Starbase 13 - on SynTax PD 626, œ3.50
            (2 disk graphic adventure for Amiga)

           Played by David Charnley on an Amiga 500

Starbase 13 is a public domain graphic adventure set in deep
space, during the 31st century. The game follows the somewhat
unexplained quest of a galactic military Commander, seeking to
discover the fate of a space station which appears to have
encountered a number of hostile alien lifeforms. Commander Hou (as
he is known) is controlled by the player and journeys to the
station in an effort to discover more, and while there liaises
with the Captain, in addition to participating in numerous gun
battles.

The game comes on two disks and opens with an introduction above
that of the average PD standard. The graphical element continues
in this vein, featuring pleasing scenery and sprites. Control of
actions is user-friendly though restricting; a list of actions
occupies the lower-left half of the screen and the player controls
the game by clicking on the desired action with the cursor. Seven
actions, and seven alone, are possible throughout the game.
On-screen movement is slow and sometimes sends the sprite a little
off course when it travels the length of the screen. The level of
realism was interesting: note when you try to "operate" the
station commander and the game informs you that people no longer
operate computers in the 31st century but talk to them instead! I
was displeased to see the brief length to which items in the game
were described (more detail would have added to the atmosphere)
and, also, to see how little interaction was possible with sprites
within the game. This low level of interaction made me feeling
that the game was rather superficial.

To summarise, I would say that this is, despite any faults, quite
an impressive PD game. Starbase 13 offers an enjoyable trip to the
mysterious realms of deep space at only PD price, so why don't
you start counting out those coppers?


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