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Any attempt at putting Starion under the microscope is bound to invite comparison with Elite, so I might as well get it over with now. Starion's deep space strategy bears many similarities to Elite's, but without the trading aspect or the smooth graphics.

As 'Starion', fresh out of Space Academy in the year 2010, you are chosen to pilot the world's first timeship. Your task is to visit each of the 81 time zones collecting the cargo from alien ships you have blown up. The cargo from each destroyed ship is re-constituted to form a giant letter floating in space. When all the letters in a zone are collected, re-arrange them to find out what the cargo was, and deliver them to a planet before proceeding to the next time zone.

Your rating changes from 'Novice' as you proceed, eventually reaching 'Supreme Commander'. If and when you reach 'event zero' before the beginning of time (event one), then you become the earliest thing to exist and must, by default, assume the title of 'creator' of all that follows.

As a 'Dangerous' Elite player [Big 'ead - Ed] I found Starion a very poor second to the Firebird game.

The screen displays of front view, scanners and instruments failed to impress me, as did the alien spacecraft themselves. The graphics are pathetically slow and jerky, the plot has overtones of Monty Python and, as for the music, grate - doesn't it?!

I am not saying that Starion doesn't have its strengths. It's just that Elite has now set the standard for these type of deep space, adventure shoot-'em-ups, and anything new that isn't as good just doesn't stand a chance.

What I really want is something that is better than Elite. But I can't help thinking that I am going to have to wait for Braben and Bell to finish Elite II to get it.