The Vectrex is a home video game console released in November 1982 by General Consumer Electronics (GCE). It was marketed as the first home console to use vector graphics. The star castle video game for Vectrex, Star Castle, is an arcade-style game where you control a starship at the bottom of the screen while deflecting waves of attacking aliens with your star ship’s laser cannon.
History of the Game
Contents
Star Castle is a video game for the Vectrex home console system, first released in 1982. Tim Skelly designed and programmed it, who also wrote the arcade game Astro Fighter. Star Castle was one of the few games for the Vectrex that used vector graphics instead of raster graphics. The game is set in outer space, where a player uses a ship to fire at an enemy fortress made up of three concentric rings. A shield must be destroyed between each round before the next ring can be hit. The game has been ported to other systems, including modern platforms such as iOS and Android devices.
How to Play
In this game, the player takes on the role of a starship pilot sent to destroy an alien force occupying a castle. The screen scrolls sideways as the player moves through eight levels of play, collecting power-ups and shooting enemy ships. The goal is to destroy all enemies on each level before advancing to the next one.
For weapons, players have three types:
- laser shots that move in straight lines damaging anything they touch;
- smart bombs which clear out everything within a certain radius;
- And rotating shields that can be used once per level for protection from enemy fire while taking advantage of their own lasers’ increased range.
To complete each round successfully, players must learn how best to exploit these different weapons against different enemies or situations.
Star Castle is a classic arcade game that was released in 1982
The classic arcade game “Star Castle” was first released in 1982. It is a challenging game with players trying to shoot down enemies while avoiding being hit by their projectiles. The game is set in space and features impressive graphics for the period it was released.
The game’s objective is to destroy all the enemy ships while avoiding their fire.
The game’s objective is to destroy all the enemy ships while avoiding their fire. The player controls a spaceship at the bottom of the screen and must shoot at the enemy ships as they move down the screen. The player can also use their shield to protect themselves from enemy fire. The game ends when the player’s ship is hit by enemy fire or when all of the enemy ships are destroyed.
It’s a challenging but addictive game that can be played by people of all ages.
The Star Castle video game is a challenging but addictive game that can be played by people of all ages. The game’s objective is to destroy the star castle by shooting your cannon at the correct angle and speed to hit the moving targets. The game is available for download on the internet and can also be played on retro gaming consoles.
Many different versions of Star Castle are available, including online and mobile versions.
The original version was released in 1982 for the Vectrex home video game system. Players control a ship that moves back and forth at the bottom of the screen, while enemy ships come from above to try to crash into it or shoot it with missiles. The player can move left or right to avoid enemies, fire bullets upwards at them, and use an armada of smart bombs when they get really desperate.
If two enemy ships collide while trying to hit you, both will be destroyed in a spectacular collision… but if one hits you first, then you lose a life! You must destroy all 24 enemy waves for your ship’s shields to recharge enough so you can advance to the next level.
The Vectrex version of Star Castle is widely considered one of the most challenging home video games ever released, so beware! Many different versions of Star Castle are available, including online and mobile versions that offer easier challenges for players who want to experience the game without feeling overwhelmed.
Strategies for Winning
In the game Star Castle, you are alone space ship that must destroy waves of alien ships to defend your star castle. You can shoot at them as they come or wait until they get close and then fire off a powerful laser blast. The key to success is knowing when to use which strategy: waiting for enemies gets easier as you play longer, but shooting them early on will give you more points, and it’s possible for the enemy ships to fly right past you if they’re not destroyed in time.
You should also know how to navigate through the maze of tunnels that make up each level because there’s no penalty for getting killed if all four walls touch your ship-but if any open spaces remain, then it’s game over.
Fun Facts about Star Castle
The player controls a ship that flies through space while defending itself from an onslaught of enemy ships and missiles. The game has no end; the goal is to survive as long as possible without being destroyed by enemies. Star Castle was one of only two games available when the Vectrex system was first sold (the other being Mine Storm), and it received much more attention than its companion piece due to its unique graphics capabilities.
Fun Facts about Star Castle:
- Star Castle features vector graphics that are generated on screen rather than just being bitmaps that have been loaded into memory
- The name “Star Castle” comes from an arcade game of the same name, which was released by Cinematronics in 1980
- The soundtrack for Star Castle was created by Tim Follin, who also composed the music for such games as Bomb Jack and Hyper Sports
- Star Castle is one of only two games that were available when the Vectrex system was first sold (the other being Mine Storm)
- The original arcade version of Star Castle featured a joystick that could be rotated to control the direction of fire, but this feature was not implemented in the Vectrex port.
- According to creator John Dondzila, about 50% of players can pass wave 30 on the most accessible difficulty setting. The average lifespan for most players is around 15 minutes.
- Star Castle was one of the first video games to feature a high score table.
- The game has been ported to numerous other systems, including the Atari 2600, Commodore 64, and iPhone.
- John Dondzila is currently working on a new version of Star Castle, released for the PC, Xbox One, and Playstation Vita.
- Star Castle was inducted into the Twin Galaxies International Video Game Hall of Fame in 2010.
Where to Buy a Copy of the Game
Go further if you want to find a copy of the Star Castle video game for Vectrex and don’t know where to look.
I’ve compiled a list of places that sell it below:
- Amazon.com
- eBay.com
- Good Old Games (GOG)
- Humble Bundle Store
Review of the Game
The player has three weapons to use against enemies: lasers, missiles, and bombs. Lasers are moderately fast but do minor damage; projectiles are slower but more powerful; bombs are very slow-moving but can be used as area effect weapons when detonated near large groups of enemies.
The objective of Star Castle is to shoot down enemy ships with your laser cannon while avoiding collisions with them or their projectiles until the shield protecting the castle is destroyed. Once the security is down, you must enter the court and destroy its core to complete the level.
There are 16 different levels in the game, each with a progressively more challenging layout. The game also features a high score table to compete for the best score.
I really enjoy this game because it’s challenging but not impossible, and it has excellent replay value. I would definitely recommend giving Star Castle a try if you’re looking for an old-school arcade experience that will test your skills.
Star Castle is one of my favorite classic arcade games from my childhood. It’s a straightforward concept – shoot down enemies while avoiding collisions – but it’s surprisingly addictive and challenging. There are 16 different levels, each with a progressively more complex layout, providing plenty of replay value. The game also features a high score table to compete for the best score.
Is Star Castle worth your time? I would say yes – it’s an enjoyable old-school arcade experience that will test your skills. If you’re looking for something to occupy yourself for a few hours, this is definitely a game you’ll want to check out. Thanks for reading! 🙂
