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Extras - Other Stuff - Instrument Set Clarifications ("Space Ace")

Posted by Merit Celaire on Wednesday, August 28, 2024 - 01:49 PM

My gosh, everyone - it's been a very long while since yours truly had to write an article for this section of the site giving further explanation of a featured Super Nintendo music instrument set involved for these music operations as a whole (the last article that I posted was way back in 7/14/2018 when I was elaborating on the featured music instrument set that was done for Bandai's Mighty Morphin Power Rangers game, which can be seen here).

Well, now the opportunity has arrived for yours truly to at last write an all new entry for this section of the site, and it targets one of the recent featured music instrument sets added for these operations as I was doing new Super Nintendo music styled arrangement covers targeting more songs from the Mario Tennis Open game late last year. Thing is, it was one of the "lesser known ports" based on a very popular arcade title from the early 1980s, and it was known under the name of "Space Ace".


The SNES packaging's front view for Space Ace (Image courtesy of LaunchBox Games Database)

Now before I get bombarded with email inquiries from all of you asking "M. C., what in the heck is Space Ace?! I've never heard of that game at all!", it's best for me to give a brief explanation on what this game in question is all about. Actually, an excerpt of the packaging's back description explains it well:

Life as a space hero can be pretty miserable sometimes. Like now, for instance. The evil Commander Borf has blasted you with his Infanto Ray and turned you into a little kid, captured your gal Kimmy, and is threatening to conquer the Earth. On top of all that, your name is Dexter.

Your mission? Rescue the girl, save the world, run the bad guy out of the galaxy, and regain your manhood.

That's right; the above statement is the game's overall objective. So here's the thing: almost one decade since the very popular arcade game version of Space Ace got into action during the 1980s with very unique animated visuals/designs from a very talented Don Bluth and his respective groups (who were also responsible for doing visuals for those Dragon's Lair games before then), the folks at Absolute Entertainment / Empire Software / O.D.E. were trying to see if they were able to develop a Super Nintendo version of this unique project in hopes to bring it to home consoles. Let's just say they tried their best to keep it faithful to the arcade game presentation for the most part, but visuals wide on the Super Nintendo side, it still pales in comparison to what the original arcade game was able to present. I've included a few pictures that I took the other day to help explan this angle about the kind of gameplay that awaits in this home console version:


The Space Ace title screen (Super Nintendo version)


Gameplay screenshots from the Super Nintendo version of Space Ace.

Here's the thing: during the course of late last year, I ran into a lead about the Super Nintendo port of this Space Ace game in question from this user on Twitter (X) named @SNES_is_Life; they were doing a stream on attempting gameplay for it. When checking their video out on their respective YouTube channel (along with a few others doing their Space Ace SNES gameplay), the musical score itself from it caught my attention, along with the respective instrument set. The drawback is that there weren't a lot of instrument samples made for this set in question, but was still in good effort for composer/arranger George Villiers to attempt covers of the original arcade game's score (originally composed by Chris Stone) while doing some compositions of his own for the Super Nintendo port attempt. I might do a more detailed "Behind the Process" article about this instrument set down the road as my planbook/overall schedule allows; in the meantime, as stated earlier, you're able to find the arrangements in question which I've covered some Mario Tennis Open songs using the "Space Ace" music instrument set by going to this respective game page that holds them. However, rumor has it that according to my planbook, it won't be the last time you'll hear new Super Nintendo music styled covers from yours truly using this unique instrument set (even though details are still under lock and key at this time).

Finally, it still must be said that as stated earlier, although the developers tried their best to stay true to the arcade gameplay layout for the Super Nintendo version of Space Ace, the "process" and "presentation" for it still pales in comparison to the original arcade's presentation/gameplay itself. If anything, those who heard of or played Space Ace for the first time via the Super Nintendo gameplay route back then at least have an idea in regards to how the original arcade game itself was laid out for the most part.

Before I go and to end this overall article, here are a few snapshots from the original arcade game version itself for comparison:


BORF: "Earthlings must surrender to ME!"

OPENING NARRATOR: "Be valiant, space
warrior... the fate of Earth is in your hands!"

KIMBERLY: "GET ME OUT OF HERE!!!"

Dexter/"Ace" and Kimberly frantically searching for
Borf in his stronghold (via a high speed motorcycle).

DEXTER/"ACE": "Watch out, Borf, old
buddy... here we come!"

BORF: "Now you DIE!"

Last, but not least, to get an idea in terms of the gameplay itself from both the Super Nintendo version of Space Ace as well as the original arcade gameplay that was based from it, you're able to check out these following videos via YouTube below:

(1) Gameplay of "Space Ace" (Super Nintendo version) - posted by NintendoComplete
(2) Gameplay of "Space Ace" (Original arcade game version) - posted by DoctorBadvibes

And that's all for this latest "Instrument Set Clarifications" article for now since a little over six years ago (dang, does time really fly like this for heaven's sake?!). But as stated earlier, there is something in my planbook on the backend that gives me clues that you'll be hearing a few more Super Nintendo music styled arrangement covers using this unique Space Ace instrument set down the road as the months progress, so stay tuned.

Additionally on a side note, if all goes according to plan, the hope is that during the course of next week (as we start the new month of September), we'll work on doing another "instrument set clarifications" article involving one or two more Super Nintendo games in question. The details are still under lock and key, but here's a hint: it's based on a certain cartoon series during that time in which I'm still a big fan of to this day. Until then, see you awesome people later, and stay safe.

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