Stargunner

This game is now freeware and can be downloaded from 3D realms website. The download info says it's 1.1 version, but it's actually 1.0. However, Do NOT install 1.1 patch. If you do, the game will freeze at aquatic combat mission 6 boss. I learnt this the hard way and had to start the last episode from the beginning. Savegames did't work with "downgraded" version. Mostly the game runs around 60fps, but at the last episode most of the time half of the frames got dropped. I did tests before recording and the game seemed to run fine with about 20 000 cycles. With higher cycle settings intro + cutscenes would run way too fast. Only at processing I noticed frame dropping in the last episode. I didn't notice it during gameplay since the game already lags a bit while using built-in recording (although the resulting video runs smooth). It would've been fine with doubled cycles, but I don't feel like playing and editing the last episode 3rd time to fix that. YT audience shouldn't notice any difference, because the maximum frame rate there is 30fps.

There are 33 levels. First (shareware) episode has 6 levels and rest of the episodes have 9 each. Stellar Assault episode was played on Captain difficulty and the rest on ensign (easiest). Touching walls kill almost instantly on harder difficulty settings and sicnce most secrets (powerups) are located near walls it's frustrating trying to catch most on harder difficulty levels. Each level was completed at least twice and most of the levels were played several times. This game has a savegame function which can be used even inside levels. I only used saves between levels.

My personal opinion: Very nice shooter from DOS era. Almost as good if not as good as Raptor. In many ways Stargunner is more advanced which is easy to comprehend when considering there was over two years between these two games. Especially I like the soundtrack in this game. Still, not as good as Tyrian. The powerup system looks nice at first, but later it becomes too simple. There are only two accessory weapon slots to be used at a time with the main weapon and most weapons are not very usefull. Even though some weapons give advantages in specific levels you can pretty much upgrade the ship with overall best weapons after first two or three levels in each episode. However, I believe I managed to demonstrate all weapons. Different engine and satellite setups take big part of the weapon select screen even though mostly one type of engine and satellite will be used. The game has lots of content, but still little too long in relation to content. For example some looping with asteroid fields and such could've been skipped.

Trivia 1: Was the final release to be released under the Apogee banner. Apogee was later renamed to 3D realms.
Trivia 2: "Most of the art was developed on the Amiga using Deluxe Paint. In fact, the game was originally supposed to be an Amiga game with a PC version supposed to follow, but the PC version soon overtook and led development, and sadly the Amiga version was eventually dropped". [3D realms website]

Timepoints are for shop screen at the beginning of each episode. Mission briefings and debrifiengs can be found between episodes plus a short cutscene at the end of each episode (except Scout Missions).

Episode 1: 0.04:22 Scout Mission
Episode 2: 0.29:04 Stellar Attack
Episode 3: 1.06:17 Terran Assault
Episode 4: 1.42:31 Aquatic Combat