| Developer: | Bubble Bus Software |
| Publisher: | Bubble Bus Software |
| Released: | 1985: Spectrum, C64, MSX, Amstrad, Atari 8-bit, Einstein 1987: BBC 1988: Atari ST, IBM PC 2018: Amiga |
| Genre: | Action-adventure |
| Modes: | Single-player |
| Platforms: | ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, Atari 8-bit, Atari ST, BBC Micro, Commodore 64, MS-DOS, MSX, Tatung Einstein, Amiga |
| Programmer: | Stephen Crow[1] |
| Designer: | Stephen Crow |
Starquake is an action-adventure platform game written by Stephen Crow for the ZX Spectrum and published by Bubble Bus Software in 1985. It was ported to the Commodore 64, MSX, Amstrad CPC, Atari 8-bit computers, Tatung Einstein (all 1985), BBC Micro (1987),[2] and IBM compatibles and Atari ST (both 1988).
The player controls BLOB (Bio-Logically Operated Being), whose mission is to penetrate the unstable core of a rogue planet which has appeared from a black hole. If the core is not repaired within the set time limit, it will implode, causing a chain reaction which will destroy the entire universe. The planet is inhabited by various primitive creatures, all hazardous to the touch, and the remnants of a previous civilisation which provides the items needed to rebuild and stabilise the planet core.
Within the game, there are multiple ways to get around:
BLOB is able to carry up to four items at once, using a FIFO arrangement. Some of the items encountered will be useful to repair the core, while others will need to be exchanged using a Cheops Pyramid for something more useful. There is an Access credit card, which can fill in for any of the numbered chips needed to get through security doors, and for using the aforementioned Pyramid. There is also a Key which can be used to open doors.
As well as items needed to repair the core, the Access card and Key, there are items which will top up BLOB's energy, his platform building capacity or his firepower. There is one cylinder like object which will top up whichever level is lowest, and even add a life if BLOB is down to his last. BLOB can also top up his lives by collecting joysticks which represent an extra life.
Points are scored for shooting the various moving hazardous creatures, worth between 80 and 320 points each, and 10,000 points per core item replaced. 250 points are scored each time BLOB enters a new screen. There are also other hazards, dangerous spikes and energy fields that will kill BLOB on contact, as will the mines that move around like the creatures.
The game features play area of 512 screens. The placement of the objects, and the identities of those needed to fix the core are randomized at the start of the game, the map/screens including locations of teleport booths remain fixed as do their destination codes. There are nine core elements to replace in order to complete the game.
The ZX Spectrum version was ranked 27th in the Your Sinclair Official Top 100 Games of All Time[4] and 10th in Retro Gamer magazine's "Top 25:Spectrum Games".[5]