If you like old-school arcade gaming, you should check out Bigger Planet’s new game release Starbase Defender. It has retro-style game play with updated graphics and sound, and it’s available for download now. Best of all, it’s an original Mac game.
Starbase Defender draws its inspiration from classic arcade games like Missile Command, according to the developer — though it reminds this author most of the classic Cinematronics vector-based game Rip Off. You are the eponymous defender, and it’s up to you to defend your cores from theft by alien attackers. Each progressive wave of attacks pits you against more numerous and challenging foes. 70 waves of action bring you face-to-face with the enemy admiral’s command ship in a battle to the death.
You’re not helpless, however: Your starbase will periodically receive power-ups that will provide you with new and more powerful weapons, and the better your accuracy, the more likely that valiant Captain Exley will help you by dragging your cores back to the starbase.
Bigger Planet is the same developer behind Ambrosia Software’s popular space-based action game Ares. The company has also created tools like PPP Genie and much more.
Until April 4, 2004, you can buy Starbase Defender for 20 percent off its regular price, or $16. After that date, it’ll return to $20. Starbase Defender requires Mac OS X v10.2.8 or better or Mac OS 9.2.2 or better; G3/266MHz or faster; 20MB free RAM; 24MB free HD space.