| Starblade | |
|---|---|
 Advertising flyer | |
| Developer(s) | Namco Technosoft (SEGA CD) |
| Publisher(s) | Namco |
| Director(s) | Hajime Nakatani |
| Composer(s) | Shinji Hosoe |
| Platform(s) | Arcade, Sega CD, 3DO, PlayStation, Mobile phone |
| Release | PlayStation |
| Genre(s) | Rail shooter |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
| Arcade system | Namco System 21 |
Starblade[a] is a 1991 3D rail shooter arcade game developed and published by Namco. Controlling the starfighter FX-01 "GeoSword" from a first-person perspective, the player is tasked with eliminating the Unknown Intelligent Mechanized Species (UIMS) before they wipe out Earth. Gameplay involves controlling a crosshair with a flight yoke stick and destroying enemies and their projectiles before they inflict damage on the player.
Starblade was directed by Hajime Nakatani. A successor to Namco's Galaxian3: Project Dragoon theme park attraction, it began as a prototype for a single-player version of that game, however poor feedback from playtesters caused it to become an original project. The team drew inspiration from Hollywood science-fiction films, particularly Star Wars, and wanted the game to have a more cinematic presentation with cutscenes and an orchestra soundtrack. Namco's early experimentation with 3D games, such as Winning Run and Solvalou, made development of the game an easy task. The arcade cabinet featured a concave mirror to give off a sense of depth.
The arcade version of Starblade received critical acclaim, being praised for its 3D graphics and cinematic presentation. It is cited as an important and influential game in 3D video games, serving as inspiration for games such as Star Fox, Panzer Dragoon and Rez. Home conversions were released for the 3DO and Sega CD, with a PlayStation remake named Starblade Alpha[b] being released a year later. These versions were less well-received, being criticized for their low replay value and lack of extra content from the arcade release. An arcade sequel, Starblade: Operation Blue Planet, was in development in 2001 and later cancelled.
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