PcwWiki

This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong.
====== Blackstar ======

{{:juegos:presentacion:Blackstar_p1.JPG?170|}} {{:juegos:presentacion:Blackstar_p2.JPG?170|}} {{:juegos:presentacion:Blackstar_p3.JPG?170|}} {{:juegos:presentacion:Blackstar_p4.JPG?170|}}
^ Company | [[..: companias: crlgroupplc | CRL Group PLC]] |
^ Distributor | [[..: companias: crlgroupplc | CRL Group PLC]] |
^ Production team | Author: Mark Sheppard - Co-authors: Andrew Cummins, Geoff Richardson, Mike Redmen |
^ Year | 1986 |
^ Packaging | Transparent methacrylate box 14.20 × 15.10 × 1.30 |
^ Compatibility | PCW 8256 - PCW 8512 - PCW 9512 |
^ Peripherals | Keyboard |
^ Loading | CP/M+ |
^ Gender | Conversational |
^ Language | English |
^ Price | England: £ 13.50 |
^ State | [[en: preserved | preserved]] |

===== Screenshots =====

| {{ :juegos:capturas:Blackstar_Screenshot01.png?200 }} | {{ :juegos:capturas:Blackstar_Screenshot02.png?200 }} | {{ :juegos:capturas:Blackstar_Screenshot03.png?200 }} | {{ :juegos:capturas:Blackstar_Screenshot04.png?200 }} |
| {{ :juegos:capturas:Blackstar_Screenshot05.png?200 }} | {{ :juegos:capturas:Blackstar_Screenshot06.png?200 }} | {{ :juegos:capturas:Blackstar_Screenshot07.png?200 }} | {{ :juegos:capturas:Blackstar_Screenshot08.png?200 }} |

===== Description =====

Pure text adventures are an area where it was always thought that the PCW machine would come into play. Its large memory, disk drive, and large screen make it ideal for dealing with the text snippets that these games often involve. From the moment you pick up the subject, with its lurid work of art to its mystical plot, there is no doubt that we are in a familiar territory of adventure full of heroic acts to do and monsters to kill.

Another of the bad games of the CRL company, similar to [[en:games:sas_raid | S.A.S Raid]]. If we compare it with two cheeses, the difference would be in the process.

Blackstar is the name of a rather impressive castle, it was available for some time as a veteran in different formats for microcomputers, under the title "Castle Blackstar", and it is a standard implementation of a standard adventure theme, but the version we discussed, according to CRL was updated and with a new adventure implantation.

It is a simple text adventure based on the rather hackneyed theme of collecting treasures in a castle and underground network and returning them safely to another place and with a fantasy and a traditional setting, gleaming swords, strange statues, impenetrable forests and the like. .

The game has the familiar style of location and punctuation updates featured at the top of the screen, while the main body of descriptive text, along with player responses, scrolls up the rest of the screen. He also seems to have puzzles, mazes, jokes, and a lack of family atmosphere. To tell the truth, everything is a yawn. At one point, you even run into a dwarf who quickly throws a knife at you, and fails (at Colossal Adventure) and says, "None of us is very good at this," before leaving in the same way as his hapless predecessor. . Well, you could see it coming a mile away, I guess ...

Although it may seem quite downcast, the game is not really that bad, but very dated (yes, even the analyzer). In fact, 8256 owners might not have seen too many products like this, in which case the game is worth considering. However, prospective buyers should remember that for a few more pounds, most of Infocom's range is available and there is no comparison between this and Zork (or anything else in that great range).

For those who find the puzzles more important than the setting or the story (or most of the ingredients in a good game), Blackstar offers a challenge. Most mazes are terribly difficult to overcome, even the old puzzles are dressed in attractive new shapes. A map is an absolute must for those trying to progress.

You start the game on a road with only one obvious destination: a castle. Like a true adventurer around a highway transported to a clearing, in the center of a dense mystical forest, where we get lost the moment we integrate, no more than a few steps from the mysterious castle of the title. However, there are places that deserve your attention if you find out how to get there. The castle seems impenetrable, but some strong tracks and a little archery skill will take you further on your quest. Then there is the well. An oil well? I wonder what that could be for ...

Indeed, this well leads to a complex labyrinth of underground caverns in the true Zorkian tradition full of lakes, islands, dead ends and traps and traps of all descriptions, and our goal will be to enter and explore the mysterious castle with its mazes and the underlying caverns in order to recover an "energy sphere" orb, which has been requested by an unusual and beautiful dressed woman who appears in our dreams wandering around the imposing castle and reveals her entrance.

Wandering around the imposing building doesn't reveal an obvious entrance, though a small deduction will reveal that the key to this puzzle is only a shot away. Once inside the fortress, there is a maze of rooms to investigate and items you will need in your ongoing adventure.

As our hero has awakened from the disturbed and strange dream, near the castle, after the visions, we find ourselves in a luxuriously decorated room filled with silver and glass. The ceiling is very high and arched with a path of enormous relief and a large lamp hanging from it. The woman (Artemis) who had appeared in our dreams and spoke to us was very tall and beautiful with hair like silver threads, spoke to us with authority and wisdom and made it very clear that the sphere (the orb of power) should return to her without falling this great treasure into mortal hands, in order to end the curse. Carrying out his orders, we bowed down saying "My lady Artemis ...." The darkness envelops her making her disappear and we wake up in the forest giving us the sunlight on our faces, here our mission will begin.

This is all a first-generation adventure, compared to the sophisticated interactive fiction now available. The descriptions are somewhat stark, and the authors appear to have thrown everything but the kitchen sink, albeit perhaps in one of the deepest recesses of the labyrinth.

The commands are fairly simple, but you can at least link them with the word "and" like "Take the lamp and turn it on."

The responses of the program are not particularly sophisticated, the descriptions are quite harsh and the authors did not care very much about it, I have the annoying habit or habit of saying things like "I do not understand" without clarifying if this is due to a word that you entered and it's not in your vocabulary or what. These limitations have been made due to the size of the game and the environment. There seem to be around 200 locations, most of them described in enough detail to be compelling.

The first problem is how to get to the castle. The solution is not difficult, except for the fact that most of the first attempts to move through the places result in loss in the surrounding forest. This area actually contains some important clues, but as the instructions recommend, it is better that we do not get close until we can draw a map, due to the falling objects in each place. We will have several rooms to explore and find various objects that we will need to finish the adventure. In the castle courtyard, we will obtain an important object that will allow us to begin exploring the endless underground caverns, which we can access from inside a well.

At first glance, this adventure is not very promising. The game makes few attempts to guide the rookie. During the first attempts, you will soon find yourself lost in a forest like a maze. You must wait until you have collected a good number of objects and then leave them lying to guide you.

Players of all levels will be happy with the ease of storing RAM. Save your position frequently, and in the event of a disaster, you can quickly resurrect your man. Despite some nice features, it's a game more for veterans than novices. Exits are not flagged and it is a matter of trial and error. The parser is barely sophisticated and the vocabulary is somewhat limited, another fact that can easily lead to frustration.

The game also does not take advantage of the amount of memory supplied with the PCW and simply runs under CP / M, all resident in memory at the same time.

The text descriptions are quite short, but good enough and convey some atmosphere. Some of the jokes are fun. Problems are more a matter of taste.

Blackstar is one of the first games in the first generation of adventures, compared to the sophisticated interactive fiction adventures available. It may be a game for our age, but it's certainly less sophisticated than the Infocom or Level 9 titles. It's still a worthy classic adventure, and a nice way to spend a few evenings playing.

However, there are probably newcomers who would appreciate this simple and orderly deduction.

===== Packaging =====

In the following images you can check the original packaging.

|{{:juegos:cajas:Blackstar_box_1.JPG?220|}}|{{:juegos:cajas:Blackstar_box_2.JPG?215|}}|{{:juegos:cajas:Blackstar_box_3.JPG?440}}| 

===== Cover =====

   * Original cover

Here you have the front of the original cover.

{{:juegos:caratulas:Blackstar_cover.jpG?1000|}} 

  * Retouched cover

Its measurements are: Height 28.20 x Length 14.50 cm.
{{:juegos:caratulas:Blackstar_inlay.jpG?1000|}} 

===== Manual =====

Below is the manual. English manual on the reverse side of the cover on plain paper. Its measurements are: Height 28.20 cm x length 14.50 cm.

{{:juegos:manuales:Blackstar_manual.jpg?1000|}}

===== Disc =====

Original disc supplied with Blackstar.

{{:juegos:discos:Blackstar_disk_front.JPG?200|}} {{:juegos:discos:Blackstar_disk_back.JPG?200|}}
{{:juegos:discos:Blackstar_disk_bottom.JPG?200|}} 

===== Labels =====

Custom labels to print them. Over the years due to its use, the labels are spoiled and lose their color and quality. Now we try to adapt the closest thing to the best of our ability, the labels so that they can be printed and replaced or for those who work with a copy of the program and preserve the original disk. Measure in 3 "high: 7.00 cm - width: 7.10 cm. The first image corresponds to the original label of the game, the second is the same label modified to replace the broken one and the third and fourth image is for the 3.5 "discs.

Pending

===== Extras =====

**__Map__**

Game map to make it easier for us to finish it.

{{:juegos:extras:Blackstar_mapa.png?500|}}

**__Solution__**

Below you can find the solution to the game.

  * {{:juegos:descargas:Blackstar_solucion.pdf|Blackstar solution}} (PDF file)

===== Download =====

__**Game**__

Disc images, obtained from the original version of Blackstar, have been recorded and verified. 

  * {{:juegos:descargas:Blackstar.zip|Blackstar}} (.DSK file compressed in ZIP format)

__**Manual**__

You can download the Blackstar game manual below or view it online.

  * {{:juegos:descargas:Blackstar_manual.pdf|Blackstar Manual}} (PDF file)

===== Videos =====

{{ youtube>AC5rhXrFGuY?large }}