ZX Spectrum Games

ZX Spectrum Games

27 Jun 2009

ZX Spectrum Game - 3D Starstrike 2 - ZX Spectrum retro game

ZX Spectrum 3D Starstrike 2
Those vector graphics bods over at Realtime did it again with Starstrike 2 - the follow up their excellent 'Star Wars' arcade game, 3D Starstrike.

Starstrike 2 was released in May of 1986 for the ZX Spectrum after much hype and anticipation, and it delivered to us gamers in spades.

The back story to Starstrike 2 didn't really matter when you had graphics like this, but we'll have a quick reminisce anyway.

ZX Spectrum Games 3D Starstrike 2
The scenario of Starstrike 2 continues from the story told in 3D Starstrike. After the Outsiders' first attack was repelled by the Starstrike fleet, the aliens regrouped an returned to their homeworlds to plot once more against the Federation (the good guys).

The Federation decided that attack was the best form of defence and a new all-purpose fighter (the Starstrike II series) was created. You were the pilot of this new craft, and had the task of taking out the defences on each of the Outsiders planets

ZX Spectrum Games 3D Starstrike 2
There was a lot in this classic game, pentrating force fields, refuelling your ship, battles in orbit with alien fleets and of course, a nice variation on the famous 'trench run'. Gamers who had played the original Starstrike would be familar with conrols and weapons of the craft. As in the first game being too trigger happy would cause your blasters to overheat and you would have to wait a few seconds for them to cool.

You had one life to play with, but your craft was equiped with defensive shields which could be topped up at the end of various levels.

Starstrike 2 had a great combination of ariel combat, ground attacks and sequences to destroy a planet. The combination of brilliant gameplay and (then) state of the art graphics ensured it's status as an instant classic. Starstrike 2 was a massive and deserved hit in the summer of '86.

On release:
This game had been the subject of a lot of hype prior to it's release. Could solid 3D graphics be animated properly on a humble ZX Spectrum? Thanfully, the answer was a big yes. Realtime managed to create a game with depth, variety, action and amazing graphics. Starstrike 2 was a landmark achievment in ZX Spectrum gaming and proved just how far clever developers could push the hardware. The first time I saw this running on a friends Spectrum 48K my jaw hit the floor. Solid vectors were unheard of on 8-Bit machines until this game was released. I saved up for four weeks to buy a copy!

Crash magazine awared it a stunning 96% - a true seal of quality at the time.

The test of time:
Here in the land of Spectrum games we must acknowledge that Starstrike 2 remains a classic. Of course the graphics are nothing special by todays standards, but once you see past that there is still some good gameplay in there. The pair of us are still amazed that Realtime crammed this much in to a 48K ZX Spectrum; a truly stunning achievement. Starstrike 2 proved that Realtime were the masters of vector graphics - and it is still worth playing today. Give it a go - it's still good.

We recommend getting hold of the real hardware - but if not then download a ZX Spectrum emulator and download Starstrike 2 for the ZX Spectrum. Alternatively you could try and play it online.

GENRE: Solid Vector Graphics Arcade Game
RELEASE DATE: May of 1986
RELEASED BY: Realtime Software
DEVELOPER(S): Ian Oliver, Andrew Onions and Graeme Baird
PRICE: £7.95 - UK

Mart needs to play a few more times to get the hang of the classic arcade action again...
Classic Games, Arcade Games and ZX Spectrum Games

4 comments:

Eddie said...

Sorry to barge in, but I can't remember the name of a Spectrum game I played as a kid - it was a robot combat game, very similar to Battle City on the NES. You battled other robots and got (or bought?) parts, improved your own and so on.
Do you have any idea?

The Retro Brothers said...

Well... I could possibly be a game called NOMAD which we remember vaguely. Other than that there as a long shot there was Escape from the Planet of the Robot Monsters. Racking our brains but can't think of any others.

Eddie said...

Found it. It was actually Nether Earth... :)

The Retro Brothers said...

Ahhh Nether Earth, a sort of realtime strategy game with giant robots as fighting vehicles. Remember playing it but not really getting into it. It may have to make an appearance on here at some point! Thanks. :-)

The Retro Brothers Favourite ZX Spectrum Games...

Jetpac Remake


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