Ace of Spades: Battle Builder
- December 11, 2012
- Jagex Ltd. Games Studio
- 10h median play time
"Ace of Spades: Battle Builder" is a creative shooter game that allows up to 32 players to engage in team-based multiplayer mayhem across a destructible, evolving battlefield. Players can choose from seven unique classes, construct and destroy the environment, and take out the opposition. Despite its pretty visuals and wholesome story, the game is plagued by bugs, poor optimization, and disturbing ads, but still offers good gameplay and plenty of humor.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Reviews
- gameplay352 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this title is a mixed bag, featuring unique block-based building mechanics reminiscent of Minecraft, combined with fast-paced FPS action that appeals to fans of competitive shooters. However, many players criticize the game for its unbalanced classes, clunky mechanics, and a lack of depth, leading to repetitive and often frustrating experiences. While some enjoy the chaotic and emergent gameplay, others feel that the game's potential has been squandered by poor design choices and a dwindling player base.
“The gameplay is fun and innovative... but the battles are so short that you don't have time to fully explore the game's potential.”
“Great block-based team combat between players while having a class system to support its gameplay and destructible environments.”
“The gameplay is smooth and there's never any complaining about hitboxes.”
“Some players have reported that the game can be buggy and unstable, which can negatively impact the overall gameplay experience.”
“The gameplay is terrible, it is not fluent and the hit detection system is awful, the idea of building bases and tunneling through the map is not relevant, because the gameplay for that is just awful.”
“Unfortunately, the mechanics are sloppy and it's not very fun at all.”
- graphics213 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally described as blocky and reminiscent of Minecraft, with many players noting that they are simplistic and sometimes poorly executed, leading to a negative impact on gameplay. While some appreciate the unique art style and find it charming, others criticize the graphics for being outdated and lacking polish compared to other titles. Overall, opinions are mixed, with some players enjoying the retro aesthetic while others feel it detracts from the overall experience.
“The art style may be simple, but it is truly colorful and unique.”
“The graphics quality of this game is awesome, and I would love to see others online playing this game.”
“The graphics are blocky and reminiscent of Minecraft, but the gameplay is anything but simple.”
“It has so many graphical and audio errors and yet the developers have given up on the game even though this hardly is worthy of the Ace of Spades name.”
“The new graphics don't really fit with the blocky/pixelated/retro feel of the game, the classes were unnecessary, and the gameplay in general is pretty bland now.”
- music63 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising the catchy and enjoyable soundtrack, particularly the retro 8-bit style and main menu theme, while others find it obnoxious or annoying. Many users express a nostalgic appreciation for specific tracks, like the iconic "Ace of Spades" by Motörhead, but also note that the overall musical experience can be hit or miss, with some describing it as a highlight amidst gameplay frustrations. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a redeeming quality for some, while others feel it detracts from the experience.
“The soundtrack though, it's just amazing and I love it.”
“Amazing game, beautiful crisp graphics, soundtrack like no other, and the widest variety of abilities, weapons, and tools.”
“Musical score in this game is great and delivers a good punch of retro and modern tunes.”
“The music was 'meh', the building wasn't fun (play Minecraft if you want to build stuff).”
“It is all servers and nothing else, (plus the music kind of sucks) you can build but it is no fun building the map, it really sucks, please, do not buy this game!!!!!!”
“I can't connect to any servers, really laggy when I do, along with crappy music and graphics.”
- stability58 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous players reporting persistent bugs, glitches, and server issues that severely hinder gameplay. Many express frustration over the lack of timely updates and support from the developers, leading to an overall experience that feels unplayable and poorly maintained. Despite its potential, the game's technical problems have resulted in a significant decline in player satisfaction and community engagement.
“Buggy and unstable: some players have reported that the game can be buggy and unstable, which can negatively impact the overall gameplay experience.”
“The game, as a result, is now riddled with bugs and glitches which make it nearly unplayable. These bugs and glitches would be a very simple fix for Jagex if they were simply willing to support the community that has purchased the game and have in turn been loyal to Jagex.”
“Half of the time the game is unplayably buggy.”
- humor56 mentions
- 98 % positive mentions
- -4 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is frequently highlighted as a major draw, with players enjoying comedic moments, funny character quips, and hilarious gameplay scenarios, especially when playing with friends. Many reviews note that the game offers a light-hearted, chaotic experience reminiscent of a blend between Minecraft and Team Fortress, filled with amusing surprises and entertaining interactions. However, some users express disappointment that the humor has diminished over time, particularly due to gameplay issues and a decline in player engagement.
“The name reminds me of countless hours with friends on my laptop playing the browser version of the game, laughing, and just having a great time.”
“I remember always getting stomach aches from laughing so hard because I named my character 'a bus full of kids' so when someone killed me it would say 'dipdoodle killed a bus full of kids'.”
“If you've ever wondered what might happen if Minecraft and Team Fortress 2 were to produce a child, it would probably turn out to be this hilariously fun and fast-paced FPS.”
“The game isn't funny anymore.”
“The humor feels forced and falls flat.”
“I expected more laughs, but the jokes just don't land.”
- optimization47 mentions
- 9 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 55 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with users reporting severe performance issues, lag, and poor server performance across various systems, including high-end machines. Many players express frustration over the lack of improvements since release, describing the game as poorly optimized and unplayable, which has alienated a significant portion of the original player base. Despite some positive remarks about its potential, the consensus is that the game's optimization is a major flaw that detracts from the overall experience.
“Optimized for low-end machines, this game still amazes on high-end.”
“Yeah, this is an amazing game; even when you have high ping, the game runs smoothly.”
“There's a nice open-source client, running on Linux, Windows, and OSX, which has great performance.”
“Jagex’s AOS was an unoptimized, soulless, cheap, money-grubbing, unoriginal mess.”
“The game is poorly optimized, whereas classic could run on a potato, this left out a large chunk of the original player base.”
“What I got was an evolved version of a great game, that happened to be so poorly optimized it was unplayable.”
- story43 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is largely criticized for its absence, with many users noting that it primarily focuses on multiplayer PvP gameplay rather than a cohesive narrative. While some players appreciate the chaotic fun and strategic elements of the gameplay, they express disappointment over the lack of a meaningful story or single-player mode, leading to a perception of the game as shallow and lacking depth. Overall, the consensus is that if players seek a rich story experience, they should look elsewhere.
“The story arc in this game is deep; I personally liked the dialogue in it.”
“The classes are fun and the missions are great.”
“It was awesome before Jagex bought it, and that was basically the end of the story.”
“There isn't a story, only online.”
“The game has no story/adventure mode or single player mode.”
“Boring game that really is just like Minecraft with guns; it is worse than Minecraft by yourself and has zero story, horrible graphics, and terrible movement controls.”
- monetization15 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 13 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The monetization of the game has been widely criticized as a blatant cash grab, with many players feeling misled by initial promises of no microtransactions or paid DLC. Reviews highlight unbalanced gameplay, poorly designed maps, and a shift towards aggressive monetization strategies that have alienated the player base. Overall, the game's monetization practices have contributed to its decline and left many users feeling frustrated and deceived.
“When the game was first announced, they said that it would be a one-time purchase; no microtransactions, and no paid DLC.”
“Games without microtransactions are amazing, good job developers.”
“Then Jagex created Block N Load with microtransactions.”
“Some people called it a cash grab, capitalizing on the popularity of both Minecraft/Roblox and FPS games at the time of its release; others called it a mess that didn't live up to what it promised.”
“This game was a cash grab when it came, trying to make money off the concept of block games and also zombie games.”
“The developers farted this out as a sleazy cash grab.”
- replayability10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the variety of game modes and the inherent replay value of first-person shooters, others criticize its limited content, unbalanced classes, and lack of depth, leading to a feeling of incompleteness. Overall, the potential for replayability exists, but it is hampered by the game's execution and lack of updates.
“The game features a variety of game modes, such as deathmatch, capture the flag, and territories, which provides players with a lot of replayability.”
“100/100 replay value (it's an FPS, you kind of have to replay it a lot).”
“Replay value: 9/10. Like all shooters, it has a tremendous amount of replay value and you'll enjoy it.”
“Length and replay value = 2”
“Low replay value - the game is basically 4 somewhat unbalanced character classes and about 10 maps, making it forgettable and feel incomplete.”
“The game feels very unpolished; the lack of depth and replayability hurt this game in the long run. After a few sessions, I have never touched it again.”
- emotional10 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a deep emotional connection to the game, with some recalling fond memories that turned to heartbreak as the game's quality declined and player engagement dwindled. The nostalgia for earlier experiences is often overshadowed by feelings of loss and disappointment, particularly as they witness the game's decline and the impact it had on personal relationships. Overall, the emotional responses range from joy and attachment to sorrow and frustration.
“Was a different game and made me cry.”
“It is truly heartbreaking looking at the player count graph for this game.”
“I cried.”
- grinding8 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game is largely viewed negatively, with players expressing frustration over tedious gameplay and a lack of meaningful objectives. While some enjoyed the game initially, many feel it has devolved into a grindy experience that detracts from the fun, with comparisons to painful tasks and a sense of imbalance in game modes. Overall, the shift from a more engaging experience to a grind-heavy format has disappointed a significant portion of the player base.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“It was about as fun as grinding rusty nails against a chalkboard while being attacked mercilessly by several angry wombats.”
“They ruined a shooter that in alpha was superb but now is basically a grindy pile of turd.”
- atmosphere7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
Reviews highlight a significant decline in the game's atmosphere compared to its original version, with many lamenting the loss of its unique, immersive qualities in favor of a chaotic experience. While some players appreciate the nostalgic war-like ambiance reminiscent of World War I and II films, the overall sentiment suggests that the game's current atmosphere lacks the creativity and charm that once defined it.
“I like this game too for its atmosphere, the atmosphere of a war like in films of World War II.”
“It's not the first Ace of Spades, but I really like the classic mode, with only one class, big and simple maps, and the atmosphere of a WW1 battle.”
“They ruined the whole WW1 atmosphere and concept of bunker building and flushing people out of foxholes.”
“It's not the first Ace of Spades, but I really like the classic mode, with only one class, big and simple maps and the atmosphere of a WW1 battle.”
“I suppose Fortnite's cannibalized this game's best elements, but I don't know if there's an alternative to the slow pace, creativity, and atmosphere of the original.”
- character development2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is influenced by its blocky Minecraft-style design, which simplifies combat mechanics, making it easy to land hits and headshots. While the graphics are fun and the character design is quirky, this simplicity may limit deeper character progression or complexity.
“The character development feels shallow and lacks meaningful progression, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
“I found the character arcs to be predictable and uninspired, leaving me disengaged from their journeys.”
“The choices I made during character development had little impact on the story, which made the experience feel hollow.”
