Información disponible del juego en la base de datos.

DARK STAR
Design Design 1984

CONTROLS : Keyboard, Kempston, Cursor

N.B: This game is not really playable with a joystick...
---------------------------------------------------------------------
AIM : Armed only with a LIAR starfighter, you must liberate the
galaxy from domination by the Empire. To achieve your aim you must
wipe out all the enemy's military centres on the planets within your
galaxy (these are shown in green in the Tactical Sector Map). The game
difficulty setting will determine the degree to which the Empire has
extended its sphere of influence throughout the galaxy.

GAMEPLAY : The Dark Star galaxy is divided into a 16 x 16 grid of
sectors in the galactic plain. The LIAR's battle computer generates a
real-time display on your screen which shows all activity in your
immediate vicinity. As well as showing enemy ships and their missiles,
this display will also show energy concentrations and Warp Gates to
hyperspace. Energy concentrations are shown as pulsating blue squares;
flying through these will enable the LIAR to increase its shield
energy and so maintain its deflectors.

HYPERSPACE : Moving from one sector to another requires you to make a
transition to hysperspace. This is done by finding a set of Warp Gates
(which your battle computer sees and displays as four yellow squares
changing shape as the Gates open and close) and then flying the LIAR
into one of these whilst it is open. The four gates are arranged in a
North, South, East, West fashion - you can thus select the direction
you wish to move within the grid, by flying through the appropriate
gate. If the LIAR is in a sector at the edge of the grid, one of the
gates will be missing, or two if the LIAR is in a corner sector.

The route through hyperspace is mapped out as a rectangular tunnel,
down which you must guide the LIAR. Travelling outside of the tunnel
puts a heavy strain on the engines and uses much energy, so accurate
flying is essential!

PLANETS : There are a number of planets in the Dark Star galaxy.
These can be investigated further by flying down onto their surfaces.
This is done by flying directly up to a planet, as if on a collision
course. You will then automatically smash through the planet's
defensive shields and land on the surface near an enemy base (if the
planet is occupied).

BASES : The surface of an occupied planet will be defended by enemy
forces firing anti-aircraft missiles from tall towers. These towers
can be destroyed by being shot at. Certain areas of the planet are
defended by force fields which will damage the LIAR is flown through.
However, there are holes in these fields at the North, South, East and
West entrances to the bases which your computer will detect and
display as rectangles. If you fly through these no energy will be
lost.

The enemy bases are hidden in the centre of a ring of defences and
are themselves protected by three extra-tough towers. These bases
generate the planetary defence shields, which must be rendered
inoperative by destroying all the bases on a planet. Without doing
this, the LIAR cannot leave the planet!

Pressing 1 whilst on the surface of a planet will cause your computer
to display a tactical map of the surface, showing defences, bases and
fuel dumps. The LIAR's position and direction are marked by a white
arrow. Bases are shown as concentric rectangles, defences as shaded
areas (intensity shows difficulty), fuel dumps as blue dots and
spaceports as magenta rectangles.

You may leave a planet's surface (after destroying all the enemy
bases) by flying with maximum speed and maximum climb at the same
time.

Fuel dumps on the surface consist of a number of energy
concentrations held in force fields generated by the surrounding
towers. To gain extra energy, guide the LIAR through these as you
would in space, but beware of the towers' fire.

Enemy spaceports are defended by both towers and enemy ships. They
are fairly difficult targets, but it is not necessary to destroy these
before leaving a planet.

COMMENTS : "Excellent shoot-em-up, certainly the fastest."
RATING : 89% (CRASH #11, December 1984)

NOW : Although it's fairly simple, Dark Star is quite a neat game,
with some very fast 3D graphics.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
KEYS : Redefinable