Dark Star One: Difference between revisions

Darkstar One is a Space Sim developed by Ascaron, which features open-ended, flexible gameplay like Freelancer or X. In this game, the main character Kayron Jarvis recieves a ship as a gift from his dead father, the titular Darkstar One. With this ship, Kayron embarks on a journey to investigate the mystery behind his father's death. But he knows little of the events that are unfolding.

The game's flexibility owes itself to the titular ship's ability to upgrade its systems to get special bonuses. For example, upgrading the Darkstar's wings increase maneuverability and forward weapon mounts. Plus, there are many things you can do between story missions. A player can sign up for missions or escort flights, hunt down pirates as a bounty hunter, smuggle illegal goods, and much more.

 

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* [[Aerith and Bob]]: Among our colorful cast, we have weird names like Kayron, Jow'son, Naara and Jiju. On the normal side, Robert, Simon, Ramirez, Ventura, and Jack.

* [[Aliens Speaking English]]: At some point in the past the Terran language became the standard spoken language for all empires. Most races still use their written language in-game.

* [[All There in the Manual]]: The manual contains detailed backgrounds on each of the game's races.

* [[Bee People]]: The Arrack, although they're more like ants. They even refer to their race as a whole as "The Collective."

* [[Boss Banter]]: Literal example! When you fight a pirate gang, all the while, the Pirate Boss will pepper you with taunts. Special mention goes to one from the Raptor Pirate Boss.

* [[Boss in Mook Clothing]]: The Bosses of pirate gangs boast stronger weapons and tougher armor and shields than the norm, plus, they are immune to any of the Plasma Cannon's offensive abilities (I.E. Overload, EMP, Timeshock). To top it off, they have improved versions of their races special ability. Terran Bosses just have a smarter AI that maneuvers better. Mortoks fire what looks like Super Missiles. Raptors fire homing missiles. Oc'to use drones that fly in formation. Arrack can blink up to three times instead of once. Thul generate a mirror image when cloaking.

* [[Casual Interstellar Travel]]: For the most part, it would seem like this, with only pirate ambush parties to break the peace.

* [[Catastrophic Countdown]]: Used in Bronis' Arms Factory. After taking out the main generator, Eona exclaims that the place will explode at any minute. While a short cutscene plays as the Darkstar makes for the exit, several minor explosions start to line the corridor.

* Cloudcuckoolander: In one sidequest, aptly named "Two Wacky Terrans," you meet two guys called Danny and Brad who had gotten themselves in trouble with an Arrack smuggler. Brad tells you in the briefing that they need your help in case the "very nasty guys" pull a fast one, but when the true nature of the situation is learnt, he slips up in negotiations (by trying to pin their crime on you) and the smugglers open fire.

* [[Color Coded for Your Convenience]]: Sort of. The nebulae in the background of systems owned by different races is usually a certain color. Played straight in Bronis' Factory.

* [[Cybernetics Eat Your Soul]]: The Thul, a clan of human women obsessed with perfection, use nanotechnology and enhansive implants to improve their overall condition. The Terran government had possibly thought that this would cause the Thul to rebel, and had exiled them to the depths of space. Their negative view on non-Thul races probably doesn't help.

* [[Disappeared Dad]]: Kayron's father, Simon Jarvis, is long dead at the beginning of the game. After the first story mission, Kayron finds out more about his father's death, which sets the stage for the main storyline. Also, absolutely nothing is mentioned about Kayron's [[Missing Mom|mother.]]

* [[Escort Mission]]: Many story missions and sidequests are this. You can also sign up as an escort pilot for a freighter.

* [[Exposition Fairy]]: Eona, your erstwhile copilot.

* [[Five-Man Band]]:

** [[The Hero]]: Kayron

** Same for pirate gangs and occupied systems. In the former, you fight a three-phase battle, with each phase being progressively difficult. The fight kicks off with a swarm of ordinary pirate Mooks, whose numbers range from four to eight. Next, you fight the Boss's bodyguards, whose numbers range from one to three. Last but not least, you fight the Boss, who is [[Boss in Mook Clothing|far stronger than his lackeys by comparison.]]

** Occupied systems are much more difficult than pirate gangs, because its all too easy to be swarmed if you get careless, and then become an instant [[Bullet Hell]]. You fight three waves of pirates, whose total number usually includes fifteen fighters. If you survive, you are rewarded with a tidy sum of credits and an artifact for the Darkstar.

* [[Nothing Is Scarier]]: In one story mission, you go to an Arrack system that was devastated by a savage war, in search of a Thul cruiser. The system is within a massive [[Asteroid Thicket]] of scrap metal, there are shipwrecks all around and the planet is a sickly pinkish color. The effect is greater if you come back after the mission, where you're all alone with nothing besides wreckage to keep you company.

* [[Oh My Gods]]: With the Raptor's [[Fantasy Pantheon|massive pantheon]] including over threehundred gods, some will utter this or a varient of it.

* [[Scary Dogmatic Aliens]]: {{spoiler|The S'kaa, an extragalactic conqueror race that had invaded our galaxy and tried to foster a war between all races.}}

* [[Sentry Gun]]: Freighters, cruisers and stations use these as their primary weapons, as well as weapon platforms and satellites. The Darkstar can also get auto-turrets if you upgrade its hull.

* [[Shiny-Looking Spaceships]]: Any ship or station owned by the Thul, except for Thul Pirates, whose hull is a rusty brown instead of shiny chrome.

* [[Sliding Scale of Linearity vs. Openness]]: In order to travel to another star system, you will need the "key" to the system and it must be within your Field Drive's maximum range. Most keys are obtained upon entering a system, and some are rewarded in sidequests. By the end of the game, should you have gotten all of the [[MacGuffin|artifacts]] and beaten every sidequest, you should be able reach every system on the map.

* [[Snake Talk]]: The Raptors exhibit this, naturally. Eona once mocked their Snake Talk in a sidequest where you fight three Raptor cruisers.

** In two parts of the game, you defend a research station from a drone attack by using the station's defense turret. Doubles as [[That One Level]] due to the turrets pathetic HP and energy reserves, and the massive amounts of enemies.

** Before these, there was a story mission where you had to fly through a canyon to blow up a shield generator protecting Kabro's hideout. As Ramirez reminds you, your ship will handle differently on a planet's surface. Sadly, this is the only time you ever go onto a planet.

* [[Verbal Tic]]: The aforementioned Raptors speak in [[Snake Talk]]. The Arrack, being obsessed with their dogmatic civil code, mention a passage from said code in nearly every piece of their dialogue.

* [[Video Game Cruelty Punishment]]: Criminal acts will earn you a spot on the wanted list, and if your crime record is at the highest, everyone in the systems that you offended will attack you, and there's a chance that a cruiser will appear if you stay too long. Doing too many criminal acts can negatively impact you in the long run. Smuggling makes patrol ships scan your cargo more often, piracy makes bounty hunters and freighters attack you, and killing civilians will make a wing of patrol ships follow you wherever you go.

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[[Category:Dark Star One]]