully delivers a wholesome experience filled with both comedic and poignant moments, making it a memorable journey for players.

    • “Throughout the story, I laughed, I cried, and I felt every emotion in between.”
    • “The story is extremely well written and quite entertaining, and some of the more emotional scenes will even bring a tear or two to your eyes.”
    • “I think it made me cry multiple times throughout the playthrough, and most of the characters are super charming in their own way.”
  • gameplay112 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 combat elements and mini-games, these features are generally seen as secondary to the narrative experience, with many players expressing a desire for deeper gameplay mechanics and more interactive combat. Overall, the game is praised for its engaging story and character development, though some players feel it could benefit from additional RPG elements and improved combat systems.

    • “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 us as the player clicking to progress the story and making choices that branch into different routes.”
    • “Absolutely brilliant! This was the game I searched for so long: lovable characters, awesome gameplay, perfect animations, a cool and immersive story, and an amazing soundtrack.”
    • “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.”
  • replayability80 mentions

    Replayability in this game is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the multiple routes and character options that enhance replay value, others find it limited due to a lack of significant changes in the storyline based on choices. Many reviews highlight that the game offers enjoyable content and engaging character interactions, but the overall replayability may not justify the price for everyone, especially given its relatively short playtime.

    • “A game filled with multiple routes and has lots of replayability!”
    • “The game does have moments of deep and touching situations and contains a ton of replayability, given that all the girls above have romance options.”
    • “This game has amazing replayability value, as I constantly found myself wondering what would happen if I said or responded differently (there are quick time events) and making different save files to find out as many differences as I could.”
    • “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.”
    • “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.”
    • “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.”
  • character development49 mentions

    Character development in the game is generally praised, with many reviewers highlighting its depth and the emotional impact it has on player choices and relationships. While some note that the pace of development can be slow, others appreciate the quality and complexity of the characters, making it a standout feature that enhances the overall experience. Overall, the game is recommended for those who value strong character arcs and engaging storytelling.

    • “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.”
    • “Social development and character development are slow.”
    • “Another thing that somewhat bugs me is character development.”
    • “If you care about character development, this story is decent, but if you are looking for world building, it's a massive disappointment.”
  • optimization32 mentions

    The optimization of the game's voice acting 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, with enough standout moments to enhance the experience. The art style, while criticized for character similarity, complements the solid voice work, creating a positive impression overall.

    • “This game has amazing voice acting that sounds crystal clear all the time, with dynamic ranges and varying vocal performances across different characters, which made each voice sound even more unique.”
    • “If it's up your alley, the visual novel is fully voice acted, with the exception of the main protagonist; it is a bit of a mixed bag, but 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, I think.”
    • “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 here lies, whether it’s with the director, or with Kaori’s voice actress, but her performance was pretty grating at times.”
  • atmosphere19 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its solid execution, enhanced by a captivating soundtrack and realistic ambient sounds that draw players in. Reviewers highlight the well-developed characters and the balance of comedy and drama, creating an immersive experience that feels authentic and engaging. While some music pieces may not resonate with all players, the overall ambiance effectively supports the narrative and enhances the enjoyment of the game.

    • “Nothing feels rushed, events don't just happen out of the blue, and it has a very authentic atmosphere.”
    • “But with the awesome art, great voice acting, and music masterpieces, I was fully immersed in the atmosphere of the visual novel and was enjoying the comedy as well as the drama that unfolded during the episodes.”
    • “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 up 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 (such as a movie intentionally paying homage to 80s action flicks or B-movie schlock).”
    • “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!”
  • stability14 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while many players report smooth performance and no major technical issues, there are notable audio glitches, particularly in episodes 3 and 4, and some users have experienced bugs on the Mac client. The game runs well on low-end systems, but the presence of minor glitches and a lackluster ending detracts from the experience for some players.

    • “The creators know how to make a game that runs great, and the voice acting is really good. I would suggest playing this and some of their other creations.”
    • “The game runs smoothly without any crashes or glitches, providing a stable experience throughout.”
    • “I appreciate how stable the game is; it allows me to fully immerse myself in the experience without interruptions.”
    • “My only complaint is that audio sometimes glitches when switching panels, there is no steadfast ending, and it has time-activated choices, meaning 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!”
    • “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.”
    • “I want to be clear that the plot flows well most of the time, but there are occasional glitches.”
  • grinding2 mentions

    Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessive, feeling that it interrupts the flow between choices and detracts from the overall experience.

    • “That was a good game too, but it often felt a bit too grindy between choices.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    Reviewers note that while Ace Academy features an engaging story, it feels incomplete or rushed, likely due to monetization strategies that may prioritize profit over narrative depth.

    • “The monetization in Ace Academy is balanced, allowing players to enjoy the game without feeling pressured to spend money.”
    • “I appreciate that the game offers cosmetic items for purchase, but they don't affect gameplay, which keeps the experience fair.”
    • “The monetization model is transparent, and I feel like I can progress without needing to spend extra money.”
    • “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 find the in-game purchases to be frustratingly necessary to progress, which ruins the enjoyment.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

11hMedian play time
46hAverage play time
6-30hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 36 analyzed playthroughs

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