The Atari ST version of Argonaut Software‘s pioneering 3D shooter, Starglider, first came out in 1986 – a year before the Amiga version (for some reason – I don’t know why).
Tag Archives: Sci-Fi
RoboCop, Amiga
Ocean Software‘s Amiga port of RoboCop was fairly impressive when it first came out in 1989, but – playing it now – it hasn’t stood the test of time particularly well. It’s a scrolling run-and-gun shooter that is loosely-based on the Data East arcade game of the same name (although the arcade game and the home computer versions were developed in parallel).
X, Game Boy
This game – called simply “X” – was a Japan-only release, in 1992, on the original black and white Game Boy, but its conception and development would later have a profound effect on Nintendo‘s confidence in producing 3D-based games.
X was created by British developer Argonaut Software (specifically, by Dylan Cuthbert, who was later infamously ‘poached’ by Nintendo from Argonaut), and was a demonstration of their ability to produce 3D-based games on home video game systems. This impressed Nintendo, who then tasked Argonaut with creating a new 3D game on their Super Nintendo console, which eventually became the classic Star Fox. And the rest is history… Sort of.
Flashback, 3DO
The 3DO version of Delphine Software‘s futuristic platform adventure, Flashback, was ported by Tiertex Design Studios and published by US Gold in North America and Europe in 1993. Flashback on the 3DO was also released by Electronic Arts Victor in Japan in 1995.
Lagrange Point, NES/Famicom
Released in Japan only by Konami in 1991, Lagrange Point is a science fantasy JRPG set on a human colony ship in space (located at the Lagrangian points between Earth and the Sun). Communications are lost between colonies, so a search team is sent in to investigate.
Alien Syndrome, Commodore 64
The C64 version of Alien Syndrome was developed by Softek International and published under their ACE label in 1988. It is a very good port of the Sega arcade game, although it does have one issue that might annoy players…
Shadow Squadron, Sega 32X
Developed and released by Sega in 1995, Shadow Squadron (also known as Stellar Assault in Europe) is a first-person, 3D space combat game with fast-moving filled polygons. The game can be played by one or two players and features a co-op mode where one player steers the ship and the other mans a gun turret.
RoboCop 3, ZX Spectrum
RoboCop 2, ZX Spectrum
Based on Irvin Kirshner‘s underrated 1990 sequel to RoboCop, in RoboCop 2 you once again take the role of the cyborg cop of the future in order to uphold the law and protect the innocent. RoboCop 2 was developed and published by Ocean Software and released soon after the film came out.
Timecop, Super Nintendo
Developed by French company Cryo Interactive and published by JVC for the Super Nintendo in 1995, Timecop is based on the 1994 film, starring Jean-Claude Van Damme and directed by Peter Hyams. The game is arguably one of the worst titles ever released for the SNES…