Freeware Game Pick: Star Guard (Sparky)
Star Guard is a 2D platformer (for Mac and Windows) in which you play as a spaceman on a mission to defeat an evil wizard, armed with only a gun that fires in the direction that you are facing. A quick trigger finger helps, because enemies have a tendency to spring out of nowhere and take you by surprise. Slow to react, and you'd end up back at the last checkpoint location or the beginning of the level you are on.
The game isn't particularly difficult to beat, considering that players have infinite lives to waste on getting shot at or springing traps. There are nine levels to play in total, and instructions on how to unlock an extra mode are given after completing the entire quest.
[UPDATE: Version 0.97 released.]
Comments
Satisfying deaths of enemies = me likey
Posted by: muz | October 6, 2009 12:00 PM
I'm glad it's finally out, awesome look.
Posted by: Nikica | October 6, 2009 12:10 PM
I'm so happy you've finally released this! Great work :)
Posted by: Morre | October 6, 2009 12:14 PM
I should also add that there's a single level score attack mode. The game is intended to be speedrun friendly.
I'll upload new versions as bugs are fixed.
Posted by: Sparky | October 6, 2009 12:16 PM
nice!! :D
Posted by: 0rel | October 6, 2009 1:32 PM
Awesome. Gonna play when I get home!
Posted by: cactus | October 6, 2009 1:38 PM
Great stuff!
Posted by: messhof | October 6, 2009 2:54 PM
WOW, this is very good indeed! Just love the clean simplicity, superb animations, and the sweet retro referencing,. The Pit is an uncommon one but one I too enjoy.., Berserk, Wizard of Wor, etc.. very good tast you have,. . nicely done sir.
Posted by: jph | October 6, 2009 3:12 PM
Looks great, thanks for letting me know about it.
Posted by: Richard | October 6, 2009 4:29 PM
I like it a lot. It reminds me of The Adventures of MicroMan (am I the only one who knows this game?).
Posted by: A Moomintroll | October 6, 2009 4:46 PM
Why would he put a mine right after the final battle that glitches the game up if you set it off?
Posted by: Anonymous | October 6, 2009 5:27 PM
woooohhaaa that seems like atari/old computer games, I think I just dropped a tear of joy. DEfinitely gonna play it!
Posted by: Jaime | October 6, 2009 5:29 PM
Brilliant, well done Sparky for finishing this, I can't wait to play this. It brings back happy memories of some games I played in the 80s but I am sure it succeeds on its own merit. Congrats! (More feedback soon)
Posted by: Rudolf Kremers | October 6, 2009 7:52 PM
Cheers Sparky for finishing this!
It's really a great game.
Posted by: allen | October 6, 2009 7:53 PM
first runman and now this? lovely! great gameplay, but I haven't been able to beat the boss yet.
Posted by: jw | October 6, 2009 8:15 PM
Reminds me of Destructivator, only this is better.
Posted by: Anonymous | October 6, 2009 8:58 PM
extremely polished game!
the graphics, sounds, controls, level design...
simply an awesome game!
btw fine speedrun tim!
Posted by: PixelProspector | October 6, 2009 11:38 PM
I remember the preview for this and was anxious to play it. Now its out I have to say its not only lived up to my expectations but surpassed them. I'm on level 8 so far....and....I....cant....stop... seriously addictive!
Posted by: Anonymous | October 7, 2009 12:20 AM
31 deaths, might have been lower if I hadn't figured out that the new respawn invulnerability killed enemies so quickly.
Posted by: Andrew | October 7, 2009 1:09 AM
spaoky!
its done! its superb! im so glad! :D
Posted by: michael | October 7, 2009 3:08 AM
Very cool! Was that made with flixel?
I love the disorienting feeling of playing a game that looks like it's for the 2600, but is in fact way too advanced under the hood - I'm pretty sure no 2600 game could afford support soldier AI.
Posted by: Matzerath | October 7, 2009 4:29 AM
pretty cool and not frustrating, should be taken as an example. Bugs a little after final battle, though, because of the scrolling.
Posted by: Anonymous | October 7, 2009 6:34 AM
What would top this awesome game, is if this awesome game had an awesome level-editor... and I hope the maker reads this and agrees...this game could gain popularity and longevity with something like that IMO.
Posted by: Anonymous | October 7, 2009 6:48 AM
All I have to do for the last form is stood there and shoot him rapidly.
Posted by: TheDerek | October 7, 2009 7:21 AM
This is the best game ever made ever, times a million. Amazing controls, amazing game, amazing visuals, amazingly addictive, amazingly playabale... amazing really ^_^
Posted by: DanDAnger | October 7, 2009 9:22 AM
Great graphics! great animations! Great gameplay!
I love it!
Playability is at high levels and I hope there be new updates (and more levels) soon! :D
Posted by: Naufr4g0 | October 7, 2009 3:55 PM
Wow, this is great. This game is special!
Posted by: Michael Stearns | October 7, 2009 4:26 PM
Since game is flash (at least Mac version), what's about making a web version?
And there are some annoying bugs, like black screens after level loadings.
Still a great game, highly addictive!
Posted by: bitgrinder | October 7, 2009 7:36 PM
How did I miss the release of this? Fantastic little game.
Posted by: Devlin | October 7, 2009 10:53 PM
Absolutely amazing! This game is beautiful and lots of fun. Only thing I thought was missing was some sweet retro background music.
Posted by: Sky | October 8, 2009 12:07 AM
Is the extra mode the trial mode or something else? I seem to be missing the hint at the end of the game.
Posted by: Michael Stearns | October 8, 2009 4:16 AM
At the beginning of Stage 7, there's this row of falling, exploding red spikes. The only way to advance seems to be running past them as they fall and explode.
The problem is that the character "stumbles" a bit when he runs (not sure how to explain it), and those exploding spikes always get me...
I am running version 0.96 on Linux using Wine. Does this happen using real Windows? Did someone here experienced this problem?
Awesome, awesome, awesome game, by the way.
Posted by: Anonymous | October 9, 2009 11:10 AM
Update: I've been working on a few alterations and bug fixes, and will upload a new version shortly. I apologize to anyone who encountered bugs in this version- rest assured I am working on them :)
The site is having some issues today. Sorry for any inconvenience. A friend has mirrored the files:
http://www.dreamofwinds.com/star_guard_0.96_pc.zip
http://www.dreamofwinds.com/star_guard_0.96_mac.zip
Posted by: Sparky | October 10, 2009 7:30 PM
I was playing this last night (v0.97), but it would get #1009 errors under Wine. I could click Dismiss All, but the errors would multiply until the game became unplayable, sometimes with a black screen. The errors were:
TypeError: Error #1009: Cannot access a property or method of a null object reference.
at SoundEffect$/PlayPositional()
at effects::MessageBanner/Update()
at effects::Effect$/UpdateAll()
at Main/MainLoop()
TypeError: Error #1009: Cannot access a property or method of a null object reference.
at SoundEffect$/Play()
at lasers::AllyLaser/Update()
at Main/UpdateLasers()
at Main/MainLoop()
Posted by: John Christopher McCabe-Dansted | October 12, 2009 6:14 AM
Incoming Transmission:
Star Guard, word reached us yesterday of your heroic fight against the Wizard. Knowing of no other means to contact your expedition, we made for the Barren Lands at dawn and commandeered one of the few remaining Speaking Towers. We were an under-armed and ragged affair, one made brave only by your bravery; we took the tower with heavy losses.
Star Guard, you are not alone in your battle. Not all is lost. There are yet others who remain to herald your victory.
Fear not the wizard, Star Guard! Let your deed be inscribed upon the cistern of souls!
Posted by: Venus Outriders - Subwave Frequency | October 12, 2009 10:03 PM
How can one contact Sparky? There's no blog/email/nothing!
Posted by: Oryx | October 17, 2009 11:31 PM
I made a review of this great game. Watch it here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siBvnNpRz_Q
Posted by: TigerClawTV | November 15, 2009 4:38 AM
Fantastic game. Brings back sweet memories...
By the way, any chance of implementing the option to remap keys? if possible...
Posted by: Dan | January 15, 2010 11:24 AM
Me so silly...should have read the txt file....sorry man!
Posted by: Dan | January 15, 2010 11:27 AM