Mecha Ace

About

Mecha Ace is a single player casual role playing game. It was developed by Choice of Games and was released on December 5, 2014. It received positive reviews from players.

Mecha Ace is a sci-fi simulation game where players take on the role of a rookie mech pilot. Complete missions, upgrade your mech, and navigate personal relationships as you rise through the ranks of the Sol Federation. With a variety of mechs, weapons, and customization options, every decision affects your pilot's journey in this immersive, story-driven experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

86%

Audience ScoreBased on 131 reviews

story26 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

Engaging story with strong themes of war, loss, and triumph, appealing especially to fans of mecha and Gundam.
Well-written with impactful choices that can lead to different outcomes, providing a sense of immersion and replayability.
Customizable characters and mechs, along with a checkpoint system, enhance the interactive experience.

Limited branching paths and a somewhat linear narrative can make choices feel less significant over multiple playthroughs.
Some gameplay mechanics, such as the skill system, can lead to frustrating situations where players feel their choices are restricted.
The game is relatively short, and some players may find the ending abrupt or lacking in resolution.

story
89 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
68%
3%
The story is a war-themed narrative that blends elements of mecha fiction with a serious tone, though it often relies on familiar tropes and lacks depth. While players can make choices that seem impactful, many feel that these decisions lead to a linear experience with limited consequences, resulting in a somewhat unsatisfying conclusion. Overall, the writing is praised for its quality, but the lack of meaningful branching paths and a cohesive ending leaves some players feeling disappointed.
- “The story was gripping and it felt like every choice seriously mattered.”
- “Well worth the price - mature, interesting story with depth.”
- “An enjoyable and uniquely written story that conveys the tense decisions of war.”
- “So overall the game is a piece of garbage, because at the beginning all the way up to a point in the story your choices do matter and it can be engrossing to see your avatar develop, but soon it is all stripped away because 'plot.' On my first playthrough, I made sure to upgrade my pilot skill for melee combat since it sounded like it would serve a big role in the story, only for my avatar to have it all stripped away for no reason.”
- “The plot is short and painfully linear, your choices matter very little, and you are forced to stick with a fixed stereotypical skillset since your skill is determined by the number of times you use an option, which means that if you try not to be a one trick pony you will get screwed.”
- “The story lacks depth; the protagonist still manages to feel a bit like a blank slate.”
replayability
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players appreciate the depth of character dynamics and achievements that encourage multiple playthroughs, others find the narrative lacks significant branching paths, leading to a more limited experience. Some users report being engaged for extended periods, while others suggest it may only be worth playing a couple of times. The consensus indicates that while replayability exists, it varies significantly depending on individual expectations and comparisons to other titles.
- “But the depth of replayability for paths and character dynamics means that this game had me hooked for 12 hours across two days; I wasn't sure what people meant when the reviews said, 'you'll feel like you're an ace pilot even though it's an interactive novel,' but... it was true.”
- “Also, there's plenty of replayability to these stories due to achievements; you'll have to play through at least three times based on the achievement requirements, perhaps more.”
- “There is a lot of replayability here for a low price.”
- “Unlike 'Choice of Robots', this story does not seem to reward replayability as much - there are no branching subplots here, just variants of one narrative.”
- “Straight to the point of almost nonexistent replayability.”
- “Unlike the hero trilogy by the same publisher, this game has a much weaker story and low replayability.”
gameplay
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
37%
38%
The gameplay is primarily text-based and follows a "choose your own adventure" format, which some players find engaging and emotionally impactful, while others criticize the lack of traditional gameplay elements. The narrative features familiar character archetypes and introduces unique mechanics, such as gender selection for side characters, catering to various player fantasies. However, the checkpoint system is noted as problematic, detracting from the overall experience.
- “You're a mecha pilot in a war against a tyrannical empire, meeting along the way some stock characters: the hothead wingman, the starry-eyed bridge controller, the earthy chief mechanic... even the masked rival!”
- “Fluid gameplay without skipping a beat (checkpoint system is broken though)”
- “I mean it's a 'choose your own adventure, no pictures, no gameplay and it's pure text.'”
- “Fluid gameplay without skipping a beat (checkpoint system is broken though).”
- “I will be fair and say that the one thing it does well is introduce some mechanics that I had not seen in the choice of games before.”
graphics
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
12%
38%
The graphics of "Mecha Ace" are minimal, relying heavily on text and imagination rather than visual effects, which some players find enhances emotional immersion. While the lack of artwork and a more appealing interface is noted as a downside, many agree that the game's depth and narrative compensate for its visual shortcomings, making it a worthwhile experience for those who prioritize storytelling over graphics.
- “Take a break from impressive visual effects and realistic graphics of modern games and let your imagination take you to fantastic places!”
- “After all, a staple of the old fighting fantasy adventure books was fun artwork where possible.”
- “It's definitely a niche game if ever there was one, with its text-intensive (if rewardingly deep) world instead of graphics.”
- “For those who care not for graphics, this is a must-buy, especially as soon as it has even a slight discount.”
- “No, because there are no visuals and still... it feels like you can see it all just before you.”
emotional
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players report a profound emotional connection with "Mecha Ace," often leading to tears and lasting attachments to characters, despite its lack of visuals. However, some feel that the game's narrative direction limits their freedom of choice, suggesting that those seeking a more character-driven or romantic experience might prefer the developer's other interactive fiction titles. While the emotional choices can feel obvious, they contribute to the game's roleplaying aspect, balancing emotional engagement with tactical challenges.
- “Despite a total lack of visuals, Mecha Ace has successfully brought me to an emotional connection unlike any other game has before.”
- “I cried, and I'm not afraid to admit it.”
- “Secondly, it will give you real emotional attachments to some of the characters!”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
The lack of in-game music and art is seen as a double-edged sword; while it allows players to personalize their experience with their own music choices, some feel that the story would benefit from a musical accompaniment to enhance the atmosphere.
- “I had to put on some space ambient music from YouTube in the background, but the rest was great.”
- “I do think that the story could benefit from some music, but that's just my opinion.”
- “I had to put on some 'space ambient music' from YouTube in the background, but the rest was cake.”
- “I do think that the story could do with some music, but that's just me.”
- “Not a real con; the lack of art and music allowed me to pull up my own references, imagination, and playlists.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
150%
Character development in the game features decent arcs, though some decisions, such as the abrupt deaths of two characters, lack significant emotional impact. Players can influence their character's growth through RPG elements like piloting, tactics, willpower, and leadership, despite minor flaws in character design.
- “Your choices offer you some semblance of RPG character development—developing your piloting, tactics, willpower, or leadership.”
- “The character arcs are decent, with some debatable decisions, but overall, the development is engaging and adds depth to the story.”
- “The game provides a rich character development experience, allowing players to shape their characters through meaningful choices and growth.”
- “The character arcs are decent, but the decision to kill off two characters feels abrupt and lacks a deep impact on the overall story.”
- “While there are some RPG elements in character development, such as piloting and tactics, they feel superficial and don't lead to meaningful growth.”
- “The character design has a few minor flaws that detract from the overall experience, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's checkpoint system is reported to be highly unstable and buggy, leading to significant frustration for players. Users strongly recommend avoiding reliance on this feature due to its unreliability.
- “On a technical note: there is a checkpoint system every couple of chapters, but it is extremely buggy and I would strongly advise giving it a wide berth.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization of the game is viewed positively, as it is not perceived as a cash grab and offers players meaningful choices throughout the gameplay experience.