Summary
- Release Year: 1977
- Genres: Shooter
- Platforms: Atari 2600
- Developers: Atari
- Publishers: Atari
Star Ship (1977): A Classic Atari 2600 First-Person Shooter
Star Ship is a first-person shooter video game developed by Atari, Inc. for its Video Computer System (later known as the Atari 2600). It was one of the nine launch titles offered when the Atari 2600 went on sale in 1977. It was designed and programmed by Bob Whitehead, who was also responsible for other classic Atari 2600 games such as Combat and Breakout.
Star Ship is based on the Atari arcade game Starship 1, which was released in 1977. The Atari 2600 version of the game is a simplified port of the arcade game, but it still retains the core gameplay mechanics.
Gameplay
The player controls a spaceship that is flying through space. The spaceship can move left, right, up, and down, and it can shoot lasers. The goal of the game is to shoot all of the enemy ships while avoiding being hit by their lasers.
The enemy ships come in three different types:
- Type 1: These ships are the most common type of enemy ship. They fly in a straight line and shoot lasers at the player’s spaceship.
- Type 2: These ships are faster than Type 1 ships and they fly in a zigzag pattern. They also shoot lasers at the player’s spaceship.
- Type 3: These ships are the rarest type of enemy ship. They are very fast and they fly in a random pattern. They also shoot lasers at the player’s spaceship.
The player’s spaceship has a limited amount of energy. If the player’s spaceship is hit by an enemy laser, it will lose energy. If the player’s spaceship loses all of its energy, it will be destroyed.
The player can earn points by shooting enemy ships. The player can also earn extra points by shooting enemy ships in a row.
Graphics and Sound
The graphics in Star Ship are simple, but they are effective. The player’s spaceship is represented by a white square, and the enemy ships are represented by different colored squares. The background of the game is a black void.
The sound in Star Ship is also simple, but it is effective. The player’s spaceship makes a laser sound when it shoots, and the enemy ships make a different laser sound when they shoot.
Reception
Star Ship was a critical and commercial success. It was one of the best-selling Atari 2600 games of all time, and it is still considered to be one of the best first-person shooters on the system.
Star Ship has been praised for its simple but addictive gameplay, its challenging difficulty, and its innovative use of first-person perspective. The game has also been criticized for its repetitive gameplay and its lack of variety.
Overall, Star Ship is a classic Atari 2600 game that is still enjoyed by gamers today. It is a simple but challenging game that is perfect for a quick and fun gaming session.
Legacy
Star Ship has had a lasting impact on the video game industry. It is one of the first first-person shooters, and it helped to popularize the genre. Star Ship also helped to establish Atari as a major player in the video game industry.
Star Ship has been ported to a number of different platforms, including the Atari 5200, the Atari 7800, and the Atari Lynx. It has also been released on a number of compilation discs, such as the Atari 2600 Action Pack and the Atari 2600 Classics Collection.
Star Ship is still considered to be one of the best Atari 2600 games of all time. It is a classic game that is still enjoyed by gamers today.
Review Score
7/10
