Starcross is a Z-machine formerly-commercial interactive fiction game written with ZIL and is © 1982 Infocom, Inc.. It was written by David Lebling. This game was also published on the Masterpieces of Infocom CD.
In this sci-fi game set in 2186, and you play as a miner of black holes. It's a risky but potentially lucrative business. Your spaceship, the M.C.S. Starcross, detects a likely prospect, but the unknown mass turns out to be a gigantic alien cylinder. Explore it, brave its dangers, and claim a reward you didn't even dream was possible.
This solution is by David Welbourn, and is based on Release 17 of the game.
SPOILERS AHEAD. Reading a walkthrough prematurely can sometimes diminish one's enjoyment of a formerly-commercial interactive fiction game. Please make an honest effort to play the game before reading this walkthrough.
This is an old game. Some cautions:
Living Quarters
The mass detector alarm is ringing.
> stand. take tape. e.
Bridge
> turn off alarm.
> examine registration.
> sit on couch. fasten belt.
> examine panel.
> examine screen. (Note the UM number; it's randomized.)
Use this copy-protection info to convert a UM number into range, theta, and phi co-ordinates:
Use the appropriate coordinates for your UM number. For example, if the target mass is UM52:
> computer, range is 175
> computer, theta is 165
> computer, phi is 035
> computer, confirm.
You have exactly two turns to sit on the couch and fasten the seat belt if you haven't done so already.
> wait. wait.
Your ship zooms to the coordinates you gave it. But instead of a black hole to mine, you find a huge cylindical artifact. You will circle its equator once, then mechanical tentacles will grab and tether your ship to it.
CAUTION: Stay seated with your belt fastened until your ship comes to a complete stop. The tethering process is violent enough to kill you if you're not belted down.
> wait. (Repeat waiting and enjoy the show on the viewscreen until your ship is tethered to the artifact.)
After your ship is tethered, "UP" is now toward the cylinder.
> unfasten belt. stand. e.
Storage
> examine suit. (nothing special)
> examine line. (unattached)
> take all. wear suit.
> attach line to suit.
> w.
Bridge
> open inner door. out.
Airlock
> close inner. open outer. out. (+25)
Red Dock
You need not use the line and hook here. Your suit's magnetic boots are sufficient to keep you from drifting off.
> examine relief.
> save. (In case you mess this up.)
It's a representation of the Solar System. The first bump is the Sun, so the fourth bump is Earth.
> push fourth bump. (A tiny column for the Moon appears.)
> push tiny. (There is now a rod of black crystal where the tiny bump was.)
> take rod. (+25. The airlock opens!)
> u.
Red Airlock
> close outer. open inner. u.
Red Hall (ring 3)
> close inner.
> verbose.
> w. s. w.
Weapons Deck
The only reason I'm getting the gun this early is to give you the opportunity to play with it. However, if you want to win the game, you must avoid using it until you truly need it.
So if you're ever tempted to use the gun, SAVE first, shoot your target to see what happens, then RESTORE your game back before you used it. There's no UNDO!
> take gun. examine gun.
> look in gun. (+25)
> take silver rod.
> e. n. n. e. n.
Zoo
> n. (no: These force bars are still working.)
> w.
Broken Cage
> read sign. ("Common Grues (Grue Vulgaris)")
> n.
Inside Grue Cage
This cage is very damaged.
> s. e. e.
Nesting Cage
> L at rat-ant. L at nest. L at red rod.
You must throw a object heavy enough to damage the nest. The tape library is the most obvious choice, but the spacesuit works too.
Note: The game won't let you throw the gun, and almost everything else is too lightweight to damage the nest. The rat-ants will add lightweight objects into their nest if you give them that opportunity.
While the nest is broken, quickly take the red rod and anything else you threw at the nest.
> throw tape at nest.
> take tape. take red. (+25)
> w. s. w. s.
Blue Hall (ring 3)
> open inner. d.
Blue Airlock
> close inner. open outer. d. s. s.
Spherical Ship
> L at spider. L at objects. (translator)
> spider, hi.
His name is Gurthark-tun-Besnap. He's been here for centuries and he's bored.
> give tape to spider. (He tosses a yellow rod to you.)
> take yellow. (+25)
> n. n. u.
Blue Airlock
> close outer. open inner. u.
Blue Hall (ring 3)
> close inner. u. s.
Thin Forest (by hatch)
While on the inner deck, you may see a hunting party of weasel-like aliens hunt the unicorns in the grassland. Feel free to watch them, but it's best to ignore them and not interfere.
> open hatch. d.
Repair Room
Put the yellow rod in the yellow slot to turn on emergency lights in the yellow hall. The light has an added benefit: you're a lot less likely to be eaten by grues!
Put the red rod in the second red slot to generate oxygen. The diagrams are of molecules. The first represents CH4 (methane); the second, (oxygen gas); the third, NH3 (ammonia).
> put yellow rod in yellow slot.
> put red rod in second red slot. (machinery hums)
> take square.
> u. n. d. w.
Yellow Hall (ring 3)
> open inner. d.
Yellow Airlock
> take basket. look at it.
> put black rod in basket.
> put silver rod in basket.
> close inner.
> open outer. (jammed, try again)
> open outer. (success)
> d.
Yellow Dock
I assume you attached the line to your suit earlier in the game, yes? If not, do that now.
> attach line to hook. w.
Among Debris
> L at reptile. take pink. (+25)
> put pink in basket.
> e.
Yellow Dock
> detach line from hook. u.
Yellow Airlock
> close outer. open inner. u.
Yellow Hall
> close inner. s. s. e.
Laboratory
> L at project. L at globe. (nothing on it)
> L at dial. (set to 2)
> set dial to 3. (globe expands to a beachball)
> set dial to 4. (globe expands into the floor)
> set dial to 1. (globe shrinks to orange size, and you see a blue rod imbedded in it.)
> set dial to 2. (globe back to basketball size)
The disks on the wall are teleportation disks. They activate when they're both flat on the floor. After a successful teleportation, one or the other disk has to be picked up and put down again to re-activate them.
> take red disk. drop it. ("click")
> take blue disk. put blue disk under globe. ("click")
> put square on globe. (You need something to push the blue rod downward, and the square gets my vote for the job.)
> turn dial to 4. (+25. Both square and blue rod teleport onto the red disk!)
> take square. take blue rod. put it in basket.
> turn dial to 1. take blue disk. take red disk.
> w. n. n. n. n. w. s.
Computer Room
> open panel.
> put square in slot.
> turn on switch.
The computer starts up, drops a gold rod, and displays a diagnostic report where lights indicate problems. In short, the artifact has seen better days.
> take gold rod. (+25)
> put it in basket.
The next part is a bit awkward: I need you to go find the mechnanical mouse which will be in a random location. Avoid the Green Halls and the Village; walk around the red and blue halls until you find it.
(wherever the mouse is)
> drop red disk. (The mouse picks it up.)
Repeat following the mouse if it moves, or waiting when it doesn't, until the mouse enters a hole in the wall and returns.
> follow mouse —or— wait. (Repeat as appropriate.)
> look at hole. (closed)
> wait. (Repeat until the mouse returns without the disk in its tray.)
The mouse has dropped off the red disk in its garage. Since you don't want the mouse grabbing the blue disk as well, drop it off in the blue airlock. I trust you can find your way there?
Blue Airlock
> close inner. drop disk. stand on disk.
Garage
CAUTION: Don't enter the chute unless you want to be recycled into fuel.
> take disk.
> L at bin.
> search bin. (Repeat until you find a green rod.)
> take green rod. (+25)
> put it in basket.
> n. e. n. e.
Outskirts of Village
> e.
Village Center
> save. wait. (You may need to wait twice.)
A grey alien dressed in a tattered space suit and a brown rod threatens you with his spear. He gestures at your space suit impatiently.
This is the chief of the weasel-aliens, and you should give him what he wants. You only have one chance at this.
> remove space suit. give it to chief.
> point at brown rod. (+25. He gives it, then leaves.)
IMPORTANT! Follow the chief repeatedly until you're both at the center of the warren.
> follow chief.
In the Warren
Don't lose track of him. Follow him! Follow him! Follow him!
> follow chief. (Repeat until you're at...)
Center of the Warren
> L at chief.
> d.
Green Airlock
> close inner. open outer. d. w. w.
Cargo Hold
> take fragment. n.
Control Room
> move skeleton. (something falls out of its suit)
> look. take violet. (+25)
> put it in basket.
> put brown rod in basket.
> s. s.
Guard Room
CAUTION: If you try to return to the warren, you are killed immediately for desecrating their altar. The only safe way out is by teleporting.
> drop disk. stand on disk.
Blue Airlock
You have no further use for the disks. Leave the blue one here.
> open inner. u.
Blue Hall (ring 3)
> close inner. n. n. w.
Observatory
> L at projector. (light is a bright laser)
> L at model. (nothing special)
> L at light beam.
> look at projector through visor. (See a clear rod inside.)
> take clear. (+25)
> put it in basket.
> i.
You should have nine rods and an unused ray gun. It's time for the endgame.
> e. s. s. u.
Grassland (by exit)
> s. s. w.
Base of Tree
For what it's worth, you cannot climb this tree with the space suit.
> u. u.
Top of Tree
> jump.
Drive Bubble Entrance
> put silver rod in slot. in.
Drive Bubble
> take white rod. (+25)
> put white rod in white slot.
A black slot appears. CAUTION: Don't insert the black rod! It causes an emergency shutoff of the entire artifact, including life support!
> out. u.
On Drive Bubble
> jump.
Floating in Air (near drive bubble)
> shoot gun at drive bubble.
Floating in Air (over grassland)
> shoot gun at drive bubble.
Floating in Air (over metal band)
> shoot gun at drive bubble.
On Control Bubble
> d.
Control Bubble Entrance
> put gold rod in slot. in. (+25)
Control Bubble
> put clear rod in clear slot.
Five more slots appear. With every rod inserted, a spot of the same color is projected.
> put brown rod in brown slot.
> put green rod in green slot.
> put blue rod in blue slot.
> put violet rod in violet slot.
> put pink rod in pink slot.
A pink screen shows a small square, a large square, a display of space, and the artifact. The large and small squares change what part of space the display is focused on. You want the inner solar system on the display.
> push large square. (Inner solar system shown)
Next, use the brown spot to select a destination. Push the brown spot four times to select Earth.
> push brown spot. (Sun selected)
> push brown spot. (Mercury)
> push brown spot. (Venus)
> push brown spot. (Earth selected)
Next, use the violet spot to select the travel route. You want either an ellipse or a circle around the Earth.
> push violet spot. (path into Earth)
> push violet spot. (parabola around Earth)
> push violet spot. (ellipse around Earth)
> push violet spot. (circle around Earth)
Next, use the green spot to select travel speed. I prefer fast, but slow is okay too.
> push green spot. (dots flash slowly)
> push green spot. (dots flash rapidly)
Finally, push the blue spot to start the journey to Earth.
> push blue spot. (+50)
The artifact travels to Earth safely. You are a hero. The final score is printed. "[Hit any key to exit.]"
Found dead:
The closest thing I found to in-game credits was on the Bridge:
Bridge
> examine registration
Mining Class Ship "Starcross"
Registered out of Ceres
Registration 47291AA-4X
Designed by David Lebling
Constructed in 2178, Luna City Docks
by Frobozzco Astronautics
and Infocom, Inc.
There are 39 ways to die in Starcross according to The New Zork Times. I did not find quite that many, sorry. Here are the endings I found, deadly or otherwise.
Note that you can be resurrected up to three times after dead endings, but a fourth death is always final.
(anywhere)
> kill me
If you insist...Poof, you're dead!
**** You have died ****
Bridge
> wait
Time passes...
Time passes as you journey towards your destination.
There is nothing interesting visible ahead.
You have reached your destination. The computer speaks: "There's nothing here, as I predicted. You never listen do you? This trip is over; See if I'll ever work with you again..."
[Score given]
Bridge
> wait
Time passes...
The ship's thrusters spin it into a proper attitude, and then the engines begin their course correction burn. There are significant G's and not a little vibration.
The G forces drive you against the rear bulkhead (which is unpadded, of course). You are crushed to death.
**** You have died ****
Bridge
> wait
Time passes...
As the object rotates below, the features of a different area become visible through the viewport.
Below is an area with a red dome which has no ship near it.
Suddenly an odd protrusion near the red dome splits open and a huge articulated metal tentacle issues from it at great speed. It approaches the ship and delicately wraps itself around the hull. You are smashed against the bulkhead as the tentacle accelerates the Starcross to the artifact's speed of rotation. Inexorably, your ship is drawn toward the dome. When you are a few tens of meters away, three smaller tentacles issue forth and grapple the ship solidly to the surface of the artifact. The large tentacle retreats into its housing, which closes.
Unfortunately, the accelerations involved were tremendous, and being smashed into the walls didn't help your condition either.
**** You have died ****
Airlock
> open outer
The outer door opens and air rushes out of the airlock.
Didn't they teach you anything in the Academy? You can't breathe vacuum! The process of dying in this way is very painful but at least relatively short.
**** You have died ****
Red Dock
> remove suit
That was a silly thing to do, as there is no air here. You die of all sorts of asphyxiation.
**** You have died ****
Yellow Hall
Oh, no! A lurking grue slithered into the room and devoured you!
**** You have died ****
(anywhere)
You gasp for air, but there is none left, and slump to the ground, dead.
**** You have died ****
(anywhere)
You are overcome by noxious gases and slump to the floor, dead.
**** You have died ****
Floating in Space
> wait
Time passes...
You run out of air, dying an unpleasant death "above" the artifact.
**** You have died ****
Observatory
> look in projector
The light being emitted is so bright that your retina is scorched and you are blinded. You blunder about for a while, end up in a dark place, and are set upon by grues.
**** You have died ****
Observatory
> look in projector through red rod
The light is filtered somewhat by the rod, but not enough, and you are blinded. You blunder about for a while, end up in a dark place, and are set upon by grues.
**** You have died ****
Laboratory
> stand on red disk
There is a loud click as you step on the disk, and then a moment of disorientation.
You reappear amidst the sphere. Unfortunately, parts of you are inside it and parts of you are outside it. Very untidy.
**** You have died ****
Laboratory
> put blue disk on red disk
Nothing happens.
> put red disk on floor
The red disk drops to the ground. There is an almost inaudible click as it comes to rest.
> stand on red disk
There is a loud click as you step on the disk, and then a moment of disorientation.
There is a tremendous explosion as the disk tries to transport the other disk into itself. You are, unfortunately, intimately part of the explosion.
**** You have died ****
Garage
> enter chute
The chute leads straight to the input hopper of a fusion reactor which gets some of its power from trash. It's now getting some of its power from you.
**** You have died ****
(anywhere)
> shoot me
If you say so... The blast destroys you and your possessions so quickly there is no point in even describing the carnage.
**** You have died ****
(anywhere)
> shoot space suit
A huge explosion of orange rays destroys the space suit utterly.
Unfortunately, that requires firing so close that the blast destroys you and your possessions as well.
**** You have died ****
Spherical Ship
> shoot spider
Bad idea. The spider tears you apart with two of its arms.
**** You have died ****
Village Center
> shoot weasels —or— shoot chief
[Either] Many aliens are [or] The chief is [end either] disintegrated, in the best tradition of the 1930s pulps. The remainder of the tribe attacks you, seeking revenge. You fire the ray gun at them. It fires twice. Each time many aliens are dispatched, but more appear.
Ultimately, you are overwhelmed.
**** You have died ****
Control Room
> move skeleton
This time, the skeleton falls apart with a horrendous clatter. A head peeks through the door. It's a weasel! He roars, and soon dozens of the aliens surround you. The rest, alas, is too gory to describe.
**** You have died ****
Control Room
> shoot skeleton
The skeleton is destroyed by the blast! The aliens, hearing it, rush in and skewer you for desecrating their sacred place.
**** You have died ****
Green Airlock
> u
As you re-enter the warren an alien approaches, spear in hand. Initially he looks friendly but becomes suspicious and rushes past you into the ship. There is a loud roar as he realizes you have desecrated the altar! Other aliens surround you, spears at the ready.
**** You have died ****
Up a Tree
> jump
Gravity is low here, but not that low, so your jump is fatal.
**** You have died ****
Top of Tree
> fly
You aren't a bird, so you plummet rather than soar.
**** You have died ****
Drive Bubble Entrance
> jump
Gravity is very light here and you practically zoom into the air. Unfortunately gravity is not entirely non-existent, so eventually you begin to fall, faster and faster, in a lovely curve produced by the rotation of the artifact. You make a gorgeous but fatal swan dive into the surface.
**** You have died ****
Drive Bubble
> put black rod in black slot
As the rod rod slides easily into the slot, the lights go out in the bubble. Outside, you can see dead black night settling over everything. An expressionless voice speaks inside your head: "Emergency shutoff mechanism activated..." The voice gets quieter and quieter, and finally silence rules over all.
[Score given]
Floating in Air
> shoot ground
A blast of orange flame issues from the gun, and the recoil propels you at an impressive speed through the air. You are now some distance from the axis of the cylinder. Air resistance and centripetal force take hold and you start to fall in a lovely arc that ends as you splatter against the ground.
**** You have died ****
Control Bubble
> push blue spot
All the displays flash once. There is a sensation of movement as the artifact positions itself to follow the course you have set.
The artifact moves confidently towards [chosen target], but its computer system is smart enough to know where you came from, so it realizes that you have made the wrong choice. All systems shut down, and silence settles over all.
[Score given]
Control Bubble
> push blue spot
All the displays flash once. There is a sensation of movement as the artifact positions itself to follow the course you have set.
The artifact approaches Earth, where the plaudits of humanity await you. Unfortunately, the course you have chosen rams you into the planet and you earn the hatred of mankind, not its praises.
[Score given]
Control Bubble
> push blue spot
All the displays flash once. There is a sensation of movement as the artifact positions itself to follow the course you have set.
The artifact approaches Earth, where the plaudits of humanity await you. Unfortunately, the course you have chosen loops you around the Earth and back into interstellar space, never to return.
[Score given]
Control Bubble
> push blue spot
All the displays flash once. There is a sensation of movement as the artifact positions itself to follow the course you have set.
The artifact, under your assured control, moves serenely toward Earth, where the knowledge it contains will immeasureably benefit mankind. Within a few years, there could be human ships flying out to the stars, and all because of your daring and cunning...
A holographic projection of a humanoid figure appears before you. The being, tall and thin, swathed in shimmering robes, speaks in your own language. "Congratulations, you who have passed our test. You have succeeded where others failed. Your race shall benefit thereby." He smiles. "I expect to see you in person, someday." The projection fades.
[Score given]
When you obtain the basket, put all your rods into the basket so you can carry them all.
This is the response to SCORE:
Your score would be X (total of 400 points), in M moves.
This score gives you the rank of your-rank.
Points are awarded silently. The current total in the status bar is updated without notification in the game text. There is no NOTIFY ON command to enable score-change notifications.
Points are awarded as follows:
Also:
The known ranks are:
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