Startopia
Details
Release date: 2001
Format: PC
Developer: Mucky Foot Productions
Genre: Management Simulation
Review Score: 80%
Date added: October 2011
Format: PC
Developer: Mucky Foot Productions
Genre: Management Simulation
Review Score: 80%
Date added: October 2011
Review
In some respects Startopia is similar to and perhaps a spiritual successor to Theme Hospital and other Bullfrog games. Mucky Foot from what i remember included a significant number of ex-Bullfrog employees. As such if you like Theme Hospital or Dungon Keeper you will like this game. The interface shares similarities to the previously mentioned games: you draw out rooms within a vast cavernous space station split across three decks. Coming to visit the station and these rooms is an array of humourous alien creatures who you must entice to your part of the station by providing the best facilities, if you fail at this the aliens will visit one of your up to four competitors who all operate on the same station. This allows for some espionage and battle elements: given the limited space of the station it ultimately becomes necessary to take over competitors sections by force. The game is presented in a fully 3d environment which is best appreciated in the 'biodeck', this is the top ring of the station which contains no rooms, instead you may terraform it into a vast park by altering various parameters. This park provides space for your visitors to relax as well as for your staff to grow plants and crops which can be used to provide services in the levels below.
The game has some pretty decent background music, for the entire game you are guided by your computer assistant VAL who provides humourous and sarcastic comments as well as advice and instructions on how to complete your mission. You are also visited by the travelling trader Arona who is similarly ironic in his language as he tries to scam you with offers.
The reason many people have never heard of this game is because it was given famously little marketing, this does not reflect on the quality of the game however, if marketed properly Startopia could easily have been a big hit. It is easily re-playable, on top of the campaign missions there is a sandbox mode with many configuration options to set the game up. The most serious copatability issue which comes up with the game is to do with multiplayer - hence why I have not mentioned that element. Multiplayer is included but is so incredibly bugged that it will often crash and the save function does not work properly. There are complicated ways to reduce these problems including disabling direct draw on your PC ( often easier said than done) but no way yet to permanently fix the issues. If you do brave an attempt at multiplayer do not press escape! It is usually not possible to close the ingame menu once it is open during a multiplayer game, including after loading a save, rendering the game unplayable. The only other compatability issue is more aesthetic than problematic, although the game can handle modern screen resolutions when set to a high one the menu screens will not fit their backgrounds properly, this simply looks messy but does not affect gameplay.
Ratings
Originality Re-play Value Compatibility Visual Quality Sound Quality
8/10 9/10 7/10 8/10 8/10
Total Score
80%
The game has some pretty decent background music, for the entire game you are guided by your computer assistant VAL who provides humourous and sarcastic comments as well as advice and instructions on how to complete your mission. You are also visited by the travelling trader Arona who is similarly ironic in his language as he tries to scam you with offers.
The reason many people have never heard of this game is because it was given famously little marketing, this does not reflect on the quality of the game however, if marketed properly Startopia could easily have been a big hit. It is easily re-playable, on top of the campaign missions there is a sandbox mode with many configuration options to set the game up. The most serious copatability issue which comes up with the game is to do with multiplayer - hence why I have not mentioned that element. Multiplayer is included but is so incredibly bugged that it will often crash and the save function does not work properly. There are complicated ways to reduce these problems including disabling direct draw on your PC ( often easier said than done) but no way yet to permanently fix the issues. If you do brave an attempt at multiplayer do not press escape! It is usually not possible to close the ingame menu once it is open during a multiplayer game, including after loading a save, rendering the game unplayable. The only other compatability issue is more aesthetic than problematic, although the game can handle modern screen resolutions when set to a high one the menu screens will not fit their backgrounds properly, this simply looks messy but does not affect gameplay.
Ratings
Originality Re-play Value Compatibility Visual Quality Sound Quality
8/10 9/10 7/10 8/10 8/10
Total Score
80%
Where To Get It
Amazon Play.com Ebay
Installation Instructions
Install the game from the CD following the on screen instructions as normal. If the game appears to run strangely you may want to right click the game shortcut, go to properties and enable compatability mode for Windows 98.
Recommended Files
Patch 1.01 - This file patches the game to version 1.01, this addresses several issues with the game and adds a significant number of (small) new features. The full list of features can be found in the patch readme after installing.
Optional Files
Patch 1.01b - This is an alternative to the 1.01 patch above, if that patch doesnt work for you (I dont see why it wouldnt) then use this. DO NOT install this as well/instead of the recommended patch, the fact that it has b in its name does not mean it is a later or better patch.
CardID patch - This file updates the number of graphics cards supported by the game (although the patch itself is only 1 year newer than the game). I wouldnt suggest using it unless you experience graphic problems, the patch makes no noticeable difference for me other than reducing the number of available screen resolutions. To install copy the Cardid.tom file from the zip into your Startopia root directory. That should replace an existing (older file), you can ignore the other file in the zip folder, that is a backup of the original Cardid.tom file should you wish to revert to the original.
Recommended Files
Patch 1.01 - This file patches the game to version 1.01, this addresses several issues with the game and adds a significant number of (small) new features. The full list of features can be found in the patch readme after installing.
Optional Files
Patch 1.01b - This is an alternative to the 1.01 patch above, if that patch doesnt work for you (I dont see why it wouldnt) then use this. DO NOT install this as well/instead of the recommended patch, the fact that it has b in its name does not mean it is a later or better patch.
CardID patch - This file updates the number of graphics cards supported by the game (although the patch itself is only 1 year newer than the game). I wouldnt suggest using it unless you experience graphic problems, the patch makes no noticeable difference for me other than reducing the number of available screen resolutions. To install copy the Cardid.tom file from the zip into your Startopia root directory. That should replace an existing (older file), you can ignore the other file in the zip folder, that is a backup of the original Cardid.tom file should you wish to revert to the original.
Links to other sources
Startopia Post - Highly detailed website devoted to the game, no longer updated however.
RTSC Startopia - One section of a larger RTS fan site. Contains descriptions, screen shots and useful files.
RTSC Startopia - One section of a larger RTS fan site. Contains descriptions, screen shots and useful files.