Previous Next

After cleaning up with Starquake on the Spectrum, Stephen "Wizard's Lair" Crow brings the hit home to the C64.

Message has just reached earth of an unstable planet emerging from a black hole at the back of the galaxy. If the core of this planet is not rebuilt, it will implode causing the whole universe to go "KA-BOOMF". That's a Starquake.

You, as B.L.O.B. (a bio-logically operated being) are chosen for this mission, but have you got what it takes to complete this five hundred and twelve screen arcade adventure?

You start the game on the top of the planet next to your ship. It's a long way to the planet' score so you will need some transport. A "Space Hopper" would be ideal if you could find one. This enables you to fly, as well as give you super-powered bullets, which are essential against the nasties you encounter.

It is boosted when you bump into one of the many 're-equip' packs scattered around the maze. When your energy runs out you will lose one of your five lives.

Energy is shown on your flight board computer and is diminished by nasties. Next to that are two other bars showing how much ammo and platforms you have left. Platforms are your only means of travelling upwards when you are without a Space Hopper. These are very handy when it comes to picking up pieces of the planet core, as you can't pick these up when you're on the space hopper.

Extra lives can be worn by finding the joysticks around the maze. Teleports enable you to get around quicker but you will need the passwords to travel from one location to another (one of the teleports is right next to the planet core! But can you find it?).

There are also "Flexible-Thingydoos", which look like Access cards and into Cheops Pyramids. Once in here, you can trade pieces of the planet's core. However, the Thingys will not let you through 'space locks' - for those you will need a key. (Easy, isn't it?!!)

'Smash traps' are designed to block your path, but with a few platforms and a bit of height, you're through.

The planet itself holds its own hazards such as spikey plants which are deadly to the touch.

Critics may say this is just another arcade adventure but once you get hooked on it you'll begin to appreciate its depth. Calling Starquake just another arcade adventure is like calling Uridium just another shoot-'em-up, or The Pawn just another adventure.

Although the graphics are pretty Spectrumesque, they are well drawn and have lots of variety, from bunches of grapes stuck to the ceiling to dead astronauts lying on the deck.

Sound is only average, but it has many different tunes and good effects.