"An overlooked, yet highly entertaining space-exploration game for the Sega Genesis."

Admittedly, I am strongly biased toward Starflight based on personal nostalgia, for it was one of the first games I ever played when I first got an IBM PC. Back then, even with the crude 4-color CGA graphics and the simple keyboard interface, the game was as gripping as any game I've played since.

The Genesis conversion is absolutely beautiful. True, the Genesis is now practically forgotten, and I only purchased the cartridge to play on my Nomad (a great handheld value when you have a Genesis library like mine). At 4.95, with the wonderfully written manual (yet, alas... no starmap), it was quite a steal. The graphics are simple... crisp and clear. Even the text is easily readable on the Nomad's screen.

For those who have never played the game, it's a space-exploration game much like Star Control 2 or 3 for the PC. You must mine planets, select worlds for colonization, collect lifeforms... anything to gather some credits and upgrade your ship. Initially, it seems that all that you do is run about trying to get some money, but once you bravely venture from your home system and explore, you'll come into contact with many alien races. Conversation with them is one of the most amusing aspects of the game, as they all have their own interesting quirks. The storyline of the game picks up as you learn more from these alien races, and eventually you find yourself the only hope of saving life in the galaxy. To explain anything more would detract from the fun.

This is NOT an action game. In all honesty, the only action you'll see in the game is in your battles with hostile alien races (whom you'll find yourself FLEEING from, more often than not) and trying to get your landing vehicle back to your starship when earthquakes pop up and start tearing it apart.

The game DOES get frustrating at times, especially when it comes to fueling your starship. Even when you've built your ship up, you'll need to drop by a few mineral-rich planets and go mining to line your pockets a bit. There's nothing worse than running out of Endurium in the middle of combat because your fuelburning phasers have depleted your supply.

In conclusion, I played this game over ten years ago on an IBM PC. This reproduction is faithful, yet with improved graphics, sound, and gameplay. Reviewing a game for the Genesis is most likely pointless, as I'm sure very few people still USE theirs... but if you're like me and you have a Nomad lying around and are heading on a long flight or train-trip... pick it up.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 11/01/99, Updated 11/01/99