StarBlade

StarBlade is a 1990 DOS space shooter built around fast action, enemy waves, and the familiar challenge of keeping a small spacecraft alive against a very large number of things trying to destroy it. The game emphasizes reflexes and shooting rather than complicated strategic systems, with scrolling levels filled with enemies and hazards. Its straightforward design makes it easy to pick up, while increasing difficulty provides the usual incentive to keep improving. StarBlade has the unmistakable flavor of late-1980s and early-1990s arcade shooters, when a game could provide hours of entertainment using little more than a ship, a weapon, some increasingly angry enemies, and a high-score table. The presentation is simple by modern standards, but that simplicity gives the action a direct quality. There is no need to worry about diplomacy or resource management here. Something appears on screen, it looks hostile, and your ship has a gun. Frankly, that is a fairly complete mission briefing.