StarBlade - Arcade - Full Attract & Playthrough [UHD 4K]

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Randomised Gaming

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Published on June 13, 2021 6:00:15 PM ● Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKGoCUjXGVs

Game:

Starblade (1991)

Category:

Let's Play

Duration: 30:44

4,290 views

57

Full gameplay longplay, playthrough, walkthrough of the iconic 1991 arcade game StarBlade by Namco. Warning contains flashing images in some sections of the video and this video is not recommended for viewers who suffer from epilepsy or any photosensitive disorders. Namco's follow up to Galaxian3: Project Dragoon is somewhat forgotten due to its limited arcade release. However the game is a truly impressive 3D on-rails shooter, unlike Galaxian3 which used Laserdisc, StarBlade used the Namco System 21 hardware, which first appeared in 1988 with the 3D racing title Winning Run.

This may surprise some as the game isn't entire on-rails as it dynamical changes as you play, slightly altering the flight path of the Geo Sword ship. Designed more as a attraction ride it's a follow up to the huge six seater arcade theatre that was Galaxian3, StarBlade is very unforgiving as a title as your ship gets damaged left, right and centre. Which despite it being a hugely impressive looking game might explain, why it is somewhat forgotten. The huge sit down cabinet it had was also very uncommon to find and a shout out from us goes to the arcade in Cromer, Norfolk that used to have one. While many gamers may never have seen this piece of gaming history its polygon look and gameplay no doubt drawing from the early Star Wars arcade games may well have inspired Nintendo to create Star Fox.

The arcade cabinet had a sit down seat that moved during play and a turret controller you moved with both hands that made you feel like you were the gunner on the Geo Sword. No doubt drawing from a certain trilogy of films created by one George Lucas. With the plot seeing you trying to destroy an enemy planet base called Red Eye (That doesn't at all look like a brown version of the Death Star). All you do is blast everything in sight and that is it. It takes about 25 minutes to finish as the Geo Sword battles all the enemies to take down Red Eye, their command and HQ base.

While StarBlade has been ported to a number of systems only the Nintendo Wii and PlayStation 2 (Bonus unlock on Tekken 5) versions were direct versions of the Namco System 21 hardware. Even to date the emulation on formats like MAME isn't perfect and the game is due for a much needed re-release along side Galaxian3: Project Dragoon, Attack of the Zolgear. A sequel known as Starblade: Operation Blue Planet was set to release in 2002 and a version was show at trade fairs in 2001, but the cost of the O.R.B.S. cabinet it was due to be in was deemed too expensive and the project was axed.

Content and time stamps:
0:00 Introductions
0:14 Attract Section Start
4:51 Mission Briefing
5:28 Mission and playthrough start
27:07 Ending and Credits

Also known as: スターブレード (Japan)

Released: 1991
Developer: Namco / ナムコ
Publisher: Namco / ナムコ
Genre: Arcade Shoot'em up, On-Rails Shooter
Players: 1
Format: Arcade (ARC) NAMCO System 21 / アーケードゲーム

StarBlade was also released on Sega Mega CD, Panasonic 3DO, Sony PlayStation, Nintendo Wii, PlayStation 2 and iOS.

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Captured on MAME build 232 using Open broadcast Software.

#Starblade #Arcade #Namco