Star Saga: One - Beyond the Boundary

Star Saga: One - Beyond the Boundary is a video game in the role-playing (rpg) genre and published by Masterplay Publishing Corporation originally released in 1988. It is currently playable on DOS, Apple IIgs.

One of the most underrated and under-recognized classics ever created for the PC, Star Saga: One - Beyond the Boundary is the first in a series of short-lived science fiction adventure/RPG games developed in 1988 and 1989 by Masterplay Publishing. Designed by Andrew Greenberg (creator of Wizardry), Rick Dutton, Walter Freitag and Michael Massimilla, Star Saga: One is a highly innovative and well-written game that combines the best aspects of a pen-and-paper RPG, an exceptional storyline and 'Choose Your Own Adventure' books with the complexity of a computer RPG, resulting in an incredibly immersive gameplay experience. The game design is original to say the least.

In addition to a computer program (which acts as a 'Game Master', i. e. game moderator), Star Saga includes two large fold-out maps, six colored tiles that players can use to move around the map, and thirteen booklets with 888 text passages. At the start of the game, up to six players choose which character, from six 'presets', they will play. It can be played solo, but it's not really as much fun as playing with other people, because each character has his or her own agenda, and will cross paths over the course of the game. When playing Star Saga, each player moves his or her token on the map, and then plots these moves and actions in the Star Saga computer program.

In response to the player's moves and actions, the program makes the necessary changes to the character's statistics and inventory, calculates any space or personal combat, and directs the player to the passage of text he or she must now read. By reading this passage, the player discovers the results of his actions and whether new special actions are available. In this way, each player progresses through the game, noting new discoveries on the map, fighting aliens, trading with other players and in-game NPCs, and discovering a fascinating plot behind the neutral premise of 'exploring the galaxy'. The incredibly well-written science fiction storyline makes Star Saga the best example of 'interactive literature' I've seen, and certainly one of the best multiplayer computer role-playing games (I believe the system was based on the 'Rekon' role-playing game system).

The 'computer game master' is also very flexible. If one of the players is too busy to play constantly, for example, you can put him in 'suspended animation' while the rest play. If your character dies (and this is not impossible although it is quite rare), it is not too difficult to catch up with the rest with a new character, as you will already have many notes and information you learned with the original character. While the game is linear (essentially a necessity given the complex and involving plot), it will take you dozens of hours to get to the end, and there are numerous optional subplots along the way to keep things interesting.

The Star Saga series is one of the games Andrew Greenberg is most proud of - much more so than his more commercially successful Wizardry games - and he has reason to be. If you're a fan of pen-and-paper RPGs, or if you're a fan of space exploration games (like Starflight) who wants a more immersive plot, Star Saga: One is simply a must-have game. Two thumbs up. Although Star Saga was to be released as a trilogy, Masterplay shut down before the third part was available, so only Star Saga: One and Star Saga: Two were made.

Note: be sure to download the voluminous documentation file below. In addition to all the rules, passages and character booklets in PDF format, the file also includes a 'Map Kit' program made with Game Factory that allows you to move around the map, record your discoveries and share it with your friends so you no longer have to sit face to face with 5 other players to enjoy the experience:)

Thanks to mocagh. org, you can now download all the books.

It is possible that we have multiple downloads available when different versions exist.