Starscape

I bought this waaay back when I first joined Steam. It was something like $5 when I got it, and it wasn't worth it then. Hard pass.

Tedious pile of garbage.

Early indie classic. I played this on a CRT with a ball mouse sitting on my bedroom floor wearing the worst earphones money could buy.

Its a great 2d space game that feels a lot like the X series but with a more focused story. I love it.

I started playing Starscape over a decade ago, over a holiday break, and for one reason or another it got abandoned mid way through (Zone 3 i think), however it lingered in the back of my mind as being fun, a bit simplistic, and definitely worth finishing. So, in 2022, in the spirit of defeating the backlog, this indie game got another shot. In 2022 though, Starscape is achingly dated, though it severely dated even back in 2011 (having been released in 2003). The resolution is limited at 800x600 (yes, 4x3) and the steam fps counter was resolutely stuck at 22fps throughout. These issues don't matter too much though, as the art style is pleasingly retro, with a cartoony grace that a higher resolution would wash away the human touch. The game-play, a cross between asteroids and space war, with a minor crafting element, is enjoyable, if a bit samey over the 20 hrs or so to finish the game, though it has to be said, that there is a frankly outrageous difficulty curve in the last third of the game. The story is somewhat generic: advanced earth spaceship gets lost, has to defeat aliens and escape back home, and though told through text boxes, it's not too in your face, while providing a clear motivation for continuing, and there's more here if you're willing to go looking for it. Similarly sound effects and music are serviceable, nothing amazing, and harking back to the halcyon days when the game was released, you might well want to pop on a podcast (or, more appropriately, some mp3's) in the background. But despite the minor gripes above, I still recommend this game, even in 2022. Perhaps even more so now, than I might have done in 2011; as hand-held gaming PC's like the Steam Deck, and the Aya Neo are finally making the dream of a reasonably powerful gaming PC on the go a reality. In that world, a game like Starscape, with its 'fight and mine your way through one more node' mentality is the perfect thing to play in short bursts.

I know this game has 'controller not supported" on it. But i am using a logitech f310 in xmode and it works fine as is no special drivers or apps needed. Great little gem of a game here, don't let it pass you by. It's not earth shattering or anything real different. But it is a good example of the genre and fun to play.

ABSOLUTELY ANCIENT game. I first played this back in the 1.0 demo version almost twenty years ago. I remember clear as day it was the very first Shareware game i ever wanted to "register" (aka buy) when i was just a wee lad. It's a run of the mill 2D shmup with slight craft/research elements (Think Asteroids but instead of picking up stuff you vaccuum them in first) A bit sad that Moonpod never really released a sequel even though it was in plans. And though the game has been updated a number of times, some bugs still remain to this day. Main menu theme cuts out weirdly that never did in the original 1.0 release Danger nodes randomly crash the game since as far back as 1.3 The first boss' attack (you know, the big purple laser?) is set to 400% volume compared to every other sound effect regardless of sfx volume. Weird capitalization on some items (like ship hull types) Name capitalization issues when naming the player or custom ships (JAMESON anyone?) And some of these are long, LONG standing bugs by the way. But since Moonpod is basically defunct at this point, it's a safe bet it will never be fixed. Snag it at a serious discount if you're aching for those old "2001 windows xp shareware games" experience.

Great game

One of my favorite games when I was like 12, unfortunately I was very poor and did not actually own the game, I just played the demo over and over. Finally, one day in my adulthood, I remembered that this game existed and found I was able to purchase it on Steam. Great game, top down space shooter with light looter mechanics.

Take me years to remember this game and return to my childhood, worth all the way.