Carefully removing Underwurlde from the cassette player, placing it into its case and then popping said game into a box marked, “Never to be played again” – currently occupied by Football Manager, Hypersports and International Match Day – we load up the next game in the Your Sinclair Top 100 and we’re instantly met with another ruddy platformer! However giving No.#17 the benefit of the doubt we dive into Starquake hoping for the best.
Starquake was published by Bubble Bus Software back in 1985, programmed by Stephen J. Crow who has gone on to be involved with such games as Disney’s Aladdin (SEGA), Earthworm Jim 1 & 2 (SEGA) and World of Warcraft: Burning Crusade (Blizzard).
When a rogue planet appears from out of a Black Hole, its core so unstable that it will lay waste to our Galaxy, our only hope lies with BLOB (Bio-Logically Operated Being). Taking control of BLOB you need to traverse this unstable world, dodging numerous enemies, using whatever modes of transport you can find to help bring the core of this planet under the control; to rescue everyone not only on Earth, but within the Galaxy. You have limited life-force, weapon power and the ability to build platforms to reach higher points, though you can refill your resources along the way, you need to take extra care that you never run out.
After the torment that was Underwurlde in walks such an unbelievable breath of fresh air that is Starquake! This is a game that I had never seen before loading it up, but within minutes I was already loving it and massively engrossed in it too. The graphics are spot on, the speed is brilliant and the gameplay is just perfect. Stephen Crow has created a game that anyone can stumble into and will never want to fall out of. Truly Starquake is a game that deserves the title of a classic ZX Spectrum game.
I only wish I’d discovered Starquake sooner rather than later as I’ve gone without it now for 31 years!
Originally published August 11, 2016. Updated October 25, 2022.
