The BBC and Master Computer Public Domain Library

STARSHIP COMMAND

Professional, Originally Released On Cassette And ROM Cartridge

Game Type          : Arcade; Shoot-'Em-Up; DEFENDER-style

Author             : Neil Raine

Standalone Release(s)   : 1984: STARSHIP COMMAND, Acornsoft, £9.95 (cassette)

                    £12.95 (ROM catridege)

Compilation Release(s)   : 1988: ACORNSOFT HITS 2, Superior/Acornsoft, £9.95

                    1989: PRES GAMES DISC 5, PRES, £9.95

Stated compatibility    : Electron

Actual compatibility    : Electron, BBC B, B+, Master 128

Supplier            : ACORNSOFT, 4A Market Hill, CAMBRIDGE CB2 3NJ

Disc compatibility     : ADFS 1D00, CDFS 1D00, DFS 1D00

Instructions

Review (ELBUG)

This is an entirely new arcade style game, first developed for the BBC Micro. It makes good use of graphics though only in two colours.

You are in a starship and you have a visual read-out of position of enemy ships and your energy levels on the right of the screen. Your ship stays in the centre of the screen in the same direction so, when you bank left or right, the rest of the universe rotates around you.

There are many controls to get used to, all giving extra interest. This is a good game which should sustain your interest for quite some time. Rating: ****

Philip Le Grand, ELBUG 1.1

Review (Electron User)

Space is getting awfully nasty nowadays. It seems to be full of aliens all bent on destroying anyone in their path. In STARSHIP COMMAND you're in charge of a battle starship with the task of ridding space of these hostile elements. The only weapons you possess are your torpedoes and your skill. The skill consists of being able to manoeuvre your ship into a position where you can zap the other ships which are coming at you thick and fast.

You've got both short and long range scanners which show the enemies' positions as they approach. The position of your ship and the closer attackers are shown on the main screen. Your ship stays still in the middle of the display, the other ships appearing to move round it as you turn left and right in order to fire at them.

You've also got a rotation meter to tell you how fast you're turning and an indicator of the state of your energy banks. Should these banks fall to zero your defensive shields collapse and the aliens will destroy you. I did warn you that it's getting nasty out there.

It's not just the aliens you have to look out for, either. At the end of every mission you are assessed by your superiors. And their judgement can be worse for than anything the aliens might hand out. Even if you do well, all you are rewarded with are other, harder missions. I can't say that it's easy, but all the information you need is there before you on the various scanner displays.

The game seems to have everything. The graphics are superb, the instructions thorough and, once you get used to the way your ship stays  still while the aliens move, the whole thing is enthralling.

Peter Gray, ELECTRON USER 1. 1