Ace (video game)

Ace
Ace box cover art for ZX Spectrum version
ZX Spectrum box cover
Developer(s)Cascade Games
Publisher(s)
  • UK: Cascade Games
Programmer(s)Ian Martin
Artist(s)Damon Redmond
Platform(s)Commodore 16, Plus/4, VIC-20, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, Amstrad PCW, Amiga
Release
Genre(s)Combat flight simulator
Mode(s)Single-player

Ace (stylized as ACE as acronym for Air Combat Emulator) is a combat flight simulator video game published for the Commodore 64, VIC-20, and Plus/4 in 1985 by Cascade Games. It was ported to the Amstrad CPC, Amstrad PCW, Amiga, and ZX Spectrum.

The player takes the role of a fighter jet pilot defending the English coastland against an enemy invasion, having to fight off aerial, ground and naval forces while Allied bases evacuate. The display shows the plane's instrumentation and cockpit view.

The game was well-received and, despite various issues, it was lauded by critics as one of the best air combat simulators of the time and particularly praised for its accessible gameplay. The game was developed with a budget of £40k by the small UK-based Cascade Games, who later produced two sequels to the game.