View source for Software:DemonStar

{{Short description|1997 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
|title=DemonStar
|image=Demonstar cover art.png
|caption=
|developer=[[Company:Mountain King Studios|Mountain King Studios]]
|publisher=Mountain King Studios
|designer=
|composer=Robert C. Prince III
|series=
|engine=
|released=January 28, 1998<ref>{{cite web|first=Harley|last=Jebens|url=http://headline.gamespot.com/news/98_01/28_deamon/index.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20000605214644/http://headline.gamespot.com/news/98_01/28_deamon/index.html|title=DemonStar Released|website=GameSpot|archivedate=June 5, 2000|date=January 28, 1998|accessdate=September 19, 2022}}</ref>
|genre=[[Software:Scrolling shooter|Scrolling shooter]]
|modes=Single-player, [[Software:Multiplayer video game|multiplayer]]
|platforms=[[Software:Microsoft Windows|Windows]]
}}

'''''DemonStar''''' is a video game developed by [[Company:Mountain King Studios|Mountain King Studios]] and published in 1998. Considered an unofficial sequel to the studio's earlier ''[[Software:Raptor: Call of the Shadows|Raptor]]'',<ref name=TAV/> it is a top-down vertically [[Software:Scrolling shooter|scrolling shooter]] set in [[Astronomy:Outer space|outer space]].

==Plot==
[[Image:Demonstar-classic.jpg|thumb|right|An original ''DemonStar'' screenshot, 2-player mission]]

The player is a test pilot of a prototype starfighter, the ''RaptorX'', launched by the Terran fleet. A space crime organization, known as the Alien Shogunate Xidus Armada, delivered a surprise attack to the Terran Fleet, destroying most of the ''Raptor'' fighters in the process. The few prototypes that were away being tested have survived. The player is tasked to battle through the Xidus Armada, destroy their ultimate weapon, codenamed the ''DemonStar'', and conquer the Armada fleet.<ref name=PCPP>{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/PCPowerplay-037-1999-06/page/n11/mode/2up?q=DemonStar|title=DemonStar|journal=PC PowerPlay|issue=37|pages=12}}</ref>

==Gameplay==

''DemonStar'' is a [[Software:Shoot 'em up|shoot 'em up]] that features three weapons with levels of increasing power: proton lasers, ion cannons and plasma cannons, that can be side- or rear-mounted. The player may obtain additional power-ups that may be used as bombs or increase shields.<ref name =TAV/> The game features eighteen levels, a two-player local co-operative game mode, and a unlockable level editor.<ref>{{cite web|website=Mountain King|title=DemonStar|url=http://www.mking.com/demonstar}}</ref>

==Development and release==

[[Company:Mountain King Studios|Mountain King Studios]] was formed by lead developer Scott Host following his departure from [[Company:Apogee Software|Apogee Software]] to independently develop and self-publish titles.<ref>{{cite web|author=Siegler, Joe|title=The Apogee Legacy #14 - Scott Host|url=https://legacy.3drealms.com/news/2006/04/the_apogee_legacy_14.html|website=3D Realms News|date=10 April 2006}}</ref> Development of ''DemonStar'' was completed by Scott Host and Kevin Blackman,<ref name=GSpot/> with music composed by Robert Prince, who provided sound effects and music for the ''Doom'' series and other [[Company:Apogee Software|Apogee Software]] titles.<ref name=TAV/>

''DemonStar'' was re-released in 2003 as ''DemonStar: Secret Missions''. Released in two parts, ''Secret Missions'' used an enhanced version of the original engine and new music.<ref>{{cite web|website=Mountain King|title=DemonStar Secret Mission 1|url=http://www.mking.com/demonstarsm1/index.html}}</ref> Each ''Secret Missions'' title contains eight new levels.<ref name=PCZone2/>

As a [[Shareware|shareware]] title, ''DemonStar'' was packaged among other software, such as the ''Space Arcade Collection'' by Greenstreet Software,<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Space Arcade Collection - egames |url=https://archive.org/stream/PC_Zone_Issue_090_2000-06_Dennis_Publishing_GB#page/n87 |magazine=PC Zone |issue=90 |publisher=Dennis Publishing |date=June 2000 |page=89}}</ref> and ''Arcade Classics''.<ref>{{cite web|last=House |first=Michael L.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141117084650/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=23221&tab=overview|archive-date=2014-11-17 |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=23221&tab=overview |title=Galaxy of Arcade Classics - Overview |publisher=allgame |date=2010-10-03 |accessdate=2014-02-02}}</ref>

==Reception==

{{Video game reviews

| rev1 = ''The Adrenaline Vault''
| rev1Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name=TAV>{{cite web |url=http://www.avault.com:80/reviews/review_temp.asp?game=demon&page=1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000123150746/http://www.avault.com:80/reviews/review_temp.asp?game=demon&page=1 |archive-date=2000-01-23 | author= Laprad, David | website=The Adrenaline Vault| title=''Demonstar'' | date=25 February 1998}}</ref>

| GSpot = 4.7<ref name=GSpot>{{cite web | url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/demonstar-review/1900-2538587/| website=GameSpot | title=''Demonstar Review'' | date=1 May 2000}}</ref>

| PCZone = 61%<ref name=PCZone>{{cite magazine | author=Shoemaker, Richie | url=https://archive.org/details/PC_Zone_62_April_1998/page/107| magazine=PC Zone | title=''DemonStar''| date=April 1998| issue=62| pages=107}}</ref><br>82% (''Secret Missions'')<ref name=PCZone2>{{cite magazine | author=Campbell, Stuart | url=https://archive.org/details/PC_Zone_145_September_2004/page/18/mode/2up| magazine=PC Zone | title=''DemonStar: Secret Missions'' | date=September 2004| issue=145| pages=18}}</ref>

| rev2 = ''Gaming Entertainment Monthly''
| rev2Score = 55%<ref name=GEM>{{cite web |url=http://www.gemonthly.com/reviews/demonstar/index.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021230225205/www.gemonthly.com/reviews/demonstar/index.htm |archive-date=2002-12-30 | website=Gaming Entertainment Monthly| title=''Demonstar'' | date=1 April 1998}}</ref>

}}

''DemonStar'' received mixed reviews upon release, with reviewers divided on the merits of the simplicity of its gameplay. Positive assessments of the game focused on the addictiveness and intensity of its arcade-style gameplay. David Laprad of ''The Adrenaline Vault'' praised the game as "one of the most intense scrolling shooters I can ever recall playing...the level design is top-notch, and betrays the experience the developers have had designing this type of game."<ref name=TAV/> In reviewing the ''Secret Missions'' version, Stuart Campbell noted the game was a "tough, well-balanced, no-nonsense [[Software:Shoot 'em up|"shmup"]] that you can devote the odd blissful, brainless half-hour to."<ref name=PCZone2/>

Many reviewers compared the game to its predecessor, ''[[Software:Raptor: Call of the Shadows|Raptor]]'', and the 1990 [[Software:Arcade video game|arcade video game]] ''[[Software:Raiden (video game)|Raiden]]''. Stuart Campbell of ''PC Zone'' stated the game "follows the ''[[Software:Raiden (video game)|Raiden]]'' design template to a degree that verges on stalking."<ref name=PCZone2/> ''Gaming Entertainment Monthly'' assessed that their disappointment with ''DemonStar'' was due to high expectations "based on what ''[[Software:Raptor: Call of the Shadows|Raptor]]'' offered in the past".<ref name=GEM/> Common critiques included the lack of a save feature or a points system to upgrade the player's ship, as had been the case in ''[[Software:Raptor: Call of the Shadows|Raptor]]''.<ref name=GSpot/>

Negative reviews of ''DemonStar'' focused upon the low resolution for a game released in 1998. Richie Shoemaker of ''PC Zone'' stated "the viewing window is so tiny...you shouldn't have to switch resolution to enjoy a game".<ref name=PCZone/> ''GameSpot'' acknowledged that the game was an improvement of the resolution of ''[[Software:Raptor: Call of the Shadows|Raptor]]'' by running in [[Super VGA|SVGA]], but stated "there's a major trade-off: ''DemonStar'' always runs in a window, even (in) the so-called "full screen" mode, which simply crops out your desktop background with metallic textures".<ref name=GSpot/>



==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.mking.com/demonstar_game.html Official website]
*{{moby game|id=/demonstar}}

[[Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games]]
[[Category:Windows games]]

{{Sourceattribution|DemonStar}}