Star Quest is a retro arcade action game set in the realm of Xyloria, where the insectoid Xylorians live under the shadow of a massive alien vessel known as the Baalien Mothership. Once a primitive society, the Xylorians were split into two factions the moment the ship arrived: those who submitted to its power, and those who resisted and went into hiding.
The resistance eventually makes contact with the ancient Artesians, who provide them with advanced technology — including the Artesian Assault‑1, a small strike craft capable of piercing the Baalien ship’s shields. You pilot this AA‑1, and your mission is simple in concept but punishing in execution: deliver an Artesian Blast to the Baalien ship without causing collateral damage.
🎮 Core Gameplay
Each round challenges you to fire, guide, and deliver the Artesian Blast upward through a chaotic aerial “highway” filled with Xylorian civilians in hovering cars — all while avoiding the Baalien ship’s devastating plasma attacks.
To launch an Artesian Blast, you must first charge it by striking the Baalien ship or its shields with your primary weapon, the Quanton Blast. Once charged, you can fire the Artesian Blast — a slow‑rising energy orb that you can steer as it ascends.
⚠️ Hazards & Penalties
The skies of Xyloria are crowded, and every civilian vehicle is a danger:
If the Artesian Blast hits a civilian, it instantly vanishes and triggers harsh penalties, including instakill attacks from the Baalien ship depending on the stage and your accumulated collateral damage.
If the Quanton Blast hits civilians, you lose points — and in later stages, your entire score can be wiped out.
To survive, you must thread your shots through traffic with precision. You can also extinguish the Artesian Blast mid‑flight using the same button that launched it, allowing you to cancel a bad shot before it causes disaster.
🛠️ Weapons & Controls
Quanton Blast (Primary Weapon)
Fast, direct shot used to weaken shields and charge the Artesian Blast. Can be steered while holding the right trigger. (Is required to remove a super shield stage 8+)
Artesian Blast (Secondary Weapon)
Slow, powerful orb capable of destroying the Baalien ship. Steerable, cancellable, and extremely dangerous if mishandled.
Right Trigger Steering
Both weapons can be guided, but doing so leaves your AA‑1 stationary and vulnerable.
👾 Enemy Threats
The Baalien ship fires its own massive plasma blast at timed or random intervals. You must read its spin‑up animation and dodge at the right moment — a clear homage to classic arcade shooters.
🏆 Progression & Scoring
Star Quest features 10 handcrafted stages, each increasing the traffic density, firing patterns, and punishment for mistakes. Players earn an extra life every 10,000 points, up to 50,000.
The game includes:
A full Top 10 High Score table
Initials entry for new records
Short, intense arcade‑style runs
A true win condition when the Baalien ship is finally destroyed
🎨 Retro Presentation
Star Quest is built to look, sound, and feel like an early 1980s coin‑op machine — complete with CRT‑style visuals, chiptune‑inspired audio, flashing “INSERT COIN” prompts, and the unmistakable arcade pacing of the era.
