Star Cruiser
Star Cruiser — frequently asked questions
- What platforms is Star Cruiser on?
- Star Cruiser was released on PC-9800 Series, Sharp X68000, PC-8800 Series, Sharp X1, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, PC-8801, PC-9801, X1.
- When did Star Cruiser release?
- Star Cruiser was first released on May 1, 1988.
About Star Cruiser
Star Cruiser is a space shooter/adventure game with many distinct elements from a number of different genres. It focuses on exploration and is very story-driven, as the game takes the players through various star systems and planets to solve the mystery of the VOID attacks. On their way, the players will meet many peculiar characters, learn their stories and try to help with their problems whenever an opportunity presents itself. Additionally, this port is somewhat more ‘mature’ if such a term could be used, due to its sense of humor and the depiction of alcohol. This version of the game is quite different from the Mega Drive port that is already available in English, but it’s similar to the original PC-88 release as far the mechanics are concerned (except for the character portraits and some other minor details). An interesting aspect of the game are the shops, which were not present in the MD port. There, just the equipment can be found, as the entire money system was scrapped. In the PC versions the players would get money for the missions instead, which in turn would allow them to buy better gear and additional resources. The main story beats are the same, but there are many differences as far as the characters and events go, which gives this version its own identity. In fact, this is what makes the game quite different from the MD port in particular. For example, the final area in this version is massive, whereas in the MD port it was much smaller. What is more, some major characters have different roles in this version of the game, and some others only appear in the MD port.
Summary via IGDB.
Game details
- Developer
- Arsys Software
- Publisher
- Arsys Software
- Themes
- Action
Details via IGDB.
Every version compared
Prices, contemporary reception and the studio credited for each release
| Platform | Year | Loose | Complete | Sealed | Period reviews | Fake risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sega Genesis | 1990 | $14 | $42 | — | 35% | Low |
Also released on: PC-9800 Series · Sharp X68000 · PC-8800 Series · Sharp X1 · Sega Mega Drive/Genesis · PC-8801 · PC-9801 · X1. We haven’t priced or authenticated those versions yet.
Collector value & authenticity
Sega Genesis · PriceCharting sold data · Verified 2026-10-29
What it needs to play
- Some modesSave battery (inside the cartridge) — saves to memory kept alive by a battery inside the cartridge; if that battery has died, saves are lost (MAME cartridge records).
How often it sells
- Loose: about 4 times a year
- Complete: about 2 times a year
- Sealed: rarely — fewer than one recorded sale a year
Sales frequency from PriceCharting's completed-sale records, as of 2026-10-29.
Price over time
- Loose
- Complete
A loose copy sold for about $10.00 in Jan 2020, $9.49 five years ago, and $13.80 as of Oct 2026.
Show as table
| Month | Loose | Complete |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 2020 | $10.00 | $10.50 |
| Jan 2021 | $7.50 | $15.60 |
| Jan 2022 | $17.28 | $30 |
| Jan 2023 | $29 | $30 |
| Jan 2024 | $39 | $45 |
| Jan 2025 | $14.99 | $46 |
| Jan 2026 | $13.80 | $39 |
| Oct 2026 | $13.80 | $42 |
Monthly price estimates from PriceCharting's completed-sale records, sampled quarterly, through Oct 2026.
Release record
| Territory | Date | Product number | Barcode |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | 21 December 1990 | T-25063 | 4988616003058 |
- Region
- JP
- Released
- 1990
- Authenticity
- Low
A Japan-only Mega Drive port of an early polygon space RPG that is hard to enjoy without reading Japanese.
Star Cruiser began on Japanese home computers in 1988, made by Arsys Software, and reached the Mega Drive in Japan on 21 December 1990, published by Masaya. The original is an early action role-playing game built from 3D polygons, mixing first-person shooting with space flight. Namco later licensed the Mega Drive version for a North American release under the name Star Quest, planned for July 1994.
Sega Pro, reviewing the import, found it completely unplayable without Japanese and gave it a low mark. In Japan, the critics at Famicom Tsūshin gave it middling scores.
What the press said at the time
| Sega Pro Issue 23 | September 1993 | 35% |
“Completely unplayable due to Japanese text. Try it out if you must, but interest couid soon wane.”
How the Sega Genesis version differs
Masaya (NCS) ported the game to the Mega Drive in 1990. In this version the player can name the protagonist, and a robot named Freddie speaks on his behalf.
Sega Pro scored the Japanese import 35%, calling it completely unplayable because of the Japanese text.
Also on other platforms
PC-8801 · PC-9801 · X1 · X68000
- PC-8801. In the original PC-88 version and its ports, a generic COM Unit takes Freddie's place as part of a computer in the Star Cruiser and Land Tank vehicles.
Before you buy
The cartridge saves to a battery inside it, so test that a save holds; a replaced battery is a normal repair and not a sign of a fake. Among Japan-only carts it sits below the middle. The Japanese cartridge is a different shape from a Western one, so it will not fit a Western console without an adapter or removing two plastic tabs in the slot. The game is in Japanese.
Star Cruiser screenshots
Watch on YouTube
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