I own the actual Space Ace arcade game and know how the timing is supposed to behave because it's muscle memory for me.

I tried playing this version and the timing isn't the same, the button presses don't always register and I can't get Dexter to energize.

Yeap, these are all issues we've pointed out. This package is horrible & you can't play any of the games. I really wish GOG would listen & work on improving it

Same problem here, except in my case energizing does not work at all, I just completely cannot pass the sequence, looks like the button does not work in this specific case :|

Yeap, same here. I can never get the energizing button to work either

yep, just paid for the dragon;s lair trilogy, not happy with the compass at the bottom for hints, or that you can't energize at all in spacer ace, i have had all 3 arcade full size games here, and these are lacking :(

Just finished Space Ace in one go. No problem with the controls or the timing.

LOL, yeah, ok dude. Whatever you say