Xenoblaster: Attack of the Xorg
Xenoblaster is dozens of minutes of carefully animated cutscenes wrapped around four levels of yet another noble, if failed, attempt at a Game-Maker space shooter. In turn those four stages are wrapped around a single short, strange action-adventure segment with a character borrowed straight out of Sample. And every single bit of it is consciously quoted from Star Trek.
The outfits are Starfleet uniforms. The human character is named D.A.T.A., which clearly is completely different from Data. The info screens are based on the Starfleet touchscreen computer interface. Space is full of Romulan ships. And as for the Confederation’s greatest foe, the Xorg...
None of these borrowed elements would be important on their own, or even collectively, if they were just incidental. What makes this game so weird is that there is so little game, and what game is there is both very simple and very forgettable. That leaves the endless and meticulous cutscenes and scenario to carry the package. Even then it might be another thing entirely, had Leung gone for it and just made this a fan game. Instead he very slightly changes every proper name, and alters the player’s ship — despite its “Enterprise” file name — to more closely resemble a traditional space shooter vessel.
Despite this constant winking, the game seems to take itself and its dramatic premise rather seriously. The mind boggles at how to process this information.
There are some coincidental, yet weird, similarities to Explorer Jacko.
Contents
Story[edit]
There was a time of peace, but it seems so long ago.
The United Alliance, consisting of all the intelligent life in this sector of the galaxy, had enjoyed a prolonged period of peace.
But a menace arises that threatens the way of life for all species.
They are the Xorg.
The Xorg are a cybernetic species that "absorb" other cultures into theirs because they believe it makes life better for all.
What or whom they do not absorb, they either destroy or brainwash.
The casualties have been devastating. The Human Confederation is all that remains of the United Aliance
The Confederation is mounting a final assault against the Xorg. As the last surviving captain with battle experience, you must buy us some time.
At your disposal is the newly built Confederate Starfighter STARBLADE undergoing final construction at Earth Spacedock.
The fate of all intelligent life in the galaxy is in your hands.
Instructions[edit]
On each level, destroy all the Stargates to prevent Xorgian ships to enter the sector and to pass the level.
(To skip opening sequence from now on, press Esc once at the IT IS A TIME OF WAR.... screen and wait.)
Starblade controls[edit]
Keypad or arrow keys to move.
[SPACEBAR] to fire Lasers
[ENTER] to fire Energy Torpedos (Start with 5)
D.A.T.A. remote controls[edit]
Keypad or arrow keys to move.
- [W] to shoot Lasers up.
- [A] to shoot Lasers left.
- [S] to shoot Lasers down.
- [D] to shoot Lasers right.
Credits[edit]
Gameplay, design, graphics and sound by: Felix Leung
Special Thanks to Recreational Software Designs for the use of their CAD Module (Game-Maker) that makes this game possible
XENOBLASTER(V1.2): Attack of the Xorg, the name Digital Emotions and its diminutives Digitem and D.E., Copyright 1995 by Felix Leung. All rights Reserved.
Availability[edit]
Available on several shareware compilation CD-ROMs, including:
- Cream of the Crop #11 (February 1996),
- Public Software Library's PSL Monthly #4-03: Words, Graphics (March 1996),
- The ASP Collection: May 1996 Edition (May 1996),
- The ASP Collection: June 1996 Edition (June 1996),
- The Aztech Hall of Fame Game Cube Collection (October 1996),
- Public Software Library's PSL Monthly #4-08: Games, Sound (1996),
- Aztech's Games Pack Disc 2 (1997),
- PC-Ohio's Shareware Extravaganza 8 (1997),
- PC Team CD 12 (????), and
- PC Team CD HS 04 (????).
Archive History[edit]
Mike Perrucci discovered Xenoblaster in a CD-ROM shovelware archive and submitted it on July 13, 2010.
Links[edit]
Interviews / Articles[edit]
Listings[edit]
Social Media / Discussion[edit]
Misc. Links[edit]
Downloads[edit]
- Xenoblaster: Attack of the Xorg (610.3 kB)
- Levels 1-2, 4-5 map (89.0 kB)
- Level 3 map (54.1 kB)
