Review: Stargunner© Dan Finkelstein
Apr 22, 1997
I always get excited when I hear that Apogee has come out with another release, because, as years of experience tell me, while their games may not incorporate brand-new flashy special effects or require the latest, top-of-the-line computer, they will most likely be fun.
Apogee is a unique computer game company for several reasons. First, they release all their products as "shareware," basically coining the term years back. Secondly, all of their games have a distinct "arcade" feel to them, like the game designers sat around the conference table, and asked themselves what arcade games from their childhoods they'd like to see made into a computer game. Whatever they are doing, it's a great system, and it usually doesn't fail.
"Stargunner," their latest release, is not an exception to the rule. The game, basically a clone of the classic arcade shoot-em-up "Galaxian," has amazingly fast action, smooth-as-silk graphics, and a rocking, techno, musical score. And if that's not enough for you, the game is actually fun to play! How about that!
The game that "Stargunner" is obviously based on -- "Galaxian" -- was a side-scrolling shooter that appeared in arcades in the early '80s. Basically, you controlled a fast-moving ship from the side, and the screen scrolled along as hordes of enemy ships came shooting at you. The point of the game was simple -- move the joystick around, dodge the bullets, and hold down the "fire" button until the bad-guys were dead. The action did not let up for a second.
"Stargunner" replicates this experience almost to a "T," although the Apogee designers have added lots of new, high-tech weapons that you can buy between missions. Of course, you need some sort of monetary unit to buy them with, and they appear as green crystals when you destroy various enemies. There is some sort of plot, which scrolls by at the beginning of the mission in an blatant "Star Wars" rip-off.
The digital music is very good, although obviously synthesized. The sound effects are also very high quality. You can adjust the sampling rate of the music and sound effects, up to a "CD Quality" level -- however it didn't sound anything near to CD quality to me.
As with most Apogee games, the graphics are simply excellent -- probably the fastest I have ever seen. I'd estimate that I was getting, on average, 40 or 50 frames per second. Add to that triple parallax scrolling, debris when you blow up stuff, and excellent 3-D animations, and you have a near-perfect side-scrolling, shoot-em-up arcade classic.
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