The Advent of 3D for Namco In Arcades! Starblade

[@Sly2Cooper]

Starblade Alpha was the first game on my 3DO. Never played it in arcades, so I went with textured version (the disc also had a flat-shaded version iirk). I remember recording the final cutscene and ending music on a cassette recorder. The visuals looked so impressive that my friend even recorded the whole walkthrough on a VCR. Oh nostalgia. Later replayed Starblade on PlayStation with slightly better FMV quality. And on PS2 this game was the only reason for me to complete adventure mode in Tekken 5. At least PS2 version was faithful polygonal recreation of the original.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

It was impressive for mixing fmv and polygons together back in 3DO

[@Sly2Cooper]

@@VideoGameEsoterica as aschoolkid I couldn't even tell if it was an FMV and not real polygons on the background. It all was pure magic. Only later (after Star Wars on 3DO) I begun to notice compression artefacts. Looking at the game now, I wish they made a VR conversion. Rez draws heavily on flat shaded aesthetics and plays great in VR. Or a 3D version on PS3 with Move alongside Wii version as it was popular back then.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

@Sly2Cooper oh man VR would be great

[@WarriorTier]

I remember having an epic birthday party at Malibu Grand Prix in Atlanta. I was glued to AvP at the time but I found this game tucked in a corner. It was so ahead of its time! The ultimate Star Wars experience. I got the PS1 version when it came out and loved the upgraded graphics option. Unreal game, I would love to play the original cab again someday…

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Sounds like a great party!

[@simon41978]

There's a Japanese Starblade music cd which is very nice too.

[@trzarector]

Never forgot this in the arcade. It was so smooth and the camera movements remind me of the TRON movie.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

It has such good smooth camera movements

[@lmtliam]

This was amazing in its day, but also expensive to play. It's also on Wii as a Virtual Console game.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Those kinds of cabs were always the most expensive to play

[@theinternetsmrak]

Playing the sit down cab in my local-ish arcade (Fletcher's Copper Coin, Rednal, UK) for the first time was astounding and realising how the concave screen worked kind of broke my brain. I did manage to get the Wii version working on my actual Wii, however the Japanese text in the menus is screwed up on my EU console and for some reason you need to plug in a classic controller to add credits and select the continue option but then have to remove it from the Wiimote to actually play and given the difficulty that is an awful lot of unplugging and plugging.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

@theinternetsmrak the concave is super effective

[@JustinCherriman]

Super surprised its on the Wii Virtual Console, does it have proper pollys?

[@SkyScourgeGod]

I have this one for my 3DO and, while it doesn't run nearly as well as the arcade original, it was still plenty of fun despite its age and being an FMV game (at least for the 3DO and PSOne). I thought the textured version on 3DO was cool, but I agree that it doesn't age as well as the flat-textured original. I definitely need to try out the arcade original on my Batocera mini PC though. I have a flight stick that I use to play Star Wars Trilogy Arcade on that machine so I have a good feeling that it would also be a good fit for Starblade.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

In this era flat polygons just always age better IMO

[@ZBR_ProXP]

Dude I experienced the same thing in an arcade with Virtua Fighter. I was blown away at the fluid polygons!

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

It was all so new it felt like magic

[@benjaminapeterson]

I remember seeing VF for the first time and having the same reaction

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

For me it was Virtua Racing

[@arcadeages3917]

This is one of my “Rosebud” games. I was super lucky enough to get a chance to play this in the NAMCO Theatre at the Trocadero in London in 1992. I believe only 2 NAMCO Theatres were ever made, the other unit being in Tokyo. At the time, this game was the stuff dreams were made of. Bought it on PlayStation. Also had a chance to play R360 at the Trocadero as well. I still have my token cards from that day!

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Fun you got to experience all that!

[@JustinCherriman]

I think I have played it at SegaWorld Trocadero, it could be the same place where they had Galaxian 3 or was Starblade on a cinema screen? They had so much cool stuff back then and arcades that went on forever. I also remember the articulated rollercoaster pod experiences and even the Sega AS-1 motion ride simulator with Michael Jackson presenting it! Those were the days!!

[@ColdHighway7]

So many nice Arcade games you highlight that I wish would be on Evercade

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Maybe one day

[@darthv72]

3DO is the best home version hands down. It is arcade perfect with a mode that offers what the PS1 version did with the textured polygons. Im really surprised you didnt even mention that one.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

3DO wins again!

[@Toaster05]

Oh hells yeah! One of my favourite ever arcade experiences with that massive lensed screen and booming sounds.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

It was def a memorable event if you got to play one

[@Toaster05]

@@VideoGameEsoterica There was a really neat set of models at one point for the enemy flagship and the Geosword. I would have loved them as they are iconic ship designs.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

That’s one thing I’ve never gotten into. Models. Mostly because I know if I do I’ll end up with 100

[@jks1311]

excellent classic arcade games being reviewed on hour channel!

[@thommccarthy1139]

Oh hell yeah. Actually played this for the first time recently when trying to figure out the name of another rails shooter that I played a ton growing up on the PSX (Ended up being Jupiter Strike). It is a ton of fun!

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

I love when things time up like that

[@mattainsworth5116]

How did you not mention the 3DO version? Im only 3 minutes in, but holy disappoint, man

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

I can’t mention everything all at once

[@ArneChristianRosenfeldt]

I Wonder why here are no clipping artifacts like with games on the PlayStation. Can’t really z sort this mix of huge and tiny polygons.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Good question

[@cegleason1]

The PlayStation, sega cd and 3do games are actually fmv titles and not running it in a 3d engine. The Wii and ps2 both got arcade perfect ports. The Wii version is JP download only so it’s hard to get. The ps2 version is actually an unlockable extra in Tekken 5. It’s arcade perfect and cheap to obtain, but you do have to unlock it in the game first. In conjunction with a scaler, the ps2 version is pretty much the best way to play this outside of the arcade.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Def a lot easier to find than an OG cab that’s for sure

[@retroarcadefan]

VGE, Is the unlockable version in Tekken 5 on the PS2 the complete game?

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

I believe so yes

[@stan_austin]

3DO version has option of flat shaded or texture mapped.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

True. And 3DO. So you know it’s good haha

[@Slonie]

Starblade is great! But as for the video title, don't forget that Namco had already started doing 3D in the arcade a few years earlier with Winning Run in 1988. There's also the original attraction version of Galaxian3 (from which Starblade is derived) from 1990, though admittedly stretched the definition of "in arcades".

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Yes I know :) only so much space in a title

[@davidgill7412]

This was a extra unlockable in the PS2 version of Tekken 5 along with Arcade versions of Tekken 1-3.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

It was fun to get it as a bonus

[@srvuk]

I always felt that this specific type of game needed a specialised controller to really make it exciting to play.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

It def helps

[@DrJ3RK8]

I've been on the lookout for this hardware. So rare though. At least where I've been looking. Making a trip to Akihabara next year though, so...

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

It’s extremely hard to find. Best of luck. If you see two grab me one haha

[@DrJ3RK8]

@@VideoGameEsoterica Might just do that! There are a few shops I want to check out over there. Luckily my brother speaks fluent Japanese in many dialects, so that might make it a bit easier. :)

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

@DrJ3RK8 def will make it easier!

[@1Gyruss]

Played the arcade at a local arcade club in Japan

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Nice. Bet that was fun

[@zexalsrevenge511]

Hey, wasn’t this also on Tekken 5 for the loading screen? Tekken 1 and Ridge Racer had Galaga.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

It was :)

[@MarginalSC]

Gotta watch this video through a parabolic lens for the full effect.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

And a headache lol

[@MarginalSC]

@@VideoGameEsoterica Always ran outta cash well before that. At the local arcade it was $1 a credit!

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

@MarginalSC and that was a lot back then

[@ViegasSilva]

This is a long text, but check it out to appreciate the 16-bit power of the Mega-CD: The Mega-CD port is most notable in its presentation: while the arcade original featured extensive 3D levels, the Mega-CD has nowhere near as much processing power as the original arcade boards, and instead utilizes what at first appears to be full-motion video backgrounds. However, upon closer examination, and with insight from the game's developers, it was realized that the Mega-CD's backgrounds are actually rendered polygons! Due to StarBlade's nature of being "on rails", all the polygons appear in the same spot in every playthrough. By precalculating where these polygons are in advance, and then giving the Mega-CD a list of locations to drawn those polygons, the system can reasonably display an accurate rendering of the arcade version's backgrounds. Enemies are rendered as wireframe graphics. This is in contrast to the other ports of the game for the 3DO and PlayStation (as well as similar-looking games for the Mega-CD, such as Silpheed), which display the background as pre-rendered full-motion video but have fully polygonal enemies.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

It is impressive what they could run on such lesser hardware

[@initial_kd]

Crazy how they went from this to Ridge Racer in a few years. Love the flat shaded look, it's great on Virtua Fighter and Virtua Racing. I think i agree with the consensus that limitations breed creativity, people getting the most out of hardware and unique hardware had interesting looks. I think the mega cd version is fine, it's a novelty for the console (which hasn't got many great titles) but it's nothing I'd seek out.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

3D moved so fast in the 90s.

[@adroharv5140]

still such a beautiful game this thanks to it's pristine flat shaded polygons and those fantastic sweeping pans. I once pumped around £10 into an arcade machine here in the UK just so I could finish it. I'd have been ecstatically happy had Namco made The Last Starfighter with this technology and a cockpit with a double joystick setup to mimic the original control scheme. It's just the thing I'd commission if I was a multi millionaire. Anyway back when arcades felt astonishing in a way you simply couldn't replicate anywhere else. With Mame though you really do need decently set up controls or it's just a twitchy form of itself. The arcade controller was gloriously smooth. The Wii version is rather excellent and does at least allow for the Wiimote which works very well but the only real way to enjoy this as intended I would personally say has to be the arcade or some custom made Mame setup perhaps And yes I share that very same opinion that this is done better than what then became of Sega Star wars. It's just such a tremendously done vision of this type of thing. The only thing I would say of the difficulty personally is that the end section while taking the core out, this is absurdly so

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Def a game that benefits from the cab but they are just so rare now

[@AdamHougham]

I absolutely love this game. When I first saw it in the arcades I was captivated and have always wanted a 'proper' version for home. I've tried the PS1 version and it's not bad (particularly with the option to play without textures), and I totally failed to ever unlock it in Tekken 5, but I agree with you that playing via MAME is best. The atmosphere, the action and difficulty curve are great.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

MAME just feels the most right for the game

[@bombjack1984]

Controls look overresponive on MAME, can you set it to mouse control?

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Yes you can set it to any control scheme you’d like

[@scalliano]

The textures on the PS1 version could be turned off, my issue with that version is that it relied on FMV streaming with tons of compression artefacts when it probably wasn't really necessary. Playing the game on MAME with a mouse is great fun though.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Every port is a bit of an odd port

[@METR0lD]

We got the Death Star! We got the Borg cube ships! We got Starblade!!

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Blade Wars Star Blade

[@Charlie-Cat.]

Beautiful game Star Blade is VGE. By any chance, did this title inspire the game Star Fox for the Super Nintendo?

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

No real evidence but I’m sure the devs played this one

[@dirkdex]

I’m confused - so which version is this and apparently is the best version? Polygonizer and system 21?? Never heard of those. Please repeat - what is the best emulator that runs starblade that we should try?

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

MAME

[@williamcase426]

TASTE OF MY BLADE

[@nicci_dee8292]

Love this game❤

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

An absolute classic

[@simon41978]

There's a PS2 port on the Tekken 5 disc.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

There is :) I do cheat when I feel like it for Unported

[@DontCallMeScooterrr]

Totally agree, there is a special charm to that flat shaded low poly look of the era. If only this "borrowed" a John Williams-esque orchestral ost along with the rest of the Star Wars, ummm... inspiration, it would be an 11/10

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Haha it does have Star Wars adjacent vibes

[@chrislaustin]

This is a true 3D classic from back in the day, as I would play it when I saw it places, but it usually cost more than the other games so my play sessions would be limited. I actually enjoy the Sega CD version, of course it doesn't match the arcade original, but it's a solid fun ride all the same.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

These cabs were so expensive they had to be really expensive per play or else they were probably profit losers

[@ГригорийБуров-м1ъ]

Im pretty sure i know where most of us have played it for the first time

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Haha probably

[@SP95]

The day you are going to discover a Galaxian3 cabinet from that same hardware 😶‍🌫

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Haha I wish

[@TheKayliedGamerChannel-YouTube]

I got the PS1 port.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

A fun port but I wish it wasn’t textured

[@trzy]

I mistook this for Galaxian 3. The games are closely related but Galaxian 3 came a year earlier and came as a giant booth that could seat 6 players with a massive projection screen. Never seen Starblade in the wild but Galaxian 3 was at Fun Quest in Reno for many years up until the mid 2000's. I don't think I ever really played it (by the late 90's it was quite dated and the 6-player co-op plus price was off-putting) but would love to try these now.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

I used to go through Reno for work a lot. Wish I had seen it

[@trzy]

@@VideoGameEsoterica What brought you here of all places? There is lots of full playthrough footage on KZbin. Turns out it's a LaserDisc rail shooter but it clearly features enemy and obstacle designs in common with Starblade. Great music, too -- including that Thunder Blade-style Seinfeld slap bass :D

[@ZBR_ProXP]

I loved this game so much on Tekken 5. Later I bought the PS1 version and didn’t like it much at all compared to the arcade version.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

The PS1 version is def the weakest

[@Fred-lt1]

Cybermorph was quite bad, but its next iteration on the Jaguar CD (Battlemoprh) was quite good.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Cybermorph had a good concept with bad execution

[@hybridvigga]

Never saw this in arcades growing up. Had it on Mega CD which was awful, avoided the PS1 version the Mega CD one was that bad, but found a new love for it after unlocking the full game in Tekken 5. Plus you're 100% right about Virtua Racing still looking good and clean, whereas most PS1/PS2 and even some PS3 gen driving games look terrible without the stylised graphics. It's why Virtua Cop 1 still holds up better than House of the Dead. **EDIT - Have you ever done a video on the old, untextured, Namco racing games that were around in Model 1 SEGA days. Never saw a single one of them in the UK and they never got ported to anything**

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

I did a vid on Ace Driver but nothing earlier. They are on the list for the future

[@H6rdc0re]

Tekken 5 has the arcade version of Starblade.

[@TheKayliedGamerChannel-YouTube]

Is it fully unlockable or just the first stage?

[@budge1972]

Wasn't this the same game as Galaxian3 on ps1?

[@hybridvigga]

@@TheKayliedGamerChannel-KZbin It's a tiny bit of the first stage when the game boots, but after a certain point in the 'Devil within' story mode you unlock it and add it to the three earlier Tekken games in the arcade history bit of the options. If I remember right, you have to find a secret area in the Devil Within bit where there's a copy of the cabinet, to unlock it, game FAQs probably remembers better than me though and will know exactly where the hidden area is.

[@hybridvigga]

@@budge1972 Galaxians 3 came out years after this originally, and it's just a similar type of game by the same maker, the same way Daytona isn't the same game as Outrun, but if you liked one the other should do good by ya.

[@H6rdc0re]

​@@TheKayliedGamerChannel-KZbinIt's the full version and also has the full arcade versions of Tekken 1-3.

[@mjy]

I was playing this in MAME several years ago and was having lots of fun with it... but something kept bugging me. I knew I had seen/played it before, but I simply couldn't remember where. I had never seen it in person in any arcade that I had ever been to, which only served to make me even more puzzled. Then I realized... I forgot that I had bought it for the Sega CD when it came out, but probably only played it less than an hour. It looked and sounded great, but was a very forgettable and disappointing experience gameplay-wise.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Yeah the Sega CD version is mid at best

[@olgagomez1881]

Starblade is included on tekken 5 for ps2, have lower resolution to me.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

It is

[@beingsupersonic7499]

I like the flat shaded polygons but was never a fan of the explosions. Still, a fun game though and, yeah, such a Star Wars rip off🤪✌🏻

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Haha def had some blatant Star Wars inspiration going on

[@MarquisDeSang]

This game is lame, it could have been a laser disc game. Cybermorph is a real game. Race driving did 3d much better

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Can’t agree with you there haha

[@CCCP-sr9ou]

Star Wars Arcade was more technologically advanced: it used NEC V60 graphics and a Motorola 68000 processor.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Sega always had the edge