Star Blazer

Star Blazer

Title	Star Blazer
Release date(s)	1982
Original Platform(s)	Apple II
Original Publisher(s)	Broderbund Software
Developer(s)	Tony Suzuki
Category(s)	Entertainment, Arcade

Overview

Star Blazer, released in 1982 by Broderbund Software and programmed by Tony Suzuki (also known as Sky Blazer in later releases), is a horizontally scrolling shooter originally developed for the Apple II and later ported to platforms like the Atari 8-bit and Commodore VIC-20. Players pilot a fighter jet through mission-based levels, engaging enemy jets, tanks, and structures with a machine gun and bombs while managing fuel by collecting parachutes from friendly planes. Noted for its smooth scrolling, detailed graphics, and strategic gameplay, the game earned praise for its technical achievements and engaging experience, though some criticized its abrupt ending.

Origins and Development

Star Blazer is a horizontally scrolling shooter developed in Japan by Star Craft Inc. and programmed by Tony Suzuki. Initially released in 1981 in Japan for the Apple II, it was picked up for international publication by Broderbund Software, which released it in North America in 1982 under the title Star Blazer. Tony Suzuki, the primary programmer, is credited with creating this early example of a side-scrolling shooter, drawing stylistic influences from games like Konami's Super Cobra and vaguely from Defender. The game was designed as a high-resolution action title, emphasizing mission-based gameplay where the player pilots a fighter jet on hazardous assignments against the Bungeling Empire.

Broderbund, a prominent software publisher in the early 1980s known for titles like Choplifter! and Lode Runner, handled the distribution and marketing in the West, packaging it as "A Hi-Res Action Game by Tony Suzuki." The development highlighted technical achievements for the era, such as smooth scrolling and detailed graphics on 8-bit hardware.

Releases and Platform Variations

Following the Apple II debut, Broderbund expanded the game's reach with ports to other platforms. The Atari 8-bit family version was first released as Star Blazer and in 1983 under the alternative name Sky Blazer in retail box packaging. The Commodore VIC-20 port also adopted the Sky Blazer title. The VIC-20 edition, authored by Jeff Silverman required 16KB of RAM expansion (8KB each in banks 3 and 5) and a joystick for play. In Japan, an MSX version was also released around the same time where the game was known as スターブレーザー (Star Blazer).

These ports maintained the core experience but adapted to hardware limitations, such as the VIC-20's memory constraints.

Gameplay

In Star Blazer, and its Sky Blazer variants, players control a fighter jet in side-scrolling levels, completing objectives like bombing radar installations, destroying tanks, or targeting enemy structures. The jet is armed with a machine gun (limited bullets) and bombs that can only be dropped at low altitudes, adding a layer of strategy to navigation. Fuel management is crucial, as players must collect parachutes dropped from friendly planes to refuel mid-mission. Enemies include airborne jets, rockets, and ground-based threats amid scrolling scenery like buildings and warehouses.

The VIC-20 version featured impressive graphics for the platform, including parallax scrolling (stars moving at different speeds in the background), smooth animations, and an attractive demo mode. Sound effects were average but functional, contributing to a balanced experience that could provide hours of gameplay.

Reception and Legacy

Upon release, Star Blazer/Sky Blazer received positive feedback for its engaging gameplay and technical prowess. Barry Gittleman in Computer Gaming World praised it as enjoyable for a wide audience, noting its visual appeal but criticizing the abrupt ending after intense build-up. Contemporary reviews, such as those in Electronic Games magazine, highlighted its fine execution despite mono-directional scrolling. On modern aggregation sites like MobyGames, it holds an 89% critic score (based on limited reviews) and a 3.2/5 user rating, reflecting its status as a solid title.

The game is remembered as an early innovator in the scrolling shooter genre during the second generation of video games (1976–1984), a period marked by the rise of 8-bit microprocessors and cartridge-based systems. Its ports, particularly the VIC-20 Sky Blazer, are noted for their depth and value, with reviewers suggesting Broderbund delivered more than expected for the price.

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