Space Rogue
Platform: Commodore 64
Gametype: Undefined
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The Princess Blue was a trading vessel. While cruising through space, it happened upon a derelict ship floating in space. Only one crew member was allowed to investigate the abandoned ship. Suddenly, Manchi raiders appeared on the viewscreen. The Manchi managed to ambush and destroy the Princess Blue. As the only surviving crew member from the Princess Blue, you swear revenge... but it's a big and expensive universe. In order to upgrade and repair the ship, you'll need credits. Which could be obtained through trading or hunting down pirates or maybe a special mission or two. There's also the matter of finding those who are responsible for the death of the Princess Blue. Following their trail will require obtaining information from several different characters.

Space Rogue is a space simulation, a predecessor to Origin's better known Wing Commander series and specifically, Wing Commander: Privateer. Space flight takes place in two different modes: Cruise Flight, which is ideal for travelling quickly, and Newtonian Flight, which works best for combat and precision flying. Each planetary system has a variety of destinations and obstacles to travel through via a top-down navigational map. 

Interstellar travel, between systems, is done by finding a Malir Gate and using it to reach hyperspace. While in hyperspace, the game becomes a simple 'tunnel' game where you must manually control the ship not to hit any of the walls. Also hyperspace travel eats away at your ship, so the faster you can get through them, the more armor your ship retains. Finally, when docked on most locations, the game shows your pilot from a top-view and you can walk to different shops/bars/characters.

Trivia

The 3D spaceflight engine used in this game served as a basis of development for the one used in Ultima Underworld games.

Like all of Origin's titles released in the 80's, this one came with a weird knickknack: a series of carboard cutouts that you could fold and turn into a 3D spaceship!

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Description from the packaging:

Dropping out of hyperspace, you lay a course for Lagrange Station. Suddenly, the klaxon screams out a warning. Two Darts and a Corsair, closing fast. Pirates!
You roll hard to avoid the incoming plasma torps. One hits, knocking down your rear shield. Spinning to protect your stern, you launch a heat seeker. Direct hit: the Corsair bursts into shards. Stunned, the Darts run for deep space.

Later, over a pint of Rigelian in the Lagrange cantina, you listen as a bounty hunter tells of the Scarlet Brotherhood, the most notorious band of pirates in the Far Arm. You hope it wasn't one of their Corsairs you vaporized out there...
Inspired Space Flight Simulation!
Trek through an astonishingly realistic universe with outposts and mining stations, planets and asteroids, stars and starships, all in spectacular 3D graphics.
Watch combat from cockpit, chase plane, or cinematic camera angles.
Engage cunning foes in heated dogfights, where you'll have to outgun and outsmart your opponents to taste victory.

Outfit your ship with plasma torpedoes, plasteel armor, particle beams, missiles, force shields, ECM units and more.
Execute loops, rolls and spins. Feel the tug of gravity as you whip around a star. Authentic spaceflight dynamics push your piloting skills to the limit.
Intense Role-Playing Adventure!
Make a fortune, and a name, trading cargo, bounty hunting, or plundering merchant ships. Every action you take affects your reputation, and who calls you friend or foe.
Meet and converse with the inhabitants of the Far Arm: Imperial troopers, merchant princes, talkative robots, and treacherous pirates.
Shop for starship hardware, do favors for aliens, carouse in bars, even play Hive!, the galaxy's hottest arcade game.

You will be drawn into a web of intrigue, secret plots, assassination attempts, intergalactic war. Ultimately, the destiny of billions will hinge on your deeds.
An electrifying Origin cinematic experience!


http://www.mobygames.com/game/c64/space-rogue
