Space Rogue

Space Rogue (in Japanスペース ローグ) is a science fiction computer game, developed and published by the U.S. development studio Origin Systems in 1989, with chief responsibility for game designers was Paul Neurath. Space Rogue combines elements of space - flight simulation with the genre of computer role-playing games. The game was originally released for the Apple II and Commodore 64, it was later ported to the platforms MS- DOS, Mac OS, Amiga, Atari ST, PC-98, X68000 and FM Towns. Space Rogue considered the spiritual predecessor to Origin's Wing Commander series.

Action

The player assumes the role of a crew member on board the spaceship "Princess Blue", which was sent around an abandoned floating spaceship named " Jolly Roger " to investigate. Although the background of the player character in the game itself is omitted as far as possible, it is referred to in the manual of the game as Neil Shapiro, the only son of a famous jeweler from the so-called Far arm. While he goes on board the " Jolly Roger ", attacks a group of aliens, Manchis called the "Princess Blue" and destroys them. Provided the only survivor on the Jolly Roger, with little money and on their own, now the player determines the course of play. It can act as a pirate, bounty hunter and interstellar dealer or interfere in the interplanetary politics.

Gameplay

The game changes perspective between the traditional overview perspective in role-playing (eg Ultima ) and several different 3D perspectives of space flight simulation ( cf. Elite). You can choose between a first-person cockpit view, a third-person perspective from behind the spaceship and a so-called cinematic perspective.

The player travels in the course of the game spaceships, space stations, remote outposts and planets. For travel, he uses the system based on wormholes Malir gates. The trip will be staged in the form of a mini- game, which the player must successfully complete, otherwise the journey through the wormhole is interrupted. In the Space Bar is another mini arcade game called Hive! installed. This is a top-down shooter where the player emerging Manchis aliens must shoot. Withstands the player five rounds, he gets credit units of the in-game currency, which he can use for the rest of the game.

Development

In a press release Origin Space Rogue designated yet as "the first of its kind in the field of Science-Fiction/3D-Weltraum-Flugsimulationen ". Known for his role games company hinted that Space Rogue was planned as the beginning of a series ( " Ultima in Space" ), was instead, however, the published and highly successful Wing Commander continued a year after Space Rogue. Developer Paul Neurath left Origin in the year of release, for his own development studio Blue Sky Productions (later known as Looking Glass Studios) to establish and develop a role-play with real-time 3D graphics, which as Ultima Underworld came on the market in 1992.

The game was published by the Japanese companyウエーブ トレイン( Brain Wave ) in Japan for various home computer systems. In this case, some adjustments were made. For the FM-Towns version of the intro has been recreated, with weaker animation and new illustrations, this in Japanese characters. This version also has background music in CD quality.

Reception

The game received mostly positive reviews. In role-playing game Dragon Magazine # 153, the tester Hartley, Patricia, and Kirk Lesser awarded 4.5 out of 5 stars. The U.S. game magazine Computer Gaming World called Space Rogue as " an interesting blend of arcade action, role-playing interaction and economic strategy" ( German: " [ ... ] an interesting mix of arcade action, role- playful interaction and economic strategy "). The computer magazine Compute! ruled that "the best of flight simulation and role-playing come together in Space Rogue [ ... ] believably and with style" ( German: " [ ... ] the best of flight simulation and role-play in Space Rogue [ ... ] comes together credible and stylish. ").

" I Thought Elite Could never be beaten as the greatest ever space game, but after playing for hours on end Space Rogue I've changed my mind This totally outclasses Elite and is the best Space Game for any machine! "

"I thought elite could never be replaced All time as the best space game, but after I spent hours playing Space Rogue, I have finally changed my mind. This beats here elite across the board and is the best space game for each machine! "

In the German game press got the game good ratings. The 64er awarded 8 out of 10 points, the ASM 7 of 12, and the Power Play 73%.