| Dark Star |
| |
| Release Date | 1984 |
| Original Publisher | Design Design Software (UK) |
| Min. Hardware | ZX-Spectrum 48K |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Arcade Game: Shoot-em-up |
| Max. Players | 1 |
| Loading screen adaptation(s) | Forbidden Planet |
| Original Price | £7.50 |
| Features | Border Effects, Vector Graphics |
| Controls | Redefineable keys |
| Themes | Hyperspace/Warp |
| Inspirations | Dark Star (Movie) from Jack H. Harris Enterprises (USA) |
| Other Platforms | Amstrad CPC |
| Average mag. score | 83.40% (5 reviews) |
| Martijn's WoS score | 79.7% (37 votes) |
Standalone re-releases
| #1 - Comse (Spain) | (1984) | ||
| * Release price: 1600.00 Ptas | |||
| #2 - Firebird Software Ltd (UK) | (1985) | ||
| * Release price: £1.99 | |||
| #3 - MCM Software S.A. (Spain) | (1988) |
Authors/Contributors
| Simon Brattel (UK) | - ? | ||
| Neil Mottershead (UK) | - ? | ||
| Graham Stafford (UK) | - ? | ||
| Jon Ritman (UK) | - ? | ||
| Dave De Leuw | - Inlay/Poster Art |
Contents
| Inst.1 | Dark Star | (1984) | by Design Design Software (UK) | - Full version | |
| Inst.2 | Spectacle | - original release | - Full version |
Review Awards
| "Crash Smash" | at Crash | issue v.1 #11 - 1984/Dec | page 97 | |
| "PCG Hit" | at Personal Computer Games | issue #13 - 1984/Dec | page 52 | |
| "PCN Star Game" | at Personal Computer News | issue #84 - 1984/Oct/27 | page 51 |
Remarks
| Came with a password protected Spectacle as bonus. |
Series "DarkStar"
| 1. | Dark Star | (1984) | by Design Design Software (UK) | |
| 2. | Forbidden Planet | (1986) | by Design Design Software (UK) |
Compilations
| Full version in | 6 Computer Hits | (1985) | by Beau-Jolly Ltd (UK) | ||
| Full version in | Crash issue 88: Presents 24 | (1991/May) | by Magazine Crash - covertape from issue v.1 #88 - 1991/May | ||
| Full version in | Julian Rignall's All Time Top Ten | (1992/Mar/15) | by Beau-Jolly Ltd (UK) | ||
| Full version in | Your Sinclair issue 78: Magnificent Seven | (1992/Jun) | by Magazine Your Sinclair - covertape from issue #78 - 1992/Jun | ||
| Full version in | ZX-Spectrum Vega | (2015/Apr/24) | by Retro Computers Ltd (UK) |
Main File Downloads
| Filename | Release | Machine | Scheme | Language | Comments | |
 | DarkStar.tap.zip | Original | ZX-Spectrum 48K | (???) | English | |
| DarkStar.tzx.zip | Original | ZX-Spectrum 48K | (None) | English | |
| DarkStar.pzx.zip | Original | ZX-Spectrum 48K | (None) | English | - Correct polarity | |
| DarkStar(FirebirdSoftwareLtd).tzx.zip | #2 | ZX-Spectrum 48K | (None) | English | |
| DarkStar(MCMSoftwareS.A.).tzx.zip | #3 | ZX-Spectrum 48K | (Unspecified custom loader) | English |
Additional File Downloads
| Filename | Size | Release | Type | Language | Comments | |
| DarkStar.scr | 6,912 | Original | Loading screen | |||
| DarkStar.gif | 1,202 | Original | Running screen | |||
| DarkStar.jpg | 463,997 | Original | Inlay - Front | - Single jewel case | ||
| DarkStar_Back.jpg | 294,580 | Original | Inlay - Back | - Single jewel case | ||
| DarkStar_Media.jpg | 138,573 | Original | Media scan | |||
| DarkStar.txt | 9,812 | Original | Instructions | English | ||
| DarkStar.jpg | 136,722 | Original | Advertisement | |||
| Dark Star (1984)(Design Design Software).pok | 60 | Original | POK pokes file | |||
| DarkStar(FirebirdSoftware).jpg | 389,492 | #2 | Inlay - Front | - Single jewel case | ||
| DarkStar(FirebirdSoftware)_Back.jpg | 385,284 | #2 | Inlay - Back | - Single jewel case | ||
| DarkStar(FirebirdSoftware)_Media.jpg | 134,386 | #2 | Media scan | |||
| DarkStar(MCMSoftwareS.A.).jpg | 106,520 | #3 | Inlay - Front | |||
| DarkStar(MCMSoftwareS.A.).pdf | 15,604 | #3 | Instructions | Spanish |
Magazine Reviews
| C&VG (Computer & Video Games) | issue #40-1985/Feb | page 44 | - Review | |
| Crash | issue v.1 #11-1984/Dec | page 97 | - Review: 89% | |
| Home Computing Weekly | issue #87-1984/Nov/6 special "week#1" | page 39 | - Review | |
| Personal Computer Games | issue #13-1984/Dec | page 52 | - Review: 8/10 | |
| Personal Computer News | issue #84-1984/Oct/27 | page 51 | - Review: 10/10 | |
| Popular Computing Weekly | issue v.3 #42-1984/Oct/18 special "week#3" | page 68 | - Review | |
| Sinclair Programs | issue #26-1984/Dec | page 17 | - Review: 68% | |
| Sinclair User | issue #69-1987/Dec | page 57 | - Review: 8/10 | |
| Your Spectrum | issue #11-1985/Feb | page 51 | - Review |
Magazine References
| Crash | issue v.1 #9-1984/Oct | page 91 | - Preview | |
| Crash | issue v.1 #14-1985/Mar | page 62 | - Tips | |
| Crash | issue v.1 #16-1985/May | page 85 | - Letters | |
| Crash | issue v.1 #17-1985/Jun | page 58 | - Letters | |
| Crash | issue v.1 #88-1991/May | page 6 | - CoverGame | |
| Die Speccy CD | issue 1996/Jan | page 0 | - Information | |
| Home Computing Weekly | issue #90-1984/Nov/27 special "week#4" | page 33 | - Letters | |
| Popular Computing Weekly | issue v.3 #47-1984/Nov/22 special "week#4" | page 44 | - News/Note | |
| Popular Computing Weekly | issue v.4 #14-1985/Apr/4 special "week#1" | page 40 | - Tips | |
| Popular Computing Weekly | issue v.4 #42-1985/Oct/17 special "week#3" | page 36 | - Tips | |
| SSD-II | issue 1999/Sep | page 0 | - Information | |
| Your Sinclair | issue #78-1992/Jun | page 4 | - CoverGame | |
| Your Sinclair | issue #81-1992/Sep | page 28 | - Tips | |
| Your Sinclair | issue #90-1993/Jun | page 31 | - Feature - The YS Complete Guide To ... 3D Games | |
| Your Spectrum | issue #12-1985/Mar | page 3 | - News/Note |
Magazine Advertisements
| Big K | issue #9-1984/Dec | page 96 | - Full-page ad | |
| Crash | issue v.1 #11-1984/Dec | page 140 | - Full-page ad | |
| Popular Computing Weekly | issue v.3 #42-1984/Oct/18 special "week#3" | page 27 | - Advert | |
| Popular Computing Weekly | issue v.3 #45-1984/Nov/8 special "week#2" | page 14 | - Advert | |
| Popular Computing Weekly | issue v.3 #49-1984/Dec/6 special "week#1" | page 12 | - Advert | |
| Sinclair User | issue #31-1984/Oct | page 40 | - Advert | |
| Sinclair User | issue #32-1984/Nov | page 137 | - Advert | |
| Sinclair User | issue #33-1984/Dec | page 100 | - Advert |
Related Magazine Reviews
| Crash | issue v.1 #29-1986/Jun | page 98 | - Review (6 Computer Hits) |
Related Magazine References
| C&VG (Computer & Video Games) | issue #122-1992/Jan | page 12 | - News/Note (Julian Rignall's All Time Top Ten) | |
| C&VG (Computer & Video Games) | issue #122-1992/Jan | page 27 | - Poster (Julian Rignall's All Time Top Ten) |
Related Magazine Advertisements
| C&VG (Computer & Video Games) | issue #49-1985/Nov | page 35 | - Advert (6 Computer Hits) |
Links
| MobyGames | (Information - in English) | |
| The Tipshop | (Information - in English) | |
| UVL | (Information - in English) | |
| ZX Spectrum Reviews | (Magazine Reviews) | |
| Spectrum 2.0 | (User Reviews) | |
| The TZX Vault | (Software Preservation) | |
| ZX-Art | (Spectrum Graphics) | |
| ZXInfo | (ZXDB Front End) | |
| Every Game Going | (Multi-Platform Archive) | |
| New World Of Spectrum | (Spectrum Archive) | |
| Original World Of Spectrum | (Spectrum Archive) | |
| World Of Spectrum Classic | (Spectrum Archive) | |
| Spectrum Computing | (MAIN VIEW) |
