Solaris (computer game)
| Solaris | |
|---|---|
| Studio | Atari Corporation |
| Publisher | Atari Corporation |
| Senior Developer | Douglas Neubauer |
| Erstveröffent- lichung |
1986 |
| platform | Atari 2600 |
| genre | Space flight simulation |
| Subject | Science fiction |
| Game mode | Single player |
| control | joystick |
| medium | Game module |
| language | English |
Solaris is a space flight simulation that appeared as a video game for the Atari 2600 game console in 1986 .
background
The game should be called Universe at the beginning of its development in 1984 and was renamed The Last Starfighter because Atari was planning to release a game based on the recently released film The Last Starfighter . Due to the video game crisis in the US, during which Atari gave up all related activities after the takeover by Jack Tramiel , the game was not released. In 1986, when Atari returned to the video game business, the game's developer, Douglas Neubauer, was contacted again and the game was finally released under the final name of Solaris .
action
The aim of the game is to reach the eponymous planet Solaris on behalf of the Atari Federation and to save the pioneers there before the planet is found and destroyed by the opposing Cylons.
There are three situations in the game itself: the galactic scanner, space battles and the overflight of a planet. In the galactic scanner, the player navigates his spaceship ( StarCruiser ) on a tactical map that shows all objects in the game. The ship can stay in 16 quadrants with 48 fields each, whereby the map shows one quadrant with four exits to neighboring quadrants. How the game goes in detail depends on what is on the selected fields.
On planets you can see the spaceship in a three-dimensional view from behind. On hostile planets ( Zylon Planets ) stranded cadets ( Space Cadets ) can be rescued by flying over them. If all cadets can be rescued from an enemy planet, you get an extra life and the planet is destroyed. On friendly planets ( Federation Planets ) it is possible to refuel and repair the spaceship.
In space you can fly through corridors, but first their guardians have to be removed. There are also minefields ( blockaders ) and a large number of opposing spacecraft fleets, some of which show specific behavior.
Reviews
While the graphics and plot were generally praised, the background music was usually rated worse, since Solaris does not contain game music, only sound effects .
Trivia
- Solaris is sometimes seen as the successor to the Atari game Star Raiders , as this was also programmed by Douglas Neubauer and the opponents there are also referred to as Cylons.
- The instructions for the game consist of notes from the developer Douglas Neubauer and were taken over almost verbatim by Atari, as they mistakenly believed that they were already the formulated game instructions.
Individual evidence
- ^ Solaris (Atari 2600). In: "Encyclopedia Gamia - The Gaming Wiki". Retrieved July 9, 2013 .
- ^ A b Solaris for Atari 2600. In: www.mobygames.com. Retrieved July 9, 2013 .
- ^ Solaris. In: www.atariprotos.com. Retrieved July 9, 2013 .
- ^ Doug Neubauer: The Atari Years. In: http://dougneubauer.com . June 20, 2009, accessed July 9, 2013 .
- ↑ a b c d "Atari 2600 Manuals - Solaris (Atari). In: www.atariage.com. Accessed July 9, 2013 (English).
- ↑ a b Solaris. PowerPlay 01/1988. In: www.kultpower.de. P. 104 , accessed July 9, 2013 .
- ↑ Rebecca Pinkoski: Solaris. Lost Planet, Found Happiness. In: www.ataritimes.com. September 6, 2005, accessed July 9, 2013 .
- ^ Doug Neubauer: Atari Solaris Anecdote Number One: The Crummy Manual. In: http://dougneubauer.com . June 28, 2009, accessed July 9, 2013 .