Starlancer
{{Short description|2000 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Starlancer
| image = Starlancer cover.jpg
| caption = Windows cover art
| developer = Warthog Games
Digital Anvil
| publisher = {{vgrelease|WW|Microsoft Games}}Dreamcast{{vgrelease|NA|Crave Entertainment|EU|Ubisoft}}
| producer = Erin D. Roberts
| designer = Nick Elms
Philip Meller
Erin D. Roberts
Rob Taylor-Hendry
| programmer = Paul Hughes
Derek Senior
| artist = Nick Elms
Philip Meller
| composer = David Blinston
Ian Livingstone
| engine =
| released = {{Collapsible list|title=April 28, 2000|Windows
{{vgrelease|EU|April 28, 2000{{cite web | author=Bye, John "Gestalt" | date=April 28, 2000 | url=https://www.eurogamer.net/article-27283 | title=UK releases | website=Eurogamer | publisher=Gamer Network | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210918171008/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/article_27283 | archive-date=September 18, 2021 | url-status=live | access-date=July 15, 2023}}|NA|May 3, 2000{{cite web | author=Fudge, James | date=May 3, 2000 | url=http://www.cdmag.com/articles/027/141/starlancer_ships.html | title=StarLancer Ships | website=Computer Games Strategy Plus | publisher=Strategy Plus, Inc. | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030530121537/http://www.cdmag.com/articles/027/141/starlancer_ships.html | archive-date=May 30, 2003 | url-status=dead | access-date=December 13, 2021}}}}Dreamcast
{{vgrelease|NA|December 6, 2000{{cite web | author=GameSpot staff | date=December 6, 2000 | url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/starlancer-ships/1100-2661992/ | title=Starlancer [sic] ships | website=GameSpot | publisher=Fandom | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011109111740/http://gamespot.com/gamespot/stories/news/0,10870,2661992,00.html | archive-date=November 9, 2001 | url-status=live | access-date=January 18, 2024}}|EU|March 23, 2001{{cite web | author=Bramwell, Tom | date=March 23, 2001 | url=https://www.eurogamer.net/article-30393 | title=PS2 welcomes software boost | website=Eurogamer | publisher=Gamer Network | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210923091616/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/article_30393 | archive-date=September 23, 2021 | url-status=live | access-date=July 15, 2023}}}}}}
| genre = Space simulator
| modes = Single player, multiplayer
| platforms = Windows, Dreamcast
}}
Starlancer is a space-based science fiction flight simulator computer game, created by Erin and Chris Roberts, and developed by Warthog Games under the auspices of Digital Anvil.
Plot
It is the year 2160. Mankind has colonized the Solar System and two political entities have emerged: the Alliance consisting of American, Australian, French, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, British and German forces, and The Coalition of Russian, Chinese and Middle-Eastern interests. The game begins with a surprise attack on Fort Kennedy, where a peace treaty turns into a bloodbath: all of the inner four planets are overrun, including Terra herself, and the Italian and French fleets are utterly lost. The Alliance fleet regroups at Triton, Neptune's moon, and attempts to regain lost territory. The player takes the role of a rookie pilot in the international 45th Volunteers squadron, under the command of Captain Robert Foster and Wing Commander Maria Enriquez, aboard the re-commissioned British carrier ANS Reliant.
Gameplay
As with Wing Commander: Prophecy, the pilot's flying ability is the only measure by which success and failure are defined, though Starlancer does not feature as many branching mission paths. As in Wing Commander I the pilot may be promoted throughout the course of the campaign; unlike WCI, their rank determines which fighters and missiles they may choose to employ during each mission. The game provides a "virtual carrier" through which to navigate, including nearby crewmembers whose reaction to you depends on your current rank and standing. The game uses textual and video news broadcasts to keep the player informed as to the status of the rest of the war. Players frequently find themselves flying alongside squadrons and pilots they have heard about on the news just recently, providing a dose of "celebrity exposure" and this gives the sense that the player is just one part of a much larger war effort.
Starlancer{{'}}s story is continued in Chris Roberts' Freelancer project, though the two belong to different subgenres (the first is purely focused on action, the latter also features trading and the player can freely move through the game's universe when they are not on a mission).
The game allows the player to take control of 12 fighter-class ships, advancing in different areas, such as top speed, agility, armor, and shield power. Each have a number of hard points which can be used to mount weapons like guided missiles and dumb rockets. Ships are issued to the player as his or her achievements increase.
Starlancer was also available on the Dreamcast console. GameSpy hosted its online play with up to six players at once. It can still be played online today via private servers.{{cite AV media | author=pcwzrd13 | date=May 2, 2017 | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbfICBhr8YQ | title=Game Night Highlights: Starlancer {{!}} 4/26/2017 {{!}} Dreamcast Online Multiplayer | website=YouTube | publisher=Google | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/rbfICBhr8YQ | archive-date=December 11, 2021 | url-status=live}}{{cbignore}}{{cite web | url=https://dreamcastlive.net/games/ | title=Games | website=Dreamcast Live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240105215415/https://dreamcastlive.net/games/ | archive-date=January 5, 2024 | url-status=live | access-date=January 9, 2024}} Although most of the graphics and frame rate were intact, the game did not include the intricate menu system and options that the PC had.
{{clear}}
Reception
{{Video game reviews
| SDC = true
| PC = true
| na = true
| MC_SDC = 79/100{{cite web | url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/starlancer/critic-reviews/?platform=dreamcast | title=StarLancer critic reviews (DC) | website=Metacritic | publisher=Fandom | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220731180912/https://www.metacritic.com/game/dreamcast/starlancer | archive-date=July 31, 2022 | url-status=live | access-date=November 1, 2023}}
| Allgame_SDC = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web | author=Thompson, Jon | url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=25390&tab=review | title=StarLancer (DC) - Review | website=AllGame | publisher=All Media Network | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141114235656/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=25390&tab=review | archive-date=November 14, 2014 | url-status=dead | access-date=December 13, 2021}}
| CNG_PC = 5/10{{cite web | author=Chick, Tom | date=April 27, 2000 | url=http://www.gamecenter.com/Reviews/Item/0,6,0-4052,00.html | title=StarLancer (PC) | website=Gamecenter | publisher=CNET | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000816025016/http://www.gamecenter.com/Reviews/Item/0,6,0-4052,00.html | archive-date=August 16, 2000 | url-status=dead | access-date=December 13, 2021}}
| CGW_PC = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite magazine | author=McDonald, Thomas L. | url=https://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_193.pdf | title=StarLost (StarLancer Review) | magazine=Computer Gaming World | publisher=Ziff Davis | issue=193 | date=August 2000 | pages=100–1 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230106193159/https://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_193.pdf | archive-date=January 6, 2023 | url-status=live | access-date=July 15, 2023}}
| EGM_SDC = 7.33/10{{cite magazine | author1=Sewart, Greg | author2=Kujawa, Kraig | author3=Boyer, Crispin | url=https://archive.org/details/Electronic_Gaming_Monthly_138_January_2001_U/page/n193/mode/2up | title=StarLancer | magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly | publisher=Ziff Davis | issue=138 | date=January 2001 | page=195 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010128233900/http://www.zdnet.com/egm/stories/main/0,11589,2658635,00.html | archive-date=January 28, 2001 | url-status=live | access-date=December 14, 2021}}{{efn|In Electronic Gaming Monthly{{'}}s review of the Dreamcast version, two critics gave it each a score of 7/10, and the other 8/10.}}
| EPD_SDC = 8/10{{cite web | author=Grant, Jules | date=March 8, 2001 | url=http://www.elecplay.com/reviews_article.php?article=5305 | title=Starlancer (DC) | website=The Electric Playground | publisher=Greedy Productions Ltd. | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040702043005/http://www.elecplay.com/reviews_article.php?article=5305 | archive-date=July 2, 2004 | url-status=dead | access-date=January 10, 2024}}
| GI_SDC = 7/10{{cite magazine | author=Brogger, Kristian | title=Starlancer (DC) | magazine=Game Informer | publisher=FuncoLand | issue=92 | date=December 2000 | page=117}}
| GameRev_SDC = B+{{cite web | author=Archer, Erik | date=January 2001 | url=https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/32241-starlancer-review | title=Starlancer Review (DC) | website=GameRevolution | publisher=CraveOnline | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150926002324/http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/starlancer | archive-date=September 26, 2015 | url-status=live | access-date=December 14, 2021}}
| GSpy_SDC = 6/10{{cite web | author=Mr. Domino | date=February 12, 2001 | url=http://www.planetdreamcast.com/games/reviews/starlancer/ | title=Starlancer | website=PlanetDreamcast | publisher=IGN Entertainment | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090124054816/http://www.planetdreamcast.com/games/reviews/starlancer/ | archive-date=January 24, 2009 | url-status=dead | access-date=December 13, 2021}}
| GSpy_PC = 92%{{cite web | author=McConnaughy, Tim | date=May 4, 2000 | url=http://www.gamespy.com/legacy/reviews/starlancer_a.shtm | title=Starlancer | website=GameSpy | publisher=IGN Entertainment | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020215180412/http://www.gamespy.com/legacy/reviews/starlancer_a.shtm | archive-date=February 15, 2002 | url-status=dead | access-date=December 13, 2021}}
| IGN_SDC = 8.8/10{{cite web | author=Butts, Steve | date=November 27, 2000 | url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/11/28/starlancer | title=Starlancer (DC) | website=IGN | publisher=Ziff Davis | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220701110526/https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/11/28/starlancer | archive-date=July 1, 2022 | url-status=live | access-date=July 15, 2023}}
| NGen_SDC = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite magazine | author=Rice, Kevin | url=https://archive.org/details/NextGen74Feb2001/page/n77/mode/2up | title=StarLancer (DC) | magazine=NextGen | publisher=Imagine Media | issue=74 | date=February 2001 | page=76 | access-date=December 13, 2021}}
| PCGUS_PC = 75%{{cite magazine | author=Kuo, Li C. | url=http://www.pcgamer.com/archives/2005/06/starlancer.html | title=StarLancer | magazine=PC Gamer | publisher=Imagine Media | volume=7 | issue=7 | date=July 2000 | page=84 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060315142140/http://www.pcgamer.com/archives/2005/06/starlancer.html | archive-date=March 15, 2006 | url-status=dead | access-date=December 13, 2021}}
}}
The game received "generally favorable reviews" on both platforms according to the review aggregation website Metacritic. Chris Kramer of NextGen said of the PC version in its July 2000 issue, "You'll definitely love StarLancer on its own, and as an appetite for next year's FreeLancer{{sic}}, we're already salivating." (Ironically, Freelancer was not released until 2003.) Seven issues later, however, Kevin Rice said that the Dreamcast version "doesn't give the same intense experience as its big brother on PC, but it's still OK. Just be prepared to wrestle with controls beyond movement and weapons."
Kevin "BIFF" Giacobbi of GameZone gave the PC version nine out of ten, calling it "a beautiful game in which one will find hours of entertainment."{{cite web | author=Giacobbi, Kevin "BIFF" | date=May 1, 2000 | url=http://www.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r12353.htm | title=StarLancer (PC) | website=GameZone | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040115095516/http://www.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r12353.htm | archive-date=January 15, 2004 | url-status=dead | access-date=December 14, 2021}} Brian Wright of GamePro said called the same PC version "a solid game that action fans are sure to enjoy."{{cite magazine | author=Wright, Brian | date=June 6, 2000 | url=http://www.gamepro.com/computer/pc/games/reviews/5805.shtml | title=StarLancer Review for PC on GamePro.com | magazine=GamePro | publisher=IDG | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041210193134/http://www.gamepro.com/computer/pc/games/reviews/5805.shtml | archive-date=December 10, 2004 | url-status=dead | access-date=December 14, 2021}}{{efn|GamePro gave the PC version two 4.5/5 scores for graphics and sound, and two 4/5 scores for control and fun factor.}} Later, Air Hendrix said, "If you've played the PC version of StarLancer, the Dreamcast version offers nothing new—the missions are identical. But StarLancer{{'}}s thrilling space combat gives Dreamcast pilots a lot to get pumped about."{{cite magazine | author=Air Hendrix | url=https://retrocdn.net/images/e/e6/GamePro_US_148.pdf | title=StarLancer Review for Dreamcast on GamePro.com | magazine=GamePro | publisher=IDG | issue=148 | date=January 2001 | page=98 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050113220404/http://www.gamepro.com/sega/dreamcast/games/reviews/7627.shtml | archive-date=January 13, 2005 | url-status=live | access-date=January 9, 2024}}{{efn|GamePro gave the Dreamcast version all 4.5/5 scores for graphics, sound, control, and fun factor.}}
The PC version was commercially unsuccessful. PC Data reported its sales at 28,685 units and revenues at $1.21 million in the U.S. by July 2000, which Mark Asher of CNET Gamecenter described as a "major disappointment". He cited this performance as part of a trend of falling sales for space flight simulators and the wider flight simulator genre.{{cite web | author=Asher, Mark | date=July 14, 2000 | url=http://www.gamecenter.com/News/Item/0,3,0-4466,00.html | title=Game Spin: Crunching Diablo II Numbers | website=Gamecenter | publisher=CNET | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000816025011/http://www.gamecenter.com/News/Item/0,3,0-4466,00.html | archive-date=August 16, 2000 | url-status=dead}} According to designer Eric Peterson, the game ultimately sold around 400,000 units by late 2001—below expectations at Digital Anvil.{{cite magazine | author=Korda, Martin | url=https://archive.org/details/PC_Zone_Issue_109_2001-12_Dennis_Publishing_GB/page/n131/mode/2up | title=Talking Heads | magazine=PC Zone | publisher=Dennis Publishing | issue=109 | date=December 2001 | pages=132–34 | access-date=December 13, 2021}}
The PC version was a runner-up for "Best Game No One Played" at IGN{{'}}s Best of 2000 Awards.{{cite web | author=IGN staff | date=January 26, 2001 | url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/01/27/best-of-2000-awards-2 | title=Best of 2000 Awards (PC: Best Game No One Played) | website=IGN | publisher=Ziff Davis | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010618091814/http://pc.ign.com/news/30581.html | archive-date=June 18, 2001 | url-status=live | access-date=December 14, 2021}} It was also a finalist for the "Sci-fi Simulation of the Year" award at GameSpot{{'}}s Best and Worst of 2000 Awards, which went to MechWarrior 4: Vengeance.{{cite web | author=GameSpot staff | year=2001 | url=http://www.zdnet.com/gamespot/features/pc/bestof_2000/p3_11.html | title=Best and Worst of 2000 (Sci-fi Simulation of the Year, Nominees) | website=GameSpot | publisher=Ziff Davis | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010214021858/http://www.zdnet.com/gamespot/features/pc/bestof_2000/p3_11.html | archive-date=February 14, 2001 | url-status=dead | access-date=December 14, 2021}}
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See also
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}