2019/9/1: Philips CD-i: A Great Day at the Races, Space Ace

[VideoGameCritic]

Got some interesting new Philips Cd-I reviews for you. Feedback welcome!

[Stalvern]

I'm surprised by how much of a grade bump the CD-i Space Ace got compared to the Blu-ray version. Does it actually play that much better, or is the Blu-ray just due for a revisit?

[Sonicx9]

If you want the best of the Don Bluth laserdisc games, the recent PS4 and Switch versions via Limited Run Games are your best bet.

Only problem is they are expensive online.

[goldenband]

Nice, more CD-i reviews!

I'm not familiar with these titles firsthand but I'm intrigued to see a horse racing game make a rare appearance on the site (and it's nice to know that A Great Day at the Races really is a game, not just edutainment or something).

I feel like there have been one or two others in the past -- have there? Horse racing games are hugely popular in Japan, but very few have made it stateside, though Winning Post on the Saturn is one of those few.

Re: Space Ace, it's so interesting that the CD-i is often the platform of choice for FMV games. I suppose it's also unsurprising, but it seems to be the one thing the console really did excel at.

[crimefighter]

There are no continues simply cause it's not a long game. About eight minutes long for a no-death 1cc.

[Retro STrife]

Always glad to see some new CD-i reviews!! These are two of the first CD-i games I bought with my system (back around 2003), and yet I haven't played either..

Thanks especially for reviewing an obscure game like Great Day at the Races. I always wondered if it was a good game. There aren't really any other reviews for it online, and I hadn't gotten around to trying it myself. I try to go to real horse races once every few years, and I occasionally bet in the racebook if I'm at a casino. I know the basic lingo, but my knowledge is beginner level at best. I always envisioned Great Day at the Races as a good way to learn the sport better if I ever get more into it or develop a bad gambling addiction.

(BTW, I wonder if this game cracks your Sports Hall of Fame, but I'm assuming the C grade isn't good enough.)

As for Space Ace, I still haven't played that on any system, mostly out of fear of hating it so much. I despise those animated FMV game - Dragon's Lair was bad enough for me. Sure they look great, but I never have any clue what's going on or what I'm supposed to do. It just becomes an exercise in frustration. It seems like one of those games everyone should try at least once though, so maybe someday.

[scotland]

A Great Day at the Races just seems wonderfully 1993. This is what a CD was supposed to provide - a history of hundreds of thoroughbreds. As far as gameplay, its less a racing game than a gambling game, and thats okay. You can relax with a game like that.

I noticed there was no licensing. Can anyone make a Seabiscuit Racing?

[Gleebergloben123]

I’m stunned that Space Ace got such a high grade. I had a chance to recently play some old laserdisc arcade games including Dragons Lair and Space Ace. The main problem with Space Ace is it can take 20 moves or more to complete a scene (VGC pointed this out in one of his older reviews), while Dragons Lair was a much more manageable 4 or 5. And what was most frustrating with Space Ace (at least the arcade version) is I couldn’t get past the first screen. I tried multiple times but I just couldn’t get the hang of it.

[pacman000]

Day at the Races looks like something a 90's sitcom would've made for their "let's get a computer" episode.