Kiloblaster
Encyclopedia
Kiloblaster is a Space
Shooter
Video Game Trilogy
written by Allen Pilgrim and published by Epic MegaGames in the early 1990s. It is based on the classic Galaxian
game, with a few differences such as allowing greater player movement (up and down as well as left and right), much faster enemy movement, power-ups, enemies that take more than one hit, and allies to assist in battle. It runs under MS-DOS
, and took advantage of the still relatively new 256-colour VGA standard, although like Jill of the Jungle
before it, a 16-colour EGA
mode was also selectable in version 1.0. Running in 256-colour mode would place many obviously computer-generated backgrounds behind the main game levels, something common in games of this era keen to show off their graphical capabilities. The game also has Adlib
music (in CMF
format) and Sound Blaster
sound effects. Allen Pilgrim declared the registered version freeware
on August 4, 2008.
The Kiloblaster can collect certain items for aid. An apple restores a hit point, otherwise boosts the player's score if hit points are maxed out. A banana boosts the player's score. A stawberry temporarily summons two or four wingmen, minature ships that fire the same projectiles as the player (except for smaller missiles) and are destroyed by a single enemy shot. A Can of Spinach grants the Kiloblaster a temporary invincibility shield. Only a space mine can destroy the shield. Power Rings randomly give the Kiloblaster Regular Missiles or the widespread Pink Panther Missile.
In the second episode "No Way Out", the Kiloblaster is surrounded by the alien force but after finding their weak point, takes off for another battle.
In the final episode "The Final Battle", the alien force is crippled and is making a counter attack for earth. The Captain makes all the speed possible fighting on the way for the final battle and alert earth. In the end all the captain gets for a reward is a two week holiday in Jamaica.
Space
Space is the boundless, three-dimensional extent in which objects and events occur and have relative position and direction. Physical space is often conceived in three linear dimensions, although modern physicists usually consider it, with time, to be part of a boundless four-dimensional continuum...
Shooter
Shooter game
Shooter games are a sub-genre of action game, which often test the player's speed and reaction time. It includes many subgenres that have the commonality of focusing "on the actions of the avatar using some sort of weapon. Usually this weapon is a gun, or some other long-range weapon". A common...
Video Game Trilogy
Trilogy
A trilogy is a set of three works of art that are connected, and that can be seen either as a single work or as three individual works. They are commonly found in literature, film, or video games...
written by Allen Pilgrim and published by Epic MegaGames in the early 1990s. It is based on the classic Galaxian
Galaxian
is an arcade game developed by Namco in 1979. It was published by Namco in Japan and was imported to North America by Midway in 1980. A fixed shooter-style game in which the player controls a spaceship at the bottom of the screen and shoots enemies descending in various directions, it was designed...
game, with a few differences such as allowing greater player movement (up and down as well as left and right), much faster enemy movement, power-ups, enemies that take more than one hit, and allies to assist in battle. It runs under MS-DOS
DOS
DOS, short for "Disk Operating System", is an acronym for several closely related operating systems that dominated the IBM PC compatible market between 1981 and 1995, or until about 2000 if one includes the partially DOS-based Microsoft Windows versions 95, 98, and Millennium Edition.Related...
, and took advantage of the still relatively new 256-colour VGA standard, although like Jill of the Jungle
Jill of the Jungle
Jill of the Jungle is a trilogy of platform computer games released in 1992 by Epic MegaGames. It was intended to rival computer games from other shareware companies such as id Software and Apogee Software, Ltd....
before it, a 16-colour EGA
EGA
EGA may stand for*EGA: estimated gestational age, medical*Eagle, Globe, and Anchor, the emblem of the United States Marine Corps*Egyptian German Automotive Company, the Mercedes-Benz manufacturer in Egypt*Elegant Gothic Aristocrat, a fashion line...
mode was also selectable in version 1.0. Running in 256-colour mode would place many obviously computer-generated backgrounds behind the main game levels, something common in games of this era keen to show off their graphical capabilities. The game also has Adlib
AdLib
Ad Lib, Inc. was a manufacturer of sound cards and other computer equipment founded by Martin Prevel, a former professor of music and vice-dean of the music department at the Université Laval...
music (in CMF
Creative Music File
The Creative Music File is a synthesised music file format, similar to MIDI, designed by Creative Labs for use with their Sound Blaster cards. The format actually stores its song data in MIDI format but it differs in that while MIDI instruments are standardised, CMF instruments are stored in the...
format) and Sound Blaster
Sound Blaster
The Sound Blaster family of sound cards was the de facto standard for consumer audio on the IBM PC compatible system platform, until the widespread transition to Microsoft Windows 95, which standardized the programming interface at application level , and the evolution in PC design led to onboard...
sound effects. Allen Pilgrim declared the registered version freeware
Freeware
Freeware is computer software that is available for use at no cost or for an optional fee, but usually with one or more restricted usage rights. Freeware is in contrast to commercial software, which is typically sold for profit, but might be distributed for a business or commercial purpose in the...
on August 4, 2008.
Gameplay
Each episodes consists of 30 levels. Almost every 3 levels have their background and music track. The player must use the Kiloblaster ship to eliminate all rebel ships in the levels otherwise survive the multiple waves of invading attack ships. Most enemies are destroyed in one shot, but some enemies require more shots to be destroyed. Enemy bullets or ramming into an enemy ship damages the Kiloblaster. The Kiloblaster is destroyed after five hits. Few enemies use killer laser shots instead of bullets. In some levels there are space mines which destroy the Kiloblaster on impact.The Kiloblaster can collect certain items for aid. An apple restores a hit point, otherwise boosts the player's score if hit points are maxed out. A banana boosts the player's score. A stawberry temporarily summons two or four wingmen, minature ships that fire the same projectiles as the player (except for smaller missiles) and are destroyed by a single enemy shot. A Can of Spinach grants the Kiloblaster a temporary invincibility shield. Only a space mine can destroy the shield. Power Rings randomly give the Kiloblaster Regular Missiles or the widespread Pink Panther Missile.
Storyline
In the first episode "Death of a Starship" the starship called Kiloprise was attacked by aliens and sent to the outer regions of space. The captain of the ship takes a powerful jet fighter to transport the remaining crew and fight his way through the galaxy to warn Earth of the coming rebel invasion.In the second episode "No Way Out", the Kiloblaster is surrounded by the alien force but after finding their weak point, takes off for another battle.
In the final episode "The Final Battle", the alien force is crippled and is making a counter attack for earth. The Captain makes all the speed possible fighting on the way for the final battle and alert earth. In the end all the captain gets for a reward is a two week holiday in Jamaica.