Games published by Softstar Entertainment Inc.
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We provide a complete list of games published by this publisher.
Evolution 2: Far off Promise
Evolution 2: Far Off Promise, released in 2002, is a unique blend of action and role-playing elements set against a richly crafted post-apocalyptic backdrop. Developed by the talented studio Sandcastle Studios, this title captures the imagination with its immersive gameplay and captivating storyline. Players find themselves in a desolate world riddled with mutated creatures, hostile factions, and remnants of advanced technology, inviting them to embark on a journey of survival and discovery.
The game is particularly renowned for its detailed character customization, allowing players to tailor their avatars to fit their unique playstyle. From the selection of attributes such as strength and agility to the choice of weapons and special abilities, Evolution 2 empowers players to create heroes that reflect their individual preferences. This depth of customization goes beyond mere aesthetics, impacting gameplay mechanics and strategic approaches throughout various quests.
The combat mechanics in Evolution 2 are fluid and dynamic, encouraging players to engage foes with diverse tactics. Whether employing stealth to evade detection or launching head-on assaults with an array of futuristic weaponry, the gameplay experience is exhilarating. The enemy AI presents a noteworthy challenge, adapting to player strategies and ensuring that encounters remain fresh and unpredictable. As players progress, they will encounter formidable bosses that require not just skill, but also careful planning to conquer.
Exploration plays a pivotal role in the game's allure. Vast, open environments are teeming with hidden secrets, rare artifacts, and narrative elements that enrich the overarching story. Each zone presents distinct challenges, from navigating treacherous terrain to solving intricate puzzles that unlock further progression. The world is infused with lore, drawing players deeper into the narrative and encouraging them to unravel the mysteries of this shattered realm.
Multiplayer elements enhance the overall experience, allowing collaboration with friends or other players online to tackle challenges together. This social aspect fosters a vibrant community of adventurers, sharing strategies, and swapping tales from their individual journeys. The cooperative gameplay component introduces a fun dynamic, as teamwork becomes essential in overcoming the game's most daunting obstacles.
Gédòu Quán Wáng
Gédòu Quán Wáng, also known as King of Thieves, is a DOS game released back in 1994 by the Chinese game development company, Panda Entertainment Technology Co., Ltd. This side-scrolling action game takes players on a thrilling journey through ancient Chinese temples and cities, filled with treacherous traps and fierce enemies.
The game is set in the Warring States period of China, where players take on the role of a skilled thief who must complete a series of challenging quests to become the ultimate King of Thieves. Each level presents unique challenges and obstacles, testing the player's agility, reflexes, and strategic thinking.
Gédòu Quán Wáng stands out from other DOS games of its time due to its stunning graphics and intricate level designs. The developers have paid great attention to detail, creating a visually immersive world that truly captures the essence of ancient China. The characters are also well-designed, with fluid animations that make the gameplay experience even more dynamic and engaging.
Players must navigate through various environments, such as temples, castles, and even the Great Wall of China, while avoiding deadly traps and battling fierce warriors. The levels are designed in a way that allows for both stealth and combat, giving players the freedom to choose their preferred playstyle. Additionally, players can collect various power-ups and weapons throughout the game to aid them in their thieving adventures.
One of the most enjoyable aspects of Gédòu Quán Wáng is the boss battles. Each boss has their own unique fighting style and requires players to use their skills and quick reflexes to defeat them. From the Sorrowful Widow, skilled in acrobatics, to the ruthless Shadow Shogun, each boss battle brings a new challenge to the game.
Furthermore, the game has a captivating storyline, interwoven with Chinese mythology and history. As players progress through the game, they uncover secrets and unravel the mystery surrounding the King of Thieves. The game also includes multiple endings, adding a layer of replayability for those who want to discover all outcomes.
Girl Poker
Girl Poker, released in 1989, stands out as an intriguing entry in the vast landscape of DOS gaming. Developed during a period when the gaming industry was burgeoning, this title combined elements of strategy and chance, capturing the essence of poker within a unique context that appealed to a niche audience. The game was characterized by its bold graphics and engaging gameplay, which attracted players looking for more than just traditional card games.
The premise of Girl Poker revolved around players competing against animated female characters, each possessing distinct personalities and strategies. This dynamic added an extra layer of complexity, as players had to not only focus on their own hands but also assess their opponents' tactics. The game cleverly intertwined the mechanics of poker with the allure of arcade-style visuals, making for a captivating experience. The colorful graphics, though modest by today’s standards, captivated players and enhanced the overall ambiance of gameplay, creating an engaging environment that kept players returning for more.
Players were drawn to the challenge of outsmarting their opponents while engaging with the game's charming characters, each bringing a unique flair to the table. The inclusion of animated interactions, though simple, provided a degree of immersive storytelling, allowing players to feel more connected to the game. The character designs were playful and memorable, assisting in drawing players into the whimsical atmosphere that Girl Poker endeavored to create. The clever blend of humor and competition turned each session into a delightful endeavor.
Despite its relatively niche appeal, Girl Poker contributed to the broader evolution of video games by highlighting the potential for character-driven narratives within competitive genres. As gaming began to move toward more intricate storytelling and character development, this title demonstrated an early understanding of how character dynamics could enhance gameplay. It played a significant role in setting the stage for future developments in genre-blending within the gaming landscape, paving the way for more innovative titles.
Girl Poker may not have achieved the mainstream recognition that other games from the era garnered, but it remains a cherished memory for many who engaged with its distinctive charm. The game encapsulated an experimental spirit reflective of its time, illustrating the burgeoning possibilities within the gaming medium. Its legacy lies in its ability to mix strategy with whimsy, leaving an indelible mark on those who experienced its engaging playstyle. For gamers nostalgic for the simpler yet inventive days of DOS gaming, Girl Poker remains a delightful gem worth remembering.
Mie
Mie, a lesser-known gem from the DOS gaming era, made its debut in 1989, captivating players with its unique blend of addictive gameplay and minimalist design. Designed by the creative minds at C-Kari, this title stood out in a landscape dominated by larger productions and more intricate graphics. Mie invited players into a simple yet challenging world where strategy and pacing were essential to successful navigation through its various mazes.
The primary objective of Mie was to guide a small, spherical character through a series of labyrinthine levels while avoiding enemies and obstacles. The aesthetics of the game were minimalist, employing vibrant colors and geometric shapes to create an engaging visual experience that resonated with players at the time. Each level increased in complexity, requiring gamers to sharpen their skills and devise clever tactics to progress. The gameplay was centered on reflexes and pattern recognition, making it both accessible for casual players and appealing for those seeking a deeper challenge.
One of the remarkable elements of Mie was its soundtrack, which effectively captured the essence of the gameplay. The repetitive yet catchy chiptune music became an iconic aspect of the experience, invoking nostalgia for those who played it during its initial release. The sound effects were equally memorable, providing satisfying audio feedback that enhanced the overall immersion. It is a testament to the developers' understanding of game design that they recognized the power of audio in creating a lasting impression.
Despite its modest production values, Mie garnered a dedicated fan base, largely through word-of-mouth recommendations. The game found a place on bulletin boards and early online forums, where players shared tips and strategies. This grassroots enthusiasm helped sustain its presence in a rapidly evolving gaming landscape. It catered to a specific niche of gamers who appreciated its unpretentious charm and engaging mechanics.
As time passed, Mie faded into relative obscurity, overshadowed by the rise of 3D graphics and more sophisticated gameplay mechanics. Nevertheless, it has enjoyed a quiet resurgence in recent years as retro gaming experienced renewed popularity. Players nostalgic for simpler times have rediscovered Mie, sharing their experiences and fostering a sense of community around the classic title. The influence of Mie extends beyond its initial release, demonstrating the timeless appeal of straightforward, skill-based gaming.
Money Taipei
Money Taipei is a classic DOS game released in 1989 that offers a unique and addictive gameplay experience. Developed by Eiji Fukatsu, this game combines elements of luck and strategy to keep players engaged for hours on end. It is a variation of the popular Mahjong game, but with a twist – instead of matching tiles, players use their tiles to create sequences of money, making it a financial themed game.
The game is set in the bustling city of Taipei, where players take on the role of a successful businessman trying to accumulate as much wealth as possible. Each player starts with a certain amount of money and a set of tiles, which represent different denominations of money. The objective is to use these tiles to create a winning hand by forming sequences of three or more tiles of the same denomination.
To start off, players roll a dice and the player with the highest number gets to go first. Each turn, players have the option to either draw a new tile from the pile or take a discarded tile from another player. The strategy comes into play when deciding which tile to keep and which to discard. Players must carefully plan their moves and keep an eye on their opponents' discarded tiles to prevent them from creating a winning hand.
What makes Money Taipei even more interesting is the inclusion of special tiles such as the "bonus" tile, which doubles the value of a player's sequence, and the "double" tile, which allows a player to use the same tile in two different sequences. These tiles add an element of surprise to the game and can turn the tables in an instant.
Apart from the regular gameplay, Money Taipei also offers a variety of game modes to keep players engaged. There is a time trial mode where players have to create their winning hand within a limited time, a challenge mode where players have to complete specific objectives, and a multiplayer mode where players can compete against each other.
The graphics and sound effects of Money Taipei may seem simple by today's standards, but back in 1989, they were revolutionary. The game features colorful backgrounds and well-designed tiles that truly bring the city of Taipei to life. The sound effects are minimal but effective, adding to the overall immersive experience.
Despite being a DOS game, Money Taipei has stood the test of time and is still beloved by many gamers today. Its unique blend of strategy and luck, along with its various game modes, make it a timeless classic. With its simple yet challenging gameplay, it is a game that anyone can pick up and play, making it perfect for both casual and hardcore players alike.
Poker Relay
Poker Relay is a multiplayer solitaire (patience) game in which the player competes against 3 sleeve-style CPU players to play as many of their cards as possible while trying to block the other players from playing their cards. At the start of each game, 13 cards from the same deck are dealt to each player and the first player to start must either place a 7 of any suit on the board or place one of the cards they have face down, which is removed from the game and will count towards the player's score at the end of the game. The next player then places another 7 of any remaining suit on the board or must play the next higher or lower card for the card previously played (for example, if the first card played was the 7 of spades, the next player must have a 7 of hearts, diamonds or clubs or a 6 or 8 of spades). If the player does not have a playable card, he must decide which of the cards in his hand to lay. The game ends when each player has played or laid all his cards, and each player's score is calculated at the end of the game according to the total face value of the cards he has laid (e. g. kings = 10, aces = 1, etc. ). The player with the lowest score wins and receives points, while the other players lose points based on the total face value of their cards. If a player's points reach zero, he/she must abandon the game.
The game has a number of strategic elements that players can take advantage of. Before starting each game, the player can choose which of the nine available opponents he wants to play against (the main difference between each opponent being the number of points he starts with) and the player can also select a multiplier value that will substantially increase the number of points he receives if he wins the game. The multiplier value adds an additional element of risk to the game, since if the player loses, he will lose more points than usual, which could force him to quit the game early. Once the game is underway, if a player has a 7 of any suit, he can deliberately hold it to force the other players to try to play all their cards of other suits first; however, this strategy must be applied carefully because the player will not be able to play any of his own cards of the same suit until the 7 is played. Players can also use their other cards to prevent opponents from playing higher or lower cards of the same suit (for example, if the player has the 9 of clubs, it will be impossible for other players to play the 10, jack, queen or king of clubs).
