ACE Academy

95%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,282 reviews
  • story
  • humor
  • music
ACE Academy Game Cover
Starting at $19.99Buy now
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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 1,282 reviews
story401 positive mentions
stability6 negative mentions
  • Engaging and humorous story with well-developed characters.
  • Full English voice acting enhances the experience.
  • Multiple romance routes provide replayability and depth.
  • Abrupt ending leaves many plot points unresolved.
  • Some dialogue options feel repetitive and don't significantly impact the story.
  • Reused backgrounds and silhouettes for minor characters detract from immersion.
  • story1,075 mentions

    The story of *Ace Academy* is widely praised for its engaging writing, humor, and character development, though it often leaves players wanting more due to an abrupt ending and unresolved plot threads. While the narrative features a mix of slice-of-life elements and mecha themes, many reviewers noted that the choices made throughout the game do not significantly alter the overall story arc, leading to a somewhat linear experience despite the branching paths. Overall, players appreciate the characters and comedic moments, but many express a desire for a more complete conclusion to the story.

    • “The best part of Ace Academy, without a doubt, is the exceptional story and writing.”
    • “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 writing and story are awesome, and the characters are fun to interact with.”
    • “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.”
  • humor303 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 often elicit genuine laughter. While some found the humor to be hit-or-miss, with occasional reliance on clichés and dated references, the overall consensus is that the comedic elements enhance the engaging story and character interactions, making it a memorable experience. The voice acting further amplifies the humor, contributing to a lighthearted and entertaining atmosphere throughout the game.

    • “It's a hilarious read that also gets sad and emotional.”
    • “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.”
    • “Constant, pointless, and unfunny pop-culture references.”
    • “Like breaking the fourth 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.”
  • music188 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 memorable and well-crafted, others are considered generic or forgettable, leading to mixed opinions on the overall quality. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a strong aspect of the game, contributing significantly to the immersive experience, despite some minor criticisms regarding repetition and occasional mismatches with the on-screen action.

    • “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.”
    • “The soundtrack was so forgettable I can't recall a single track.”
    • “I wish there was more musical tracks, better care taken to the importance of music, and better overall sound design beyond the voice acting.”
  • graphics112 mentions

    The graphics of "Ace Academy" are generally praised for their vibrant and distinct art style, with many reviewers highlighting the beautiful character designs and overall aesthetic appeal. While some found the visuals to be less impressive or somewhat generic in certain areas, the artwork is often described as engaging and well-executed, contributing positively to the game's atmosphere and storytelling. Overall, the combination of appealing visuals, clever writing, and a fitting soundtrack enhances the experience, making it a standout in the visual novel genre.

    • “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, character, story, soundtrack, and length of this game is amazing!”
    • “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.”
  • emotional96 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by its heartwarming and wholesome storytelling, with players often feeling deeply connected to the characters and their romantic arcs. While many reviews highlight the touching moments and impressive voice acting that enhance the emotional experience, some critiques point to a lack of depth in certain character interactions and plot resolutions. Overall, the game successfully balances humor and emotional highs, making it a memorable experience for players seeking both lightheartedness and genuine emotional engagement.

    • “The romantic scenes were cute and heartwarming.”
    • “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.”
  • gameplay58 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 it includes some dating sim elements and occasional mini-games, the combat mechanics are criticized for being simplistic and lacking depth. Overall, players appreciate the engaging narrative and character dynamics, though some express a desire for more interactive gameplay features.

    • “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.”
    • “The combat mechanics are severely lacking.”
  • replayability39 mentions

    Overall, the game exhibits a mixed reception regarding replayability. Many players appreciate the multiple routes and choices that enhance replay value, with some noting that the game can offer 10+ hours of content through different playthroughs. However, a few reviewers express disappointment in the limited impact of choices on the storyline, suggesting that while there is potential for replayability, it may not be compelling enough for all players to engage in multiple runs.

    • “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 development26 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 other aspects like world-building. Players appreciate the balance of humor and serious moments, which contribute to a rich narrative 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.”
    • “There was a sense of tension and I was wondering if there was going to be a twist or some character development, but nah that can push away the comedy.”
  • optimization16 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 above average for the genre, enhancing the player's experience. Despite a few mixed reviews, the voice acting adds a unique charm to the game, making it a standout feature.

    • “If it's up your alley, the VN is fully voice acted, with the exception of the main protagonist; it is a bit of a mixed bag I admit, but overall I was positively surprised, as even the worst performances had enough spirit in them not to take me out of the experience.”
    • “This game though has amazing voice acting that sounds crystal clear all the time, dynamic ranges, and varying vocal performances across different characters which made each voice sound even more unique.”
    • “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.”
  • atmosphere9 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.”
    • “I bought this without much expectations, yet just the beginning was very nice with its calm atmosphere, and really nice characters... totally dragged me in.”
    • “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!”
  • stability7 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 occasional plot and character glitches detract from the experience. Players appreciate the voice acting and overall flow, but hope for improvements in future updates.

    • “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 seamless experience.”
    • “I appreciate how stable the game is; it allows me to fully immerse myself in the gameplay without interruptions.”
    • “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.”
  • 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 and doesn't feel intrusive, allowing players to enjoy the game without constant pressure to spend.”
    • “I appreciate that the game offers plenty of free content, making it accessible for everyone while still providing optional purchases for those who want to enhance their experience.”
    • “The in-game purchases are reasonably priced and offer meaningful benefits without making it pay-to-win, which is a refreshing change.”
    • “Ace Academy has a pretty nice story; however, it's cut short due to monetization, if I had to guess.”
    • “The game feels more like a cash grab than a genuine experience, with constant prompts to spend money.”
    • “I enjoyed the gameplay, but the aggressive monetization tactics really detracted from my overall enjoyment.”
  • grinding1 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat excessive, feeling that it interrupts the flow of decision-making and can detract from the overall experience.

    • “That was a good game too, but it often felt a bit too grindy between choices.”
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 18 analyzed playthroughs

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