Destination Earthstar for NES FAQ

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Destination Earthstar for NES FAQ

by BHodges

Version 1.0
Created 12/23/08

This document Copyright 2008 by Brian Hodges. This FAQ is not to be posted
without explicit permission by me.

All trademarks and copyrights contained in this document are owned by their
respective trademark and copyright holders.

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Table of Contents

I. Introduction
II. Background Story
III. Gameplay
A. Star System Stage
1. Object
2. Controls
3. Gridmap
4. Weapons
5. Planets
6. Armory
7. Home Base Station
8. Enemy Base Station
B. Base Station Stage
1. Object
2. Controls
3. Power Ups
IV. Cheats
V. Game Review
VI. Version History
VII. Contact Information

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I. Introduction

This is a FAQ for the NES game Destination Earthstar. It contains instructions
on how to play, game tips, and a mini-review.

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II. Background Story

Here is the background story from the instruction booklet:

You've been selected to go back. Back to the home of your ancestors. You'll
have to traverse eight Star Systems to get there. And each one is infested
with dreaded, deadly Terrestrial Terrorists.

THE TIME HAS COME TO RETURN HOME

You've never actually been there. It's been eons since anyone from your long
lineage of humans has actually been there.

But the image of Earth has been kept alive by the elders. You've heard stories
about it. And your race still performs the music from it -- aaah, the music!
Even the Kojans seem to take on human-like qualities when they hear the music
..

The Kojans are the ones who kidnaped (SIC) an entire shipful of Earthlings (not
just humans, but canines, bovines, and domestic robotines too.) That was
centuries ago -- when the Kojan empire was younger, wilder, less civilized. It
was part of their attempt to collect the highest species from all eight of the
mega Star Systems.

At first the Kojans displayed the living spoils of their astral journeys in
open zoo-like cages. Eventually, the Earth's humans -- along with species from
other Star Systems -- were incorporated into the Kojan socio-structure as
slaves. Finally, as the centuries passed and the Kojans became more mellow,
more refined, non-natives were given the same rights and privileges that the
Kojans themselves enjoyed.

With their newfound freedom and financial resources, the EarthStar society has
decided to send a representative back to Earth. The process for choosing that
person has been quite delicate and very detailed.

The person must be a full-blooded Earthling. Strong. Intelligent.
Personable (he has to make a good impression on the ancestors of Earth, if
they still exist.) Furthermore, he must know how to fly SpaceShip EarthShip,
created just for this mission.

But most importantly, he must be an ace space fighter. For in order to reach
Earth, he must traverse eight Star Systems -- and he must destroy the eight
Terrorist Bases within those Star Systems.

Each Star System is riddled with Terrestrial Terrorists -- they're poised,
ready, and waiting for anything or anyone to enter their Star System.

And in addition to a roaming fleet of deadly fighter ships, each pirate gang
controls a powerful Base Station which is at the heart of every Star System.
So even if an intruder can manage to combat the wandering fleet, he must still
confront the Base Station in order to exit the Star System alive ...

Well, as you may now have guessed, it is you who have been chosen to journey
to Earth. To battle the Terrestrial Terrorists along the way. To return --
after all these years -- to the place of your origins.

They say you can never go home again. But then again, they don't know how long
you've waited ...

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III. Gameplay

The game consists of eight different star systems. Each system has two
different stages: a Star System stage and a Base Station stage.

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A. Star System Stage

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1. Object

The object of the Star System stages is to defeat all enemy fighters. Then
you need to enter the enemy Base Station.

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2. Controls

Steer: Control Pad
Fire: Press A
Switch Weapon: Press Start
Speed Up: Hold B and press Up
Slow Down: Hold B and press Down
Enter Hyperspace: Hold B and hold Up until you enter hyperspace
Exit Hyperspace: While in hyperspace, hold B and press Down
Change View: Hold Select and press B
Pause: Press A and B simultaneously (you heard me)
Toggle Music: Pause twice in a row
Land/Dock: Get close to a base or planet, line it up in the center of the
view screen, then come to a complete stop.

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3. Gridmap

The Gridmap is the 8x8 map of the current system displayed on the left side of
the screen. It shows your current position and heading as well as the location
of enemies (number 1-9), planets (O), armories (A), and friendly bases (B).
Once you have destroyed all enemy fighters, the enemy base will be displayed
as a 'B' inside a solid square.

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4. Weapons

Ruby Laser

The Ruby Laser is your primary weapon. It has limited ammo and has will
overheat quickly. If it overheats, you will be unable to fire for several
seconds. The heat gauge is located on the right side of the display.

Neutron Torpedoes

These are pretty much useless, they don't lock onto targets and have limited
ammo.

Argon Blaster

A more powerful laser, you must find this before you can use it.

Heat Seeker

You can lock onto enemy ships with these.

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5. Planets

Planets are represented by an 'O' on the Gridmap. To land on a planet, line
it up in the center of your view screen and come to a complete stop. If you
are close enough, you will get a confirmation message. Some planets contain
weapons or fuel. You are only allowed to visit each planet once.

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6. Armory

Armories are represented by an 'A' on your Gridmap. To dock with an Armory,
line it up in the center of your view screen and come to a complete stop. If
you are close enough, you will get a confirmation message and dock. Docking at
an Armory replenishes your weapon ammo.

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7. Home Base Station

Home Base stations are represented by a 'B' on your Gridmap. To dock with a
Home Base, line it up in the center of your view screen and then come to a
complete stop. If you are close enough, you will get a message saying you
have docked. Docking with a Home Base station will replenish your energy and
repair damage to your ship.

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8. Enemy Base Station

The Enemy Base Station is represented by a 'B' inside a solid white square on
the Gridmap. It will only appear after you have destroyed all enemy fighters
in the current system. To enter the Base Station, line it up in the center of
the view screen, then stop your engines. If you are close enough, you will see
a message saying that you have established an orbit. You will then begin the
Base Station stage.

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B. Base Station

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1. Object

The goal in the Base Station stages is to make your way through a 2D shooter
stage and kill the boss. You have a limited number of lives. Coming in
contact with enemy units, weapons, or even the walls will result in instant
death.

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2. Controls

Speed up: Press Right
Slow down: Press Left
Fire Forward: Press A
Fire Behind: Press B
Pause: Press Start
Switch Weapons: Hold Start and press Up, Down, Left, Right
Barrel roll: Hold both A and B and press Up or Down while you have a shield
equipped.

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3. Power Ups

Front Weapons

These look like triangles pointing to the right.

Rear Weapons

These look like triangles pointing to the left.

Shields

These look like circles.

Extra Lives

These look like stars.

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IV. Cheats

Here are some useful Game Genie codes I got off of gamegenie.com:

NNNEUUOO More energy
SXVSVIVG Infinite lives
XTNVSNXK Don't lose special weapon in sub game

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V. Game Review

This is an absolutely horrible game! When you consider that the two different
stages are based on two of the best video games ever (Star Raiders and
Gradius), it's shocking Acclaim couldn't manage to make a decent game.

Pros

- Copies of this game are cheap ...

Cons

- The graphics are barely better than Atari 2600 quality.
- The sound effects are bland and the music is irritating.
- The controls are way too complicated.
- The gameplay is very repetitive.
- The System stages are way too easy and the Base stages are way too hard.
- They named the ship SpaceShip EarthShip???

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VI. Version History

1.0 12/23/08 Created FAQ.

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VII. Contact Information

You can contact me at [email protected]

I would appreciate hearing what you thought of this guide and any thoughts
you have for improving it. Be sure to let me know if I have missed anything.

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End