Starship Command - Top 85 Games for the BBC Micro (8)
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- Опубліковано 19 січ 2023
- Flying in to the #8 spot it's Acornsoft's superb Starship Command, developed by Peter Irvin! This incredibly innovative game is packed with challenging gameplay, making it one of the very best titles to come from the Acornsoft label. Also covered in this review is the 2022 reboot from TobyLobster, a faster, smoother version that ups the ante and takes the original 1983 game to new heights. Watch me attempt (and invariably fail) to impress Starfleet Command... enjoy!
Original Starship Command (1983): bbcmicro.co.uk/game.php?id=35
Starship Command Reboot (2002): bbcmicro.co.uk/game.php?id=4117
More details on the 2022 reboot: stardot.org.uk/forums/viewtop... - Ігри
The first ship looks more like the Liberator from Blake's 7 to me, but I think the take home is this: If there ever is an alien invasion, the last person we send up to deal with it is Colin 😁😁
100% - the future of humanity is not safe in my hands 😂
This was one of my favourite games for the BBC Micro back in the 80's. The first spaceship is either the Liberator from Blake's 7 flying forwards or the USS Enterprise flying backwards.
Yes, I see an Enterprise flying backwards but many have said it looks more like the Liberator! I should get around to watching Blake's 7 at some point...
That brings back lots of memories.
I'm glad! 😀
The key is active deflector shield management and to balance it out with engine thrust and blaster fire - it sucks away vital energy from the shields and the Auto mode is too indiscriminate to recharge the shields enough between hits.
I used to do the firing and manoeuvring, my mate did the shields and escape pod.
Couldn't get it to work right on my PC as went into keyboard buffer overrun... same with Free Fall.
Happy days 🥰
Yes, I had a feeling shield / energy management was the key - I lose so much energy early on that I end up dying too soon! I'd also heard from Stardot that you can't rely on the auto mode at all... Two player controls sounds ace!
It's all about anticipation: You can predict what the enemy are going to do, because they're so consistent. Another aspect is energy conservation. I used to keep it at a medium level, and play for hours as a meditative thing. Then I experimented with what improved my performance, eg breaks. I found a sip of water now and then was the best boost. Remember that, on long drives.
You're a more patient player than me, I suspect! I do love the game but I find it punishingly hard to stay alive for any length of time... 😅
Really great game - a favorite of mine it the 80s and today. Always saw it as a 2D "arcade-ish" version of Elite. When I needed a break from Elite (after a lot of space travel and some nausea) I'll go for some quick action in Star Command. It had that Elite feeling I thought. Still love it today, and the 2022 version is totally my preferred option. Thanks for the great video 😊
Yes, I think the graphics have a kind of Elite feel to them, I know what you mean. Glad to hear this one was a favourite, it definitely seems to be a popular choice judging from the comments! Thanks for your kind feedback 😀
Great to see someone had the time and dedication to release an updated version for the original hardware. Haven't played this for 40 years, but I remember the slowdown. Splendid, charismatic game. I'll have to get my Beeb fixed up now. Thanks for this extensive games list.
Yes, the effort that goes into these new games and reboots of old ones is seriously impressive! Thank you for your feedback 😊
Fun bonus fact - If you load the Electron version of the game on a BBC it runs really fast (presumably because they had to change the gameplay to allow for the Electron being slower)
I did not know that! Thanks for sharing this 😀
@@ColinHoad it’s the kind of thing you do when you’re 14 and your next door neighbour brings their Electron round….
Wow, this brings back memories… ❤️
First game I had for my Electron, blew my mind at the time.
Colin, I think that two things will improve matters: one, as noted before, being stationary or moving more slowly does work, especially stopping and letting bemuse overshoot… and two, torpedoes also use energy IIRC, so use more controlled bursts.
Anyways, thanks for the video, it is great 😁
Ah yes, controlled bursts! Something I'm quite bad at 😄 Thank you, and glad it brought back memories!
An absolute classic: will enjoy watching this!
Thanks, Matt! I'm afraid my gameplay doesn't live up to the game, though 😆
@@ColinHoad Still better than I would be!! That drone of the engines is so familiar: takes me back to 4th year computer class :)
I remember finding this game utterly frustrating for the longest time before finally getting reasonable at it. It was a great game, like a cross between Asteroids and Space Invaders or maybe Galaxian.
Yes, it is really frustrating at first, I remember not liking it half as much when I was younger... but as a more mature player it can be very, very rewarding when you get it right!
Yeah! Starship Command! Love it. I'd do what Alex suggests if you're being chased by goons: turn a little bit so they're temporarily not directly behind you (there's a little window before they follow suit), then hit the brakes. It takes them a bit longer to readjust their position/rotation, and you've got a bit of a window to keep turning until you can blast them.
Oh and I think you got the sack with a higher score because you ejected with a lot of energy left - Starfleet probably thought that wasn't cost-effective.
Well anyway I'm talking like I'm an expert, and I'm not. I do love how ahead of its time this was, including the difference in behaviour of the different ships - some guys cautiously taking single shots, some with a constant stream, and then the ramming speed mad lads.
Anyway, thanks again for a vid!
You're welcome, and thank you for the tips! I like the idea of hitting the brakes and turning to catch them before they can readjust to follow - that makes a lot of sense 😃 Very much ahead of its time, especially for 1983 - brilliant game!
It reminds me of a 2D Elite, as seen from above, if that's not too tenuous a connection. The way the ship is assailed, and some of the general mechanics seem similar. I feel dutybound to give it a go. Thanks for another instalment!
You're not the first to make an Elite comparison, I think the mechanics combined with the elegant black and white graphics is at the heart of it. I hope you enjoy the game!
One of the best Beeb games going especially for 83. Used to love trying to see the next level starship.Tough but fun game.
Getting through a mission is an achievement all by itself! Apparently there are 8 different ships, but I've only managed to see 3 of them myself 😬
@@ColinHoad I think that was all I managed tbh. Great vid btw.
That was fun to watch!
Thank you! 😀
I remember this game being much easier to play using Acorn's analogue joysticks than the keyboard.
Good point, I should give it a go on my Beeb with my newly acquired joystick...
I rember looking forward to this game then being disappointed in how hard it was and not able to enjoy it very much. Something that happens a lot in the 80’s😂
I suppose these games were value for money, you really had to put in the hours if you wanted to get good at them! Though as a young child I tended to avoid the games that had such steep learning curves, and have only grown to appreciate them as I got older 😄
@@ColinHoad I Guess in the 80’s, with such limited ram, you had to make them hard so you felt you got your monies worth out of a very basic concept. Occasionally people did more with this (I.e Revs and Elite).
I always found sitting stationary and just rotating worked quite well. Just thrusting away when overwhelmed. Also, if you do hit an enemy with your escape capsule you get a big bonus score.
Thanks! I do try being stationary and rotating but it still feels like the enemies rotate with me and continue shooting me from behind 🤕 I'm sure there's a knack to it that I'm missing!
Do not listen to this man. I am said to be "appalled" at his comment, and retire him from active service.
@@MajorT0m listen to him! I shouted "slow down!" so many times watching this video.
@Stuart Quinn you need to speed up and slow down, but if you sit still, those "baggers" appear and overwhelm you in short order.
Just going to say I'm loving the heated debate this has provoked! 😁
Ahh yes! I'm so happy this popped up. It's one of my fave Beeb games and I've been hoping it would be on your list. I can't even guess at how many hours I put into this gem. Awesome game but frustrating when you're on a good run and forget to fire the escape capsule! Might I suggest a little something? Keep your speed way lower, that way you can turn faster, if you keep the speed up, it makes it almost impossible to target the enemies and what's more, you'll get a lot around your rear blasting away. :)
All suggestions welcome! Yes, slowing down and being a bit more targeted in my shooting would definitely help 😄 I also gave it a go on my Beeb with a joystick earlier today and it is *much* easier with joystick! A revelation 😅 Glad you approve of the choice, Steve 👍
Ha... At last one I actually had. lol This really was an excellent game. I was not very good either but one of those "...one more go..." games. Cheers and all the best...Jim
Definitely a "one more go" game! I think I demonstrated that in the review, too 😁
Interesting. Never seen this game before. It's definitely very professionally put together but it looks like it might be so hard as to be more frustrating than fun. Might have to give it a try at some point to see how that bears out. I'm not all that into shoot-'em-ups in general, but when I was a kid I certainly racked up many hundreds of hours on Space Pilot (not sure whether you've covered that one yet). Maybe I would have loved this if I'd known about it.
The modern version looks especially cool!
I'd recommend trying both so you can compare - but the new version is definitely my favourite!
Hi Colin. I`m just making an asteroids game. I used to a full screen patch out the BBC BASIC for window help section. I`m getting beeps after a while with key strokes. I`ll have to try the VDU 21,1,0;0;0;0; command to see if that works. I forgot about envelope command. Cheers I will adding sound tonight.
Good luck with the game! 👍
i wish i could get hold of a pc version of this
You can play it in-browser via the complete BBC Micro games archive site, just search for Starship Command and click 'Play' - it will run under JSBeeb, a JavaScript emulator 👍
Yea I got it on emulator I use beem for that it's the pc version I saw being played in the intro that ime after
I've not played this much but it is hard. I think it would benefit from being able to rotate faster, at least when stopped or travelling slowly.
Nice game though, I didn't know about the 2022 version so will check it out!
I'm glad you agree with me that it's hard! Hope you enjoy trying out the 2022 version 😀
The space ship in the first mission is a nod to the ship from BBC Sci-Fi Blake7 TheLiberator
Yes, I've never seen Blake's 7 (criminal, I know) but now it's been pointed out to me, I can see it!
You may be the best bbc micro UA-camr but you ain’t good at this game Colin lol. Been looking forward to your number 8 for ages. Nice video as always
Thanks, Gareth - and no, I'm definitely not a true Starship Commander, alas 🤪