Ace Ventura (PC)

GameSpot editors' review

• CNET editors' rating: 3.0 stars Good
  Detailed editors' rating
  Overall score: 6.6 (3.0 stars)

• Reviewed by:
  John Leo
• Reviewed on: 12/23/1996
• Updated on: 04/29/2000
• Released on: 10/31/1996
• Originally published on GameSpot: Ace Ventura (PC) Review

Dude, pull my finger. Did that make you laugh? Then you're probably going to like Ace Ventura. Borrowing from the Ace Ventura cartoon series, the game features all the same gags, mannerisms, and obnoxiousness from the world's famous pet detective - the kind of stuff that's so stupid, you have no choice but to laugh. And it's the humor that keeps the game afloat. The gameplay you've seen a dozen times before.

Once again, Ace is on the case, this time traveling the earth looking for a lost creature. Masters of click-and-solve games like The King's Quest, Nine, or Timelapse will be able to finish the entire game in no time flat. In fact, a lot of it is so simple, you'll figure out that the game is partly designed for young children. The objects and scenes have that bright, bulky Fisher Price quality. And if you ever actually get stuck, a special button on Ace's watch delivers audio clues that take out most of the guesswork. There's even a setting that lets parents edit out some of Ace's choice phrases, although even without the parent setting on, Ace's language barely goes beyond third-grade bathroom humor.

The various puzzle-filled scenes are sporadically broken up by arcade-lite action. Slightly challenging tasks like swimming through the murky waters of the deep, avoiding trash and oil slicks, and getting in a basic laser fight are a nice way to mix things up.

Continue reading