Space Ace II: Borf's Revenge is a 1991 computer game by ReadySoft, based on scenes from the first Space Ace that did not make it into ReadySoft's previous home version[1] (including Shag, Groots and Ace's evil doppelgänger Hexter). It also features newly-created animation, in order to present it as a continuation of the original game, creating an alternative conclusion to Ace and Kimberly's mission to defeat the evil Commander Borf.
Along with the floppy disk-based versions for Amiga, MS-DOS, Apple IIGS, Atari ST and Macintosh, ReadySoft issued a CD-ROM version featuring down-sampled video for the Macintosh which preserved almost all of the original laserdisc content.
Game Manual Introduction[]
Ace looked at Kimberly, the baby Borf cradled in her arms and he thought back to all that had happened. It began when the evil adult Borf constructed his ultimate weapon - the Infanto Ray. It could transform anyone into a harmless infant with a single blast and with it, Borf had the power to vanquish the nations of Earth.
In a desperate fight with Borf to save the unwary populace of Earth, Ace was zapped by the weapon and transformed into a childlike alter ego named Dexter. Drained of his strength, Dexter’s only help came from a special wrist-watch which, from time to time, provided him with enough power to energize into his former self, the mighty Space Ace. To make matters worse, Borf kidnapped Ace’s beloved Kimberly and took her to his orbiting space station.
Enraged, Dexter started a furious race against time and deadly enemies to save Kimberly and the Earth. He battled lethal machines, vile monsters and evil robots until finally meeting Borf in a last, desperate struggle. Space Ace was almost defeated, but he outsmarted Borf and shot the villain with his own Infanto Ray.
Now Borf was nestled in Kimberly's caring arms, who had taken a liking to the adorable baby. She wanted to raise him in an attempt to keep Borf from becoming the villain he once was. Although Borf now seemed only an infant, the same evil persona lay hidden beneath that adorable blue face and he yearned to be restored to his former power.
Sitting not far from Ace and Kimberly, Borf’s vicious little Goons planned their revenge. All they had to do was get the baby Borf back and use the Infanto Ray’s reverse setting to restore him. Their plan was set and the Goons attacked giving Ace barely enough time to react as he saw the angry mob running towards him...
Game Summary[]
Borf's de-aging at the end of Space Ace is shown to be reverted, and now the final confrontation takes place on an alien planet where the villainous Commander ends up eaten by carnivorous plants. Immediately following events of the previous game, Borf's remaining minions seize Kimberly and a Video Guard retrieves the infantized leader, reversing the effects of the Infanto-Ray before Dexter can intervene. Dexter immediately gives chase in the Star Pac to a planet where he quickly fights off Shag (referred to as "the Yellow Monster" in manual) and a horde of Groots (the blue alien cats), transforming back and forth as he advances through obstacles. Evading the security droids, Ace ventures deeper into the planet, leading to an encounter with Hexter impersonating Kimberly.
Emerging into the space station's central complex (an original area not seen in the arcade game), he discovers Borf on a flying platform holding the real Kimberly hostage and firing laser blasts. Once rescued, Kimberly and Ace escape to another planet on the Star Pac, only to be ambushed by Borf, who recaptures Kimberly and attempts to lower her into the pit of a carnivorous yellow monster as Ace struggles to pull himself over the pit's ledge. Ace swings to the rescue, causing Borf to lose his balance and fall into the Pit Monster's open mouth. As Ace strikes a final detrimental blow to a smaller monster, he gifts Kimberly a bouquet of fresh flowers, concluding the adventure.
Reception[]
Overall, the game was praised for its visuals but criticized for its short and limited gameplay. Stuart Campbell's review in the February 1992 issue of Amiga Power noted "It looks pretty, and it's moderately entertaining for the first three minutes."[2] Steve Merrett's review in the January 1992 issue of CU Amiga criticized ReadySoft for having "cut a few corners here and there," especially in regard to the heavy recycling of audio from the first game and for the low frame count in various graphical animations.[3]
Trivia[]
- All sequences after Ace's battle with Hexter (almost half the game) consists of new animations, not adapted from the original arcade game,
- As with its predecessor from ReadySoft, if played without error, the entire game can be completed in a little over two minutes.
- The Space Ace comic book series follows a similar plot centered around restoration of Borf's original age and Ace's continued struggles with his own transformations, but it otherwise ignores the events of this game in favor of an original narrative.
Gallery[]
External Links[]
References[]
| Video Games | [view] | |
| Arcade Coin-Op Cinematronics: Dragon's Lair · Space Ace Leland Corporation: Dragon's Lair II: Time Warp | ||
| Home Computer COLECO: Dragon's Lair Software Projects: Dragon's Lair · Dragon's Lair Part II: Escape from Singe's Castle ReadySoft: Dragon's Lair · Dragon's Lair: Escape from Singe's Castle · Dragon's Lair II: Time Warp · Dragon's Lair III: The Curse of Mordread · Space Ace · Space Ace II: Borf's Revenge | ||
| Home Console & Handheld MotiveTime: Dragon's Lair (NES) · Dragon's Lair: The Legend · Dragon's Lair (SNES) Oxford Digital Enterprises: Space Ace (SNES) Dragonstone Software: Dragon's Lair 3D: Return to the Lair Digital Leisure: Dragon's Lair Trilogy Other: Franky, Joe & Dirk: On the Tiles · Dragon's Lair (GBC) | ||
| DVD & PC CD-ROM Digital Leisure: Dragon's Lair III | ||