Solar Quest

Gameplay

Solar Quest was a space combat game set around a star with gravitational pull. The central sun drew all objects toward it — ships, enemies, torpedoes. Flying too close meant death. Players fought waves of alien ships while managing their orbit around the sun. A "nuke" weapon could destroy everything on screen. The player could also rescue stranded astronauts floating in space for bonus points.

Historical Significance

Solar Quest was one of the more sophisticated Cinematronics vector titles. The central sun's gravity affected all objects on screen, creating dynamic orbital mechanics that added genuine strategic depth. The game featured speech synthesis — the ship's computer would announce threats. It was one of few vector games to incorporate gravitational physics as a core gameplay element.

Fun Facts & Legacy

The game used Cinematronics' custom vector hardware. Solar Quest's gravitational mechanic around the central sun created emergent gameplay — objects orbiting, being pulled in, and interacting in ways that varied from game to game. The game included a novice mode that reduced the sun's gravitational pull.