Starflight Overview
Starflight is a space exploration title incorporating role playing systems, set against a backdrop of forgotten galactic history. Millennia after the collapse of an ancient empire, the people of the colony world Arth have used rediscovered technology to build a new space fleet under the Interstel corporation. The player's journey begins from a spaceport, where a crew must be assembled and a ship outfitted before departure.
Gameplay is non-linear, with the entire galaxy available for investigation from the outset. Progression depends on deciphering clues gathered from alien communications or received in transmissions. Planets can be landed on for resource gathering using a terrain vehicle, with collected minerals and biological data sold for the in game currency, MU. These funds can be used to upgrade ship systems or train crew members in their skills.
Crew management is a foundational element, requiring the assignment of a captain, science officer, navigator, engineer, communicator, and doctor. Characters can be created from several races, including Humans, Velox, Thrynn, Elowan, and Androids, with each race typically excelling in a specific profession. Interactions with the various alien factions controlling space are handled through diplomacy or combat. Successful communication depends on the communicator's skill and choosing appropriate conversational postures, while ship to ship combat is presented as an overhead arcade sequence.
Planetary conditions vary, with atmospheres and terrain affecting exploration. Different versions of the game introduced variations; the Genesis release featured enhanced audiovisuals, manual landing sequences, more detailed planetary exploration with weather effects, and altered item locations alongside new equipment for the ship and terrain vehicle. The core objective remains to explore widely, interact with alien cultures, and ultimately uncover the mystery behind the empire's fall.
