Difference between revisions of "Star Avenger III"
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'''Website:''' [http://www.dummyduck.com/ DummyDuck.com]<br /> | '''Website:''' [http://www.dummyduck.com/ DummyDuck.com]<br /> | ||
'''Related games:''' ''[[Star Avenger]]'', ''[[Star Avenger II]]'', ''[[Star Avenger IV]]'' | '''Related games:''' ''[[Star Avenger]]'', ''[[Star Avenger II]]'', ''[[Star Avenger IV]]'' | ||
| − | }} | + | }}The third ''Star Avenger'' game is brief and unfinished; whereas each previous game picks a framework and develops it over a dozen levels, ''Star Avenger III'' shows an ambition to build a grander, more comprehensive world by exploring the games' universe from several different perspectives. With each character's perspective, the game establishes a different mode of design. With the game's attention split, however, it doesn't follow up on its ideas after that basic setup. What we have, therefore, is three test levels, the third of which cannot be completed. |
| + | The game starts well, with a cool in-engine cutscene to announce each level and narrate the story's development. These scenes may be the only instance of starfield effects in RSD's engine. | ||
| + | [[File:Star3Sprite.gif|center]] | ||
| + | Level one is an isometric shooter reminiscent of Sega's ''Zaxxon'' Presumably for consistency this level tries to employ a variant of the standard ''[[Star Avenger]]'', controls: neighboring keys to more back and forth, and to shoot in all directions. In this case, the scheme doesn't quite work. The ship doesn't respond the way one would expect, the controls are mapped strangely for the perspective, and the straight corridor that constitutes the level is too narrow to effectively navigate. It's nice that the series continues to experiment, but here the elements don't really cohere. (Later, Alan Caudel would hit the target with ''[[Star Wars: Return of the Jedi]]''.) | ||
| + | Level two is a throwback to the original ''Star Avenger''; a bit more refined, but on the surface hardly changed. | ||
| + | Level three is a classic guardian-against-the-horde shooter like ''Space Invaders'' or ''Galaxian'', except according to ''Star Avenger'' standards the goal here is just to survive until time runs out. Of the three segments, this level seems to have received the least consideration; the ship can move back and forth, and it can shoot. Enemies work their way down the screen. There's some kind of a mechanism to allow the player to move to the next level (albeit disabled in this case). All of these elements exist in their most basic form, but they're not developed even to the point of cooperating with each other. The level is more a collection of notes for what a level like this might contain. (Likewise, that level may well be ''[[Star Avenger 4]]''.) | ||
| + | [[File:Star3Screen.gif|thumb|320px|Screenshot from ''Star Avenger 3'']] | ||
| + | [[File:Star3Sprite2.gif|center]] | ||
| − | + | That may be the best summary of ''Star Avenger III''. What the game presents, in its surviving form, is a small pool of sketches for what a third game in this series might be. They are intriguing sketches, that were good enough to expand into fuller standalone games. Here, they're placeholders for what might be, what might have been -- like a storyboard or an animatic for the first few minutes of a proposed epic. The materials you see here may not be representational of the final result. Except, of course, in that they do seem to be the final result. For now. | |
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== Story == | == Story == | ||
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You are a member of the elite Star Avengers. Yes, the alien orb ships from ''Star Avenger'' have returned and, yes, you have to stop them. There are several different scenarios that you, playing as different members in different ships, must complete. | You are a member of the elite Star Avengers. Yes, the alien orb ships from ''Star Avenger'' have returned and, yes, you have to stop them. There are several different scenarios that you, playing as different members in different ships, must complete. | ||
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In the first, you are told to go to Salpok and get to the blue teleportation ring. | In the first, you are told to go to Salpok and get to the blue teleportation ring. | ||
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The second scenario puts you on Yaculv in a level like that of ''[[Star Avenger]] I'', but lasts almost twice as long! Survive for about a minute. It's harder than it sounds. | The second scenario puts you on Yaculv in a level like that of ''[[Star Avenger]] I'', but lasts almost twice as long! Survive for about a minute. It's harder than it sounds. | ||
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* '''''[http://www.aderack.com/game-maker/downloads/staravg3.zip Star Avenger III]''''' (102 kB) | * '''''[http://www.aderack.com/game-maker/downloads/staravg3.zip Star Avenger III]''''' (102 kB) | ||
| + | [[Category: Game-Maker games|Star Avenger 3]] | ||
[[Category: Freeware|Star Avenger 3]] | [[Category: Freeware|Star Avenger 3]] | ||
[[Category: Adam Tyner|Star Avenger 3]] | [[Category: Adam Tyner|Star Avenger 3]] | ||
Revision as of 08:20, 17 February 2016
Release type: Freeware
Release date: 1995
Levels: ?
Author: Adam Tyner, Alan Caudel
Website: DummyDuck.com
Related games: Star Avenger, Star Avenger II, Star Avenger IV
The third Star Avenger game is brief and unfinished; whereas each previous game picks a framework and develops it over a dozen levels, Star Avenger III shows an ambition to build a grander, more comprehensive world by exploring the games' universe from several different perspectives. With each character's perspective, the game establishes a different mode of design. With the game's attention split, however, it doesn't follow up on its ideas after that basic setup. What we have, therefore, is three test levels, the third of which cannot be completed.
The game starts well, with a cool in-engine cutscene to announce each level and narrate the story's development. These scenes may be the only instance of starfield effects in RSD's engine.
Level one is an isometric shooter reminiscent of Sega's Zaxxon Presumably for consistency this level tries to employ a variant of the standard Star Avenger, controls: neighboring keys to more back and forth, and to shoot in all directions. In this case, the scheme doesn't quite work. The ship doesn't respond the way one would expect, the controls are mapped strangely for the perspective, and the straight corridor that constitutes the level is too narrow to effectively navigate. It's nice that the series continues to experiment, but here the elements don't really cohere. (Later, Alan Caudel would hit the target with Star Wars: Return of the Jedi.)
Level two is a throwback to the original Star Avenger; a bit more refined, but on the surface hardly changed.
Level three is a classic guardian-against-the-horde shooter like Space Invaders or Galaxian, except according to Star Avenger standards the goal here is just to survive until time runs out. Of the three segments, this level seems to have received the least consideration; the ship can move back and forth, and it can shoot. Enemies work their way down the screen. There's some kind of a mechanism to allow the player to move to the next level (albeit disabled in this case). All of these elements exist in their most basic form, but they're not developed even to the point of cooperating with each other. The level is more a collection of notes for what a level like this might contain. (Likewise, that level may well be Star Avenger 4.)
That may be the best summary of Star Avenger III. What the game presents, in its surviving form, is a small pool of sketches for what a third game in this series might be. They are intriguing sketches, that were good enough to expand into fuller standalone games. Here, they're placeholders for what might be, what might have been -- like a storyboard or an animatic for the first few minutes of a proposed epic. The materials you see here may not be representational of the final result. Except, of course, in that they do seem to be the final result. For now.
Contents
Story
You are a member of the elite Star Avengers. Yes, the alien orb ships from Star Avenger have returned and, yes, you have to stop them. There are several different scenarios that you, playing as different members in different ships, must complete.
In the first, you are told to go to Salpok and get to the blue teleportation ring.
The second scenario puts you on Yaculv in a level like that of Star Avenger I, but lasts almost twice as long! Survive for about a minute. It's harder than it sounds.
In Barr, simply shoot the orb ships as they come down.
Instructions
Animation sequences
Press ENTER to skip 'em when you're done seeing 'em.
Level One: Salpok
Use + to go left and ENTER to go right.
UP, DOWN, LEFT, and RIGHT to fire those directions.
- speeds you up.
Level Two: Yaculv
Use + to go up and ENTER to go down.
Use the numeric keypad to fire in those directions.
Level Three: Barr
Use LEFT and RIGHT to go left and right and either UP or ENTER to fire.
Credits
STAR AVENGER III by Adam Tyner and Alan Caudel
Availability
This game is not known to have been distributed in any form, prior to its addition to the Archive.
Archive History
After an earlier wave of rediscoveries, on July 13 2011 Alan Caudel provided another archive of previously missing Game-Maker material, including the following:
- Alan!
- Alan B-Day
- Alan '95
- Alan '96
- Bear Fun Show
- Benny
- Bone!
- CGA Hell
- Doom
- Off The Page
- DD4: Canadian Boxing Day
- Godzilla
- Jon '95
- Kozmo Kat
- The Legend of Budd
- Mr. Berkel Derkel!
- Mister Spiff IV
- Ninja
- Palladia: The Game
- Power Budd!
- Power Flux
- Robo-Wars
- Ski
- Star Avenger
- Star Avenger III
- Star Avenger 4
- Star Wars
- Stickman!!! Die
- Trees
- Twister, argh!
- What the...?!?
Links
Downloads
- Star Avenger III (102 kB)
