Space Empires: Starfury

Last updated
Space Empires: Starfury
Space Empires Starfury cover.jpg
Developer(s) Malfador Machinations
Publisher(s) Shrapnel Games
Series Space Empires
Platform(s) Windows
Release
  • NA: October 3, 2003 [1]
Genre(s) Turn-based strategy, 4X
Mode(s) Single-player

Space Empires: Starfury is a 4X turn-based strategy computer game developed by Malfador Machinations and published by Shrapnel Games on September 22, 2003. The game is set in a Space Empires universe containing planetary systems linked by warp points, or wormholes. The game allows the player to control a single spaceship to explore the universe.

Contents

Gameplay

In Space Empires: Starfury, the player controls a single spaceship in real-time, as opposed to controlling an entire intergalactic empire in a 4X turn-based fashion as seen in previous games in the Space Empires series. [2] Gameplay involves traveling between planets, accepting missions, and customizing the spaceship's hull slots with component modules of weapons, armor, shields, engines, and other modules such as life support, crew quarters, combat sensors, long range sensors, ECM, etc. Ship design is restricted by the ship's total tonnage capacity. Each purchasable spaceship features different hull configurations, each with different patterns for weapon hard points and weapon firing arcs. Various types of space vessels are featured in-game, such as small fighter craft, cargo ships, pirate ships, and space stations. Some of these, however, cannot be controlled by the player.

The player's commander is able to level up, with each level granting attribute points of the player's choosing. There are multiple campaigns contained within a single storyline that the player can progress through, or the player can choose to roam the universe freely. [3] The game features 24-bit three-dimensional graphics, but movement is restricted to two dimensions. [4] [2]

Plot

The player works undercover for the TCN (Terran Confederation Navy) to determine the cause of a recent escalation of pirate attacks in the Neutral territories. [5] The player travels to different colonies and starbases, performing various missions that advance the story. Missions range in difficulty level from simple reconnaissance to taking part in large fleet battles. [6] [5]

Development

Space Empires: Starfury is the first game developed by Malfador Machinations to use three-dimensional graphics. The game was initially planned as the combat engine for Space Empires V , but it was decided that it was not "deep" enough for that purpose. Instead, the game evolved into a single-ship-based game, set in the Space Empires universe. [5]

The developers created the game with the idea in mind that players could easily mod the game to their liking. [7]

Reception

The game has been reviewed as a solid, action-packed game with colorful graphics. Some reviewers say that the gameplay is straightforward, while others say the game fails at creating the realism of moving a ship through space. [7]

Related Research Articles

<i>Master of Orion</i> 1993 video game

Master of Orion is a turn-based, 4X science fiction strategy game in which the player leads one of ten races to dominate the galaxy through a combination of diplomacy and conquest while developing technology, exploring and colonizing star systems.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">4X</span> Genre of strategy-based video and board games

4X is a subgenre of strategy-based computer and board games, and includes both turn-based and real-time strategy titles. The gameplay generally involves building an empire. Emphasis is placed upon economic and technological development, as well as a range of military and non-military routes to supremacy.

<i>Homeworld 2</i> 2003 video game

Homeworld 2 is a real-time strategy video game sequel to Homeworld, developed by Relic Entertainment and released in 2003 by now defunct publisher Sierra Entertainment. Its story concerns Hiigara's response to a new enemy called the Vaygr. Its gameplay takes a new direction with the enhancement of its graphics and audio. In contrast to the closely equivalent Kushan and Taiidan forces of the original game, Vaygr and Hiigaran spaceships differ significantly in design and application.

Space Empires is a series of 4X turn-based strategy games by Malfador Machinations that allow the player to assume the role of the leader of a space-faring civilization.

<i>Iron Storm</i> (2002 video game) 2002 video game

Iron Storm is a first-person shooter video game developed by 4X Studio and published by Wanadoo in Europe and DreamCatcher Interactive in North America. An updated version of the game called World War Zero was later released for the PlayStation 2 and Microsoft Windows. Set in an alternate history in which World War I never ended, the game takes place in 1964, the 50th year of the war, and focuses on an Allied soldier's mission to stop the Russo-Mongolian Empire from developing nuclear weapons and his later efforts to end the war.

<i>Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Dominion Wars</i> 2001 video game

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Dominion Wars is a 2001 space combat/real-time tactics video game for Microsoft Windows developed by Gizmo Industries and published by Simon & Schuster. The game is based on the Star Trek TV show Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.

<i>Star Trek: Legacy</i> Video game based on the Star Trek series

Star Trek: Legacy is a 2006 real-time tactics space combat video game for Microsoft Windows and Xbox 360 developed by Mad Doc Software and published by Bethesda Softworks in association with CBS Paramount Television and CBS Consumer Products. Originally slated for release in the fall of 2006 to coincide with the 40th anniversary of Star Trek, the Windows version was not released in North America until December 5, 2006, and the Xbox 360 version until December 15. In Europe, both the PC version and the Xbox 360 version were released on December 22, 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malfador Machinations</span>

Malfador Machinations was a small game company based in Santa Rosa, California. They were best known for their Space Empires series.

<i>Pax Imperia</i> 1992 video game

Pax Imperia is a 4X game for the Apple Macintosh, released in 1992. The game won praise for its complex gameplay, real-time mode and ability for up to 16 players to join a single game using AppleTalk.

<i>Star Trek: Klingon Academy</i> 2000 video game

Star Trek: Klingon Academy is a space flight simulator video game developed by 14 Degrees East, an internal development house of publisher Interplay Entertainment. The game follows a young Klingon warrior named Torlek as he attends the Elite Command Academy, a war college created by General Chang to prepare warriors for a future conflict with the United Federation of Planets. Christopher Plummer and David Warner reprised their respective roles as Chang and Gorkon for the production of Klingon Academy.

<i>Space Empires IV</i> 2000 video game

Space Empires IV is a turn-based 4X strategy computer game developed by Malfador Machinations and published by Strategy First as part of the Space Empires series in which players control an alien race in an attempt at galactic conquest.

<i>Star Trek: Encounters</i> 2006 video game

Star Trek: Encounters is a video game set in the Star Trek fictional universe, which was released in 2006 for the PlayStation 2. The game was developed by Scottish studio 4J Studios for Bethesda Softworks and Ubisoft (EU).

<i>Astro Battle</i> 2004 video game

Astro Battle is a science fiction multidirectional shooter developed and published by American studio Lava Lord Games for Microsoft Windows and Linux. The gameplay focuses on players designing star fighters to fight against other players' ships in an overhead melee.

<i>Space Empires V</i> 2006 video game

Space Empires V (SEV) is a 4X turn based strategy game that was released in 2006. It was developed by Malfador Machinations and published by Strategy First. The game retains many races and technologies from its predecessor, Space Empires IV (SEIV).

<i>Gyrostarr</i> 2008 video game

Gyrostarr is a shoot 'em up video game developed and published by High Voltage Software. It is one of several video games released only as WiiWare through the Wii Shop Channel, because of this, the game is no longer purchasable due to the shutdown of the Wii Shop Channel. It was released in North America on June 23, 2008.

<i>Star Wars: Flight of the Falcon</i> 2003 video game

Star Wars: Flight of the Falcon is a 3D first-person shooter video game developed by British company Pocket Studios and published by THQ for the Game Boy Advance in 2003. Based on the events of the original Star Wars trilogy of films, the game allows the player to pilot various space ships in the battles against the antagonistic Galactic Empire. The story follows the pilots of the space ship Millennium Falcon, Han Solo and his Wookiee co-pilot Chewbacca, as they help save the galaxy from the Empire's forces.

<i>Gratuitous Space Battles</i> 2009 video game

Gratuitous Space Battles is a video game developed by the UK-based company Positech Games. It was released on November 17, 2009. On one level the title is a space warfare simulation consisting of a number of engagements between two opposing fleets of ships. While sometimes assumed to be a real-time strategy (RTS) game based on screenshots, actual gameplay focuses on the setup prior to the battle, making it play more like a tower defense game.

<i>Armada 2526</i> 2009 video game

Armada 2526 is a 4X science fiction computer strategy game developed by British studio Ntronium Games, released in North America on November 17, 2009. Armada 2526 is an example of the space opera genre, and is the spiritual successor of the game Armada 2525, which was released by Interstel in 1991. Armada 2526 puts players in charge of a fledgling galactic empire, and they must attempt to explore the galaxy and expand their territory, while trying to destroy rival empires. The gameplay is a hybrid of turn-based and real-time time-keeping systems, and players can use military, diplomatic, economic and technological means to further their empires. The game received mixed reviews from critics.

<i>Endless Space 2</i> 2017 turn-based strategy, science fiction 4X game

Endless Space 2 is a turn-based strategy 4X game developed by Amplitude Studios and published by Sega. It is the sequel to Endless Space, which was released in 2012. The game had been made available through Steam's early access program since October 2016. It was released on 18 May 2017, and received positive reviews.

<i>Horizon</i> (2014 video game) 2014 video game

Horizon is a 4X video game developed by Canadian studio L3O Interactive and published by Iceberg Interactive in 2014.

References

  1. ↑ Burnes, Andrew (October 2, 2003). "Space Empires: Starfury Shipping Tomorrow". IGN . Retrieved July 16, 2024.
  2. 1 2 "Star Fury Release Set". IGN . 2003-09-11. Retrieved 2018-04-11.
  3. ↑ "Space Empires: Starfury". Malfador Machinations . Archived from the original on 2005-02-05. Retrieved 2018-04-11.
  4. ↑ "Space Empires: Starfury – PC – Review". GameZone. 2012-05-04. Retrieved 2018-04-11.
  5. 1 2 3 Arevalo, Eric. "Interviews - Space Empires: Star Fury". Archived from the original on 2005-02-05. Retrieved 2018-04-11.
  6. ↑ "SPACE EMPIRES: STARFURY INTERVIEW WITH AARON HALL AT JUST RPG". IGN . 2003-04-11. Retrieved 2018-04-11.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 "Space Empires: Starfury - PC". Metacritic . Retrieved 2018-04-11.
  8. ↑ "Space Empires: Starfury". Metacritic . Retrieved 2018-04-11.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.