Home of the Underdogs
About News FAQs Contact HOTU GoogleGroup Music Manuals
Category Applications Action Adventure Education Interactive Fiction Puzzle Role Playing Games Simulation Special Sport Strategy War




Support the EFF
Welcome How you can help
Browse Games
Welcome Random Pick
Welcome By Company
  Welcome By Theme  
Welcome By Alphabet
Welcome By Year
Welcome Title Search
Welcome Company Search
Welcome Designer Search
Recommended
Welcome Freeware Titles
Welcome Collections
Welcome Discord
Welcome Twitter
Welcome Facebook
Welcome File Format Guide
Welcome Help: Non PC Games
Welcome Help: Win Games
Welcome Help: DOS Games
Welcome Recommended Links
Site History Site History
Legacy Legacy
Link to Us Link to Us
Credits Thanks & Credits
Abandonware Ring

Abandoned Places

dungeoncrawlers.org

Creative Commons License


Game #1988
Hall of Belated Fame Inductee  Starfight VI: Gatekeepers    View all Top Dogs in this genreCollection: Amateur Adventures
Adventure   Multi-genre adventure

Rating: 8.69 (434 votes)

Starfight VI: Gatekeepers box cover

Starfight VI: Gatekeepers screenshot
StarFight VI: Gatekeepers is an incredible spaceflight adventure game that saw over fifteen months in development. It's not just freeware, StarFight VI also ranks as one of the largest freeware games ever made despite some cheesy names and cartoon characters. The compressed file comes in at a whopping 180MB+, packed with eye-popping DirectX-driven SVGA graphics and plenty of action. The plot, which continues from previous games in the series, casts you as Simon Miller, captain of a container transport named – err – MicroSpace Iron Curtain (no, I'm not making this up). You are employed by ANB, a galactic organization embroiled in a bitter battle against the Order of Light, another giant organization led by former ANB leader James Egg (I'm also not making this up). The time is January 2263. At 1800 hours on this seemingly usual day, MicroSpace Iron Curtain left Mars orbital processing; destination: dilithium loading station orbiting Hell's Gate III. Little do you and your crew realize that they are about to enter into an adventure of a lifetime...

What makes StarFight VI unique is neither the spaceflight nor adventure portion, both of which are very well done, but the presence of both in the same game. The space combat mode is where the game really shines – the DirectX graphics are very well done, and all the ships and other space objects well-designed, each with its own detailing and recognizable flight pattern. Ship handling is a bit awkward, but once you master the controls, blasting enemy ships becomes as much fun as it gets in commercial titles. In the adventure mode, you will collect items, talk to your crew and other characters, and solve inventory-based puzzles. Puzzles are neither creative nor challenging, but they are logical enough to provide a refreshing change from hectic space combat.

Although StarFight VI is a polished game, I have a few complaints. First, the poorly-drawn cartoon characters and average graphics of the adventure portion are a jarring contrast to the beautiful, jaw-dropping space combat portion. I like the idea of space combat interspersed with puzzle-solving, as the adventure portion provides a good mechanism for advancing the plot (and this is used to good effect in the game), but more challenging puzzles and better graphics would be welcome. The game should also be a tad longer, and the ending feels a bit too abrupt. But hey, given that the game is freeware, we can't really complain about longevity :) All in all, StarFight VI is a highly impressive effort which is well worth a look for both action and adventure fans. Two thumbs up!

Reviewed by: Underdogs
Designer: Jukka Paajanen
Developer: JP-Production
Publisher: Freeware
Year: 2000
Software Copyright: JP-Production
Theme: Science Fiction, Unique
Multiplayer:  
None that we know of
System Requirements: Windows XP
Where to get it:
Related Links: Official site
Links:    
If you like this game, try: Wing Commander: Secret Ops, Wing Commander: Privateer, Solar Winds 1 + 2

© 1998 - 2024 Home of the Underdogs
Portions are copyrighted by their respective owners. All rights reserved. Please read our privacy policy.