Space Cadet
Release type: Shareware
Release date: ~1993-1994
Levels: 3
Author: Matthew Groves
Website: mgroves.com
Registration bonus: sequels Space Cadet 2 and Space Cadet 3, hint mini-books, 1-year subscription to bimonthly newsletter
Registration price: $10
Related games: Space Cadet 2, Space Cadet 3
In some ways Space Cadet is par for the Game-Maker space shooter course. It's a bit of a patchwork, that more or less colors inside the lines set by RSD's engine. The game design involves roaming around an inscrutable maze in a sort of a cross between a lunar lander and a Space Invader. For the visuals Matthew Groves employed his best MS Paint skills; for the music he raided Sierra’s Space Quest. The space bar fires lasers at monsters yanked from, I believe, Penguin Pete.
And yet, the game has charm. And it plays well. The laser in particular has a satisfying crunch. Part of that comes from the sound, part from the visuals, and part from the timing of the animation. Movement is precise. Groves seems to have paid actual attention to the difficulty balance (unusually for a Game-Maker game). Stereo visualizer bars serve as spikes. What seem to be old 1950s B-movie posters animate in the background. There’s little sense of nonsense about this game, and yet a huge sense of playfulness.
This is one of those cases where sensibility and design judgment trump ambition. Space Cadet may not break the mold, but it feels like Groves had fun in designing it, and that reflects on the player's experience.
The game has two follow-ups, ostensibly available to registered parties.
Contents
Story
In a distant, far off galaxy, there lived a man named Don. Don was a Space Cadet who dreamed about being an ace StarFighter, but alas, he was too young.
One day, then planet of Kwendor was taken over by Daiwn, the king of Galia. Daiwn was an evil ruler and was not satisfied in his conquest, so he kidnapped Don's niece. Nobody dared join in Don's quest to recuse his niece. Not even his brother.
So begins the game where you help to get Don to the evil mini-men-in-the-moon who are Daiwn's top guardians on Kwendor. Good luck, and may the force be with you!
Instructions
The control of Don's ship is fairly easy. Arrow keys or joystick to move around. The fire button is space and the blasters will shoot in the last direction you moved in. (Or joystick button 1)
Credits
Design and Programming
Artist
- Matthew Groves
- Game-Maker
Sound Effects
- Matthew Groves
Opening Music
- This is the theme song to Space Quest III but it was downloaded as PD software, and if you've played Space Quest III, you can tell this is not the actual song. I will however give some credit to Sierra for making such a great song. If you haven't played Space Quest III, it is a great game and I hope you get to play it.
Backround Music
- Anonymous Authors
Alpha-Testing
- Jeffrey Bussey
- Matthew Groves
Links
- The World Wide Haystack (DIYGamer)
- Lost in Space with Matthew D. Groves (DIYGamer)
- Play Space Cadet online
Downloads
- Space Cadet (172.4 kB)
- Level 1 map (53 kB)
- Level 2 map (109.3 kB)
- Level 3 map (74.4 kB)
