MSX Longplay [004] Starfighters

http://www.longplays.org

Played by: Georgc3

Didn't know MSX had a laserdisc player add-on. This game is so interesting when I heard about it.I always thought this game based on the 1984 film The Last
Starfighter but it's not especially when I think of the name Starfighter. The purpose of this game is to save the galaxy by destroying Orphe, a threat to the universe. Very good use of 3D animation and graphics for its time.

Level 1- This 2D grid like level part is tough and simply didn't enjoy it. It plays too much like chess. To get past this level, you must move your ship (H symbol) to approach the Orphe (O symbol). It's not always at the same place and if it's too far, it can take a long time. I had to reset this game many times until I finally approached Orphe. You must move your ship towards the Orphe to advance to the next level and the weapons selection screen appears. The best way to pass this level is to follow tracks where the enemy ships are coming from. That will get you closer to the Orphe. A name and password appears is provided to you by the game for you to unlock doors. Be sure to write it down since you'll need it to access the mainframe. I reset the game many times after many failed attempts locating the Orphe otherwise it would have taken too long and too boring to watch.

Level 2- This one is very easy. All you have to do is to avoid enemy ships coming from the Orphe. It will get harder if you attempt to shoot them down.

Level 3 - This one you must locate the core inside the Orphe and you move through beautifully designed 3D polygonal maze-like structures and still avoid enemy fleets attacking you.

Level 4- When you get to end of the maze structure, the door is locked. You can unlocked the 4 locks of the doors by playing a mini-music game hearing the music beats in the order of sequence and press the music buttons to repeat the sequence. For this, I have to playback the video in media player to rehear the music beats over and over to so I can choose the correct music beats. One wrong mistake it will play the music beats in different order all over again and can make you stuck forever. Once you are successful unlocking the 4 locks, the door is unlocked, a password screen shows up and you must type in your name and password the game provided to you. If you enter incorrectly, the main-frame identifies you as an enemy and takes one of your lives away. After entering the password correctly, you get access to the core room with colorful blocks you must avoid. After successfully going to the core room, you are asked to fire a missile.

Level 5- After firing a missile, you get access to the mini-game where you must hack the Orphe's mainframe circuit board to destroy Orphe for good and finish the game. This part is tough. A lot of people are having trouble with this one. This took me awhile. Pay attention to this last part and you'll get the idea how to beat it. An awesome ending and music is shown.

I really love the awesome 3-D special effects for the Game Over screen begining at 43:10. The best ending plus ending credits comes at 49:49 for successfully completing the last level.

It was played on OpenMSX 0.8.1 emulator. This game is hard so I had to use lots of save states for this game. Its built-in recording and re-recording currently does not support laserdisc games as it's not visible in video recording or screenshots so I had to use Fraps to record.

This game plays more like an avoid 'em up than a shoot 'em up game. Some strategy is needed in order to progress to the next level. It's also a mix of shoot 'em up with some strategy and mini-games. Not bad for a game in 1984. This game was released only in Japan.

Category:

Gaming

Tags:

• MSX
• starfighters
• longplay
• walkthrough
• solution
• speedrun
• end
• ending
• secrets
• bossfight
• Gaming
• playthrough
• videogame

[Bastiest]

Whoah! The video parts are really deceiving how this game actually works. XD

[glsmops]

This is a Palcom game, The Palcom is an add-on similar to the Sega CD, ma with Laser Disc support. The MSX draws sprites, while the LD reader plays the FMV that is visualized with a Genlock. It's not directly the MSX's CPU that manages the video, it cares only about sprites.

[wandov8]

what kind of computer made the draws of the video?

[paulisthebest3uk]

that is probably the coolest thing i have ever seen, and as people may or may not know im a retro fanatic, that in 1984? I bet the proud owners of the msx plus this laserdisc addon was *fill in the gaps

[sgtmake]

wow MSX rules



[kragle2008]

1984.... wow some of them visuals are so far ahead its crazy, i mean wolfenstein only just made it 3D in 1992, and that didnt look as good as this 27.50 looks like a warsow level!!! WOW!

[wrestletube1]

LOL!!!! The skipping in the audio made it stutter S-S-S-S-Sexual Core. :P

[hilarioph]

I think Japan has the ideal to this CGI games.

Like they did in Tekken because this is the

1st polygon person they did 

[hilarioph]

Yeah but almost like Star fox or Star wars to me.

This could be the 1st CGI they did to this game

[zinki120]

This is like Star Wars meets Tron.

[philiptwood]

@genietao1dino ASCII (52:17) had a role to play in Silpheed for the Sega CD.

[FuckThemPigeons]

ZOMFG!

[genietao1dino]

Nice looking polygons based graphics for 1984. However, the animation does remind of Silpheed for the Sega CD.

[Newsfop]

Jump ahead to 16:20 for actual starfighter gameplay action.

[Desmaad]

Funny how the computer displayed during the FMVs looks like a Cray, probably the same type of computer they used for the animations!

[Desmaad]

The stuttering during the FMVs is really annoying.

[AdolphX]

wow im sure that computer can max crysis xD

[MajorStupidoZwo]

Did they put the CGI stuff on Film first and then on Laserdisc, because there's dirt, scatches and stuff in the background videos.

[ForcedToSignUp]

That giant long description, and no information regarding what emulator, ROM, and laserdisc images were used.

[pookieizzy7]

@ValisHD True that, it was mind-blowing

[ValisHD]

@glsmops this is basiclly the precursor of the add-on console in 1984.

[ValisHD]

@pookieizzy7 like the nes it lasted til 1995 im guessing this game was state of the art at the time. It's hard to believe.

[pookieizzy7]

This game is awkward and obscure for its time, although I was rather surprised MSX had this capability. Had it lived longer, it would be a worthy match against the other CD consoles during that time.

[Piledriver86]

...wait, they got THIS to work on an 8 bit computer?! Good god, Ive seen late 90s PC games with worse graphics.

[shredicon86]

Umm... wow?