Star Cruiser

 is a role-playing first-person shooter video game developed by Arsys Software and released in Japan for the PC-8801 and X1 home computers in 1988. The game was released for the PC-9801 and X68000 computers in 1989, and then ported by Masaya (NCS) to the Mega Drive in 1990.
The game is an early example of an action role-playing game with fully 3D polygon graphics, combined with first-person shooter gameplay and space flight simulation when exploring the open-ended outer space with six degrees of freedom. All backgrounds, objects, and opponents in the game are rendered in 3D polygons, years before the technique was widely adopted. The game emphasized storytelling, with plot twists and extensive character dialogues, taking place in a futuristic science fiction setting.
Namco licensed the Mega Drive version of "Star Cruiser" for a North American release entitled "Star Quest", which Namco planned to publish for the Sega Genesis in July 1994. However, the North American release of "Star Quest" was eventually canceled.
Plot.
The game is set in the future, when 200 years have passed since Central Earth ended a war that began when humans made first contact with aliens. The balance of power, however, is being jeopardized by the militaristic nation VOID, which is attempting to deport all aliens from civilized society, and by the remains of the Earth Federation, the Federation Patrol. VOID is planning to wage war and take control of the galaxy, but a small battalion on the Ganymede satellite of Jupiter is being trained to resist VOID.
The story begins with protagonist Brian training in a simulation set up by his friend and comrade, Gibson, and instructed by his trusted droid, Freddy. After he finishes training, Brian goes to a restaurant, where he is given the news on VOID, which has a nearby base that acts as a stronghold and is sending out threatening enemies. The team cannot confront them directly because of an energy field protecting the base from ordinary weaponry. However, Brian is asked to lead a kamikaze attack, with a starship that can temporarily charge through the energy field with Shield Buster technology. Brian is tasked with crashing into the fortress and destroying it from the inside, and stealing a prototype spacecraft, the Star Cruiser, to even the odds in the war. Shortly after the briefing, however, their own Ganymede base is attacked by VOID. The protagonist eventually embarks on a quest involving the exploration of the galaxy.
Characters.
Hunter Guild Side
VOID Side
Gameplay.
The game involves the exploration of four solar systems with over 30 planets and dozens of characters. It is viewed entirely from a first-person perspective, with 3D polygon graphics used to represent outdoor environments, trees, benches, buildings, and other objects, as well as enemies. The gameplay can vary depending on the environment.
In a city, the player character can move around town and enter various buildings to interact with non-player characters, who are represented with an anime-like appearance, or leave the city and go into outer space. When the player goes into outer space, they can fly to other planets, moving around in free flight, but occasionally encountering enemies and engaging in space combat. There is an autopilot feature available, setting the spacecraft to automatically go to a set destination, but the player may still encounter enemies along the way. There is also a warp feature available, allowing the player to warp to different locations, but this requires energy. On various planet surfaces, the player will explore enemy bases and combat enemies on the ground. At enemy bases, the game plays like a first-person shooter, exploring a dungeon while moving, strafing and shooting enemies in a first-person perspective. Enemy bases usually need to be cleared by finding hidden keys, unlocking doors and finding key items and objects.
It does not use a traditional levelling system, but uses various role-playing game elements. The player can acquire different weapons and can customize craft to an extent, while needing to upgrade equipment, the shields that behave like hit points, the space craft's speed of movement in outer space, and the energy needed to move around, shoot, travel and warp between destinations. The player can also go to a mechanic to repair equipment and shields as well as restore energy.
Reception.
The home computer versions were critically acclaimed. The original PC-8801 and X1 versions won two 1988 awards from Japanese computer magazines, including Best Adventure Game from ' and Best Special Effects from '. The X68000 version also won several 1989 awards from Japanese computer magazines, including Best Action Game and overall Best Software from "", and Best Special Effects from "Oh!X". The X68000 version was also a runner-up for two other 1989 awards from "Oh!X", coming third place for Best Theme Music (below "Bosconian" and "Genocide") and fourth place for overall Game of the Year (below "After Burner", "Genocide" and "Tetris").
The Mega Drive/Genesis console version was generally well received. In Japan, "Famicom Tsūshin" (now "Famitsu") gave the Mega Drive version a score of 24 out of 40. In North America, the June 1994 issue of "Electronic Gaming Monthly", in its "Fact Files" section, reviewed Namco's unreleased Sega Genesis version, noting that the English localization was 100% complete. They gave it a positive review, stating that it "packs a good blend of action and role-playing" along with a "strategy" theme, exploration and character interaction. They criticized the space flight segments for "imperfect and hazy" controls, but praised the game overall for providing "hours of solid gameplay." In the United Kingdom, however, the September 1993 issue of "Sega Power" criticized the Japanese import version of "Star Cruiser", stating it is "unplayable" because of the Japanese-language "question and response" scenes, giving it a one-star score. Japanese site 4gamer retrospectively reviewed the game in 2008 and described it as a "masterpiece". Sega-16 reviewed the English fan translation in 2016 and gave it a positive review, calling it "a top notch game" with "Impressive 3D graphics, well drawn manga character design, quite good music and a very well written plot".
Legacy.
In 2008, video game designer Hideki Kamiya listed "Star Cruiser" among his favorite games of all time.
The PC-8801 and X68000 versions of "Star Cruiser" was released for Windows in Japan on April 29, 2008 and November 29, 2011, respectively.
In September 2016, an English translation beta patch was released through ROM hacking, followed by a complete translation patch in November 2016.
Sequel.
The game's sequel, "Star Cruiser II: The Odysseus Project", was released in 1992 for the PC-9821 and FM Towns computers; it has since seen an English Translation for the PC-98. Although a port of "Star Cruiser II" was planned for MS-DOS, it is unknown as to whether or not it was ever developed or even released. 