Atari 8-bit - Bubble Bus Software - 1985

Starquake

1 / 7

Genre: Adventure / Arcade - 2-D
Year: 1985
Language: Machine Language
Publisher: Bubble Bus Software
Controls: Joystick / Keyboard
Developer: [n/a]
Players: 1
Country
Programmer(s): Crow, Stephen / Strange, Nick
License: Commercial
Graphic Artist(s): [n/a]
Medium
Sound: [n/a]
Rarity: 88
Cover Artist(s): [unknown]
Serial: -
Dump: Download

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Missing original disk image!

1 / 5

Tape 1

INSTRUCTIONS (2)

ADS (1)

1 / 5

Tape 1

VOTES / STATISTICS

Rating8.1/10

Hits: 29,882
Downloads: 5,200
Votes: 974

⬇ DOWNLOAD PDF

COMMENTS (7)

GadZombiE6 Jan 2016
@Monk: Starquake is not impossible. I have finished this game many years ago. The map and list of passwords for teleports helps very much to accomplish the game. But you're right, the ZX or C64 version looks better than Atari's. It could be better here, but let's say truth - Atari's version also looks great and works perfectly. The sounds and music are great too! The main character could be made with normal graphics rather than player/missile method, but this helped to use different color for him. But, remember - this IS the hi-res sprite, not the lo-res! Atari's sprites can't have higher resolution than you can see here.
Monk10 Jun 2015
Thax and Interceptor - I can't really take anyone seriously that lack the ability to begin sentences with capital letters. Nor can I understand such opinions.. this is not a great game, and the Atari version is the worst one! This in no way warrants such praise. As for the review itself, let's go.. You know your graphician should be fired, when the graphics of your game look WORSE than the Spectrum-version! No offense towards the Spectrum, but its monochrome graphics did present quite the challenge to the graphicians. But this is the second game that I have found, where the Atari version has actually worse and MORE monochromic graphics than the Spectrum original. The C64 version outshines every other version, visually, aurally, animation-wise, how much stuff flies flawlessly all over the screen, etc. Just compare the screenshots, and honestly tell me, which one would you think a randomly selected human being would choose to play based on looks alone: Spectrum-version: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a3/Game_start_screen_for_Bubble_Bus%27_ZX_Spectrum_game_Starquake.png C64-version: http://www.lemon64.com/games/screenshots/full/s/starquake_02.gif Atari-version: http://www.atarimania.com/8bit/screens/starquake_4.gif Not only is the Atari version more monochromatic than any other version, it is also the only version where the main sprite is a -lores- sprite instead of a -hires- sprite. This game certainly doesn't show off Atari's good side too well - I am sure the humble Atari could have done a lot better. Someone really screwed up. I mean, come on - Atari has so many great, colorful, beautiful and immersive games that I love to play with my XL, that there's no excuse to produce this kind of trash. As for the game itself - I never understood this type of games - you just run around in a hectic world and try to accomplish some impossible task, and the enemies just respawn and bleh. I just can't see why anyone would willingly play something like this, when there are so many so much better games out there - and this goes for all versions.
thax19 Oct 2013
fantastic game that i used to play for hours. addictive gameplay.
interceptor17 May 2012
great game for the atari! 10 of 10
tommik27 Mar 2012
The Atari 800 versions sadly lacks proper graphics and visuals. Can't the machine pop out more that just 2 colors and blocky ugly sprite? The programmers surely did a poor design job on this one. 5/10.
Daniel Thomas MacInnes6 May 2011
Very strange and very engaging game that was criminally overlooked in its day. It basically beat Metroid to the punch by a couple years. The Atari 800 didn't have too many games like this, so I did enjoy it, and I'm glad to be able to try it again in 2011.
adam2424 Feb 2011
No one's commented on this masterpiece yet? Simply unimpeachable. Brilliant graphics and plot.. eminently playable... A classic and easily a '10' in my book.