Star Lance

Play (A JavaScript Port of the Android App)

Download (Original Android App) [No Longer Available]

Summary

A simple game where you control a giant space laser and use it to shoot apart threats to the Earth.

Uses realistic physics for the lasers and rockets and things. For instance, lasers deal less damage the further away the target is.

Story

Aliens have invaded the solar system and are throwing everything from meteors to battleships towards the Earth. Humanity however has a trump card, The Star Aegis System, consisting of the Star Lance, which is a system of giant orbital laser cannons, and the Star Shield, a giant plasma barrier, both of which are powered by the Dragon's Heart fusion reactor.

Lance

The Star Lance is a system of satellites that closely orbit the Earth. In the game, this means that the Star Lance orbits in a circle around the Earth at a certain rate. The Star Lance can fire at anything within a square zone on the player's screen.

Shield

The Earth is also protected by the Star Shield, a powerful enhancement of the Earth's magnetic field that involves spreading plasma into the field to create one massive shield. However, the Star Lance cannot shoot through the Star Shield, and so, in order for the shield to be active, the player cannot be firing the Star Lance. Basically to use the shield you have to press and hold on the Earth, and the shield will charge up to maximum strength. When you release, the shield will fall back down to a minimum passive strength (initially zero percent, but can be upgraded to something higher). The Star Lance cannot be fired while the shield strength is above the passive strength.

Energy

Both the Star Lance and the Star Shield are powered by the "Dragon's Heart" Muon-catalyzed cold fusion reactor. Thus there is a blue Energy Bar on the interface. Every shot by the Star Lance consumes a unit of energy, and energy recharges at a certain rate, with a maximum store that can be increased with upgrades. The Star Shield consumes 1 unit of energy to activate, and prevents the energy from recharging while active.

Plasma

The Star Shield also requires Plasma to function. Thus, there is a purple Plasma Bar on the interface. Plasma represents the effective strength of the Star Shield. Plasma does not recharge but instead is refilled after each wave. There is a maximum store that can be increased with upgrades. Some impacts that hit the Star Shield will cause plasma to be dissipated and lost.

Missiles

Pressing and holding on a target or empty space will lock onto it. Releasing will launch a missile. Missiles are initially slow, but can deal splash damage to targets. Missiles, which begin as Nuclear Fission-based, can be upgraded to Fusion and Antimatter warheads and engines.

Earth and Population

There is also a green Population Bar that indicates the remaining population on Earth. If this reaches zero, you lose the game. Technically the game assumes that Earth begins with a population of 8 billion. Attacks that hit the Earth and are not completely absorbed by the Star Shield (which can be at less than 100% strength) will inflict some number of population loss based on the percentage not absorbed by the Star Shield.

Controls

The basic control scheme is that pressing anywhere in the field will fire the Star Lance at that location. Pressing and holding on the Earth will cause the Star Shield to activate. Otherwise, when nothing is being pressed, the Energy will recharge, but Earth will be vulnerable to attack and loss of population. Pressing and holding on a target will lock onto it for a missile to be launched on release.

Waves

The game is divided into Waves, with a counter indicating the number of Enemy Attack Forces remaining that are still to appear on the screen. Every few seconds, a new Enemy Attack is launched, consisting of a certain number of Enemy Attack Forces. What enemy appears, its starting location on the periphery and its speed are all determined randomly within certain limits. Each wave has more Enemy Attack Forces than the last. Once this counter reaches zero, the player has successfully survived the Wave. Plasma is restored to maximum after every Wave, and the population will increase by 1.1%, up to a maximum of 10 billion. Each new wave increases the number of Enemy Attack Forces that must be endured. The player officially wins the game if they can survive Ten Waves.

Enemy Attacks

Meteors

These simply follow a simple trajectory and fall towards the Earth slowly. They come in various sizes.

Missiles

These rush towards the Earth more quickly and deal much more damage. Their initially Nuclear Fission-based warhead and engine can be upgraded to Fusion and Antimatter.

Lasers

These are fired from warships and can be upgraded.

Warships

Ships are capable of launching missiles, firing super lasers, or landing and invading. What they are equipped with is randomly determined. Warship classes are determined by the division of Firepower, Engines, and Defences.

Invasion Transports

All ships are considered invasion transports that carry a certain number of marines based on mass. If a ship manages to land on Earth, it will send out marines with high powered lasers to invade, after which the population will go down by some number of units, representing the civilian casualties of fighting off the invaders. You cannot stop a ship landing with the Star Shield, but (hint) you can shoot ships down easily with the Star Lance as the damage power of the laser gets stronger the closer the target is.

Upgrades

Name: DRAGON'S HEART
Description: The fundamental energy component of the STAR AEGIS system. Consists of a both a powerful fusion reactor and the network of energy relays.
Effect: Enables energy.
Prerequisite: NONE

Name: STAR LANCE
Description: The fundamental offensive component of the STAR AEGIS system. Two orbiting giant space lasers allow total for total coverage of all angles of attack.
Effect: Enables laser attack.
Prerequisite: DRAGON'S HEART

Name: STAR SHIELD
Description: The fundamental defensive component of the STAR AEGIS system. A complex matrix of tiny microsatellites allows plasma to be channeled and charged around the Earth.
Effect: Enables shield defense.
Prerequisite: DRAGON'S HEART

Name: GREEN LASER
Description: A higher frequency green laser.
Effect: Increased laser firepower.
Prerequisite: STAR LANCE

Name: BLUE LASER
Description: A higher frequency blue laser.
Effect: Increased laser firepower.
Prerequisite: GREEN LASER

Name: PURPLE LASER
Description: A higher frequency purple laser.
Effect: Increased laser firepower.
Prerequisite: BLUE LASER

Name: ULTRAVIOLET LASER
Description: A higher frequency ultraviolet laser.
Effect: Increased laser firepower.
Prerequisite: PURPLE LASER

Name: PASSIVE SHIELDING
Description: Enables permanent passive shield absorbing 10% of potential damage.
Effect: 10% Passive Shield.
Prerequisite: STAR SHIELD

Name: ENHANCED PASSIVE SHIELDING
Description: Increases permanent passive shield power to 20%.
Effect: 20% Passive Shield.
Prerequisite: PASSIVE SHIELDING

Name: ADVANCED PASSIVE SHIELDING
Description: Increases permanent passive shield power to 30%.
Effect: 30% Passive Shield.
Prerequisite: ENHANCED PASSIVE SHIELDING

Name: RAPID SHIELD CAPACITOR
Description: A boost to shield activation.
Effect: Shield activation starts at 50%.
Prerequisite: STAR SHIELD

Name: ENHANCED DRAGON'S HEART
Description: A significant upgrade of the main fusion reactor.
Effect: Doubled energy pool.
Prerequisite: DRAGON'S HEART

Name: ADVANCED DRAGON'S HEART
Description: A significant upgrade of the main fusion reactor.
Effect: Further doubled energy pool.
Prerequisite: ENHANCED DRAGON'S HEART

Name: ENHANCED PLASMA CONTAINMENT
Description: A significant upgrade of the shield's plasma containment.
Effect: Doubled Plasma.
Prerequisite: DRAGON'S HEART

Name: ADVANCED PLASMA CONTAINMENT
Description: A significant upgrade of the shield's plasma containment.
Effect: Further doubled Plasma.
Prerequisite: ENHANCED PLASMA CONTAINMENT

Name: FUSION MISSILE
Description: Superior power source and fuel.
Effect: More powerful warhead and rocket engine.
Prerequisite: DRAGON'S HEART

Name: ANTIMATTER MISSILE
Description: The ultimate power source and fuel.
Effect: Even more powerful warhead and rocket engine.
Prerequisite: FUSION MISSILE

Concept Art