| Demonstar | |
|---|---|
An original Demonstar screenshot, 2-player mission |
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| Developer(s) | Mountain King Studios |
| Publisher(s) | Mountain King Studios |
| Distributor(s) | Mountain King Studios |
| Version | 4.04 |
| Platform(s) | Microsoft Windows |
| Release date(s) |
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| Genre(s) | Shoot 'em up |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
| Media/distribution | Download |
| System requirements
Windows 95 with DirectX 5 or higher |
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Demonstar is a shareware computer game developed by Mountain King Studios, based on their earlier game Raptor: Call of the Shadows. It is a top-down vertical scrolling shooter game with an outer space theme. The game shares many similarities with the Raiden series. Demonstar features various power-ups, including smart bombs and other power-ups which modify the types of projectiles that the player's ship fires.[2]
The full version of the game features 18 levels. At the end of each level is a boss ship that the player must defeat to finish the level.
Contents |
Demonstar's storyline is not considered a major part of gameplay in Demonstar, and it is not featured in-game. One can only find a short description in the game's help file. The story starts with the Terran Fleet developing a new prototype starfighter (the RaptorX), and the player is a test pilot of that prototype. Suddenly, the Xidus Armada Fleet, the Terran Fleet's arch enemy (ever since Galactix), launches an all-out surprise attack on the Terran Fleet that catches them with their guard down, destroying all Raptor fighters in the process, save the few RaptorX prototypes which were away being tested. Now the player must battle through the Xidus Fleet alone, destroy their ultimate weapon, codenamed the Demonstar, and save the rest of the Terran Fleet.
Numerous power-ups are featured in-game:
Secondary shots (floating colored icons with an "S"). The player starts with a primary shot which cannot be upgraded. The secondary weapons add extra strength. There are four type of projectiles available:
If the player collects another type of secondary shot, it will set that shot to level 1. All secondary shots can be upgraded only 6 times towards their highest levels. Further upgrades of the same type release a 360-degree attack (e.g. more ion cannon power-ups release small ion bombs following 6 upgrades or the "Full Power" power-up). The power of both primary and secondary shots diminishes with distance.
Full power (floating "S" with 3 colored balls rotating around):This power-up upgrades the player's secondary shot to level 6 and is accompanied by a shout of satisfaction from the pilot.
Bombs (floating colored octagons with a "B"): The type of mega-weapon which is a standard in "shoot'em up" games:
Missiles (floating square with an "M"): Two kinds of missiles are available in-game:
Missiles are limited and are not upgradeable.
Side-and-tail fire power-up :Adds side or rear firing.
Can be powered up to a maximum of 3.
Shield power-ups: offensively and defensively protects the player's ship for a short period of time.
The game has eighteen levels with enemies and bosses which get progressively harder to destroy. They alternate between levels of flying through outer space and flying over the surface of an enemy planet or moon with some foes on the ground. The shareware version of the game has only the first 6 levels.
After the original Demonstar was released, two spin-off titles have been released: Demonstar Secret Mission 1 [1] and Demonstar Secret Mission 2 [2]. These games have many improvements, including better graphics, re-designed models and icons, higher difficulties, etc.
Demonstar full version has a built-in level editor [3]. The level editor can be activated via Command Prompt. Also, users can load user made levels and publish their own. The level editor has never been demonstrated and is considered to be a secret.