A little trivia...I actually saw a translated version of Star Crusier at Namco's CES booth in 1994...I guess they were planning to release this game in the US, but somehow the plans got cancelled...
One of the most memorable intros ever. Great soundtrack, great graphics (it's a 1988 game!). Sure there are slowdowns, but the game doesn't use any special chip and it wasn't one of those later 32meg cartridges.
There are a lot of other impressive Genesis titles that push the hardware like Panorama Cotton or Toy Story but poly-graphics like these this early in the console's life, there's only Starcruiser.
But the problem with this game is the low framerate. You really can't enjoy an early 3D game like this with 1 to 2 frames per second. Though more games than on SNES actually push the graphics like this without addon chips.
@SgtThom the framerate was bad, sure. I see this game more as a great technical demo than a fun game.
Also, if this game ever existed for the SNES, it would probably also include mode 7 graphics. Overall, that console was technically superior.
The ultimate 3D game on the Genesis is hands down Virtua Racing, but that's like cheating. Starcruiser uses just stock hardware and was an early title, which makes it the more impressive.
Heh..it's kinda choppy but still impressive since it didn't have any additional hardware handling the polygons. It would look freaking awesome if this was made using the SVP like Virtua Racing. =)
As you can see, good programmers doing the best with what they had at the time, see the ninja gaiden seirs on the nes up and now where it's at, great stuff.
ok I guess you guys know shadow squadron for the 32X, which was great. But in some weird other dimenson the 32x cold of used its power to do STAR CRUISER 32X or whatever. Just Something more in depth...like this
In processor speed only. In everything else; sound, colours, sprite manipulations, controller deisgn,even marketing, SNES owns Genesis. I will say, though, this looks good for the time.
Ah but this video proves, a skilled programmer can achieve simple 3D on a stock Genesis, the SNES always had the advantage of dedicated hardware to deal with 3D geometry with games like starfox.
Megadrive is faster, no question. But it's limited colour pallette, resolution, RAM and audio capacity compared to SNES make Nintendo's console superior as a whole, IMO.
it had a larger resolution (320x224 vs 256x224), and audio capabilites aren't really comparable. It seems able to display more sprites at once too (without slowdown).
Maybe yes. There different audio processors. But the Genesis doesn't have to use RAM to access data strait from the Cart for PCM audio. But it does start it with performance if it doing too much accessing with samples. SNES could use streaming audio to swicth samples on the fly but it did had some problems with this engine in games like TOP or STAR OCEAN.
In the modern days, a fragile balance of power is made between VOID, a nation under military rule demanding the deportation of the aliens, and the Federation Patrol, the remainings of the Earth Federation.
However, VOID is showing suspicious movements hinting a massive strike, putting the fragile balance to an end with wars beginning everywhere. At Ganimede of Jupiter, there were men tugged into this war...
A little trivia...I actually saw a translated version of Star Crusier at Namco's CES booth in 1994...I guess they were planning to release this game in the US, but somehow the plans got cancelled...
tehkao 5 months ago
@tehkao
I guess you can ask them about releasing the rom on the internet? They'll probably listen if you had money.
SgtThom 4 months ago
One of the most memorable intros ever. Great soundtrack, great graphics (it's a 1988 game!). Sure there are slowdowns, but the game doesn't use any special chip and it wasn't one of those later 32meg cartridges.
There are a lot of other impressive Genesis titles that push the hardware like Panorama Cotton or Toy Story but poly-graphics like these this early in the console's life, there's only Starcruiser.
Retrovibes 1 year ago
@Retrovibes
But the problem with this game is the low framerate. You really can't enjoy an early 3D game like this with 1 to 2 frames per second. Though more games than on SNES actually push the graphics like this without addon chips.
SgtThom 9 months ago
@SgtThom the framerate was bad, sure. I see this game more as a great technical demo than a fun game.
Also, if this game ever existed for the SNES, it would probably also include mode 7 graphics. Overall, that console was technically superior.
The ultimate 3D game on the Genesis is hands down Virtua Racing, but that's like cheating. Starcruiser uses just stock hardware and was an early title, which makes it the more impressive.
Retrovibes 9 months ago
@Retrovibes
Well If you wanted to have better frame rates you can try the Japanese PC games. But the music doesn't have the same feel.
SgtThom 4 months ago
I think this is played via Mega Drive 2. You can hear the distortion and hissing in the audio. Mega Drive 1 got clean audio.
Christuserloeser 1 year ago
Looks like a very fun game, not to mention the soundtrack is excellent! Thank you for uploading this.
moravallor 1 year ago
Also...keep in mind that this was 3 years before the release of StarFox .
itamax 2 years ago
Heh..it's kinda choppy but still impressive since it didn't have any additional hardware handling the polygons. It would look freaking awesome if this was made using the SVP like Virtua Racing. =)
itamax 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
It's not that technically impressive. Even an NES could do 3D at a super low frame rate like this. This game barely even looks playable.
melvoin 2 years ago
As you can see, good programmers doing the best with what they had at the time, see the ninja gaiden seirs on the nes up and now where it's at, great stuff.
Ganbareg 2 years ago
ok I guess you guys know shadow squadron for the 32X, which was great. But in some weird other dimenson the 32x cold of used its power to do STAR CRUISER 32X or whatever. Just Something more in depth...like this
Jesus32Xtreme 3 years ago
This would be beautiful on the Nomad.
Jesus32Xtreme 3 years ago
wow this looks technically impressive
just more evidence that the Genesis > SNES
jedw 3 years ago
In processor speed only. In everything else; sound, colours, sprite manipulations, controller deisgn,even marketing, SNES owns Genesis. I will say, though, this looks good for the time.
Vaquilla92 3 years ago
Ah but this video proves, a skilled programmer can achieve simple 3D on a stock Genesis, the SNES always had the advantage of dedicated hardware to deal with 3D geometry with games like starfox.
jedw 3 years ago
Megadrive is faster, no question. But it's limited colour pallette, resolution, RAM and audio capacity compared to SNES make Nintendo's console superior as a whole, IMO.
Vaquilla92 3 years ago
it had a larger resolution (320x224 vs 256x224), and audio capabilites aren't really comparable. It seems able to display more sprites at once too (without slowdown).
Alianger 2 years ago
SNES's resolution was inferior to Genesis' resolution.
leoceara31 2 years ago
@Vaquilla92
"audio capacity"
Maybe yes. There different audio processors. But the Genesis doesn't have to use RAM to access data strait from the Cart for PCM audio. But it does start it with performance if it doing too much accessing with samples. SNES could use streaming audio to swicth samples on the fly but it did had some problems with this engine in games like TOP or STAR OCEAN.
SgtThom 9 months ago
@jedw
Not really the GENESIS could use additional hardware to do the same thing. But it had less support and thus more costly to do so.
SgtThom 9 months ago
are you japanese?
Anyways, nice type of graphics.
sega31098 4 years ago
I came from the Jupiter.
9leake9sono29no87 4 years ago 7
Translation:
Space society in the 27th century. 200 years has past since the Earth central world ended with a war that started by the first contact by the aliens.
milfreak 4 years ago
Translation(cont):
In the modern days, a fragile balance of power is made between VOID, a nation under military rule demanding the deportation of the aliens, and the Federation Patrol, the remainings of the Earth Federation.
However, VOID is showing suspicious movements hinting a massive strike, putting the fragile balance to an end with wars beginning everywhere. At Ganimede of Jupiter, there were men tugged into this war...
milfreak 4 years ago 2
Thank you for your translation.
I used your message.
9leake9sono29no87 4 years ago
no, it was released for 88, 98 and X68K, but this is the MD version. All by the same composer though, Toshiya Yamanaka.
midnightsleazy 4 years ago
this game is from 88 pretty impressive wow that music at that tme.
aryinc 5 years ago 3
I love this.
I cleared this game.
Great game.
kantanji 5 years ago
I've loved this intro and the great music for years, glad to finally see some other people appreciate it.
tehkao 5 years ago
to stalepie. I'm sorry that my comment slows.
(My comment upload blunders. why?)
Yes,me too! I often executes MD, to watch this opening.
Certainly, the menus look like Phantasy Star II.
9leake9sono29no87 5 years ago
The menus are like Phantasy Star II.
stalepie 5 years ago 2
I love the opening of this game! Although I can't get far, I occasionally load it up in emulation just to watch and hear this opening.
stalepie 5 years ago
great music in this game. too bad you cant translate, id love to play this.
Alianger 5 years ago
Only the opening story was translated. Please read if it is good.
However, because the translation uses the robot, it might be strange English.
9leake9sono29no87 5 years ago