My Top Ten: Spaceships
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Article written by colossalblue in Features, on Friday, November 27, 2009 at 13:00.
Space, the final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship TSA. Its two-and-a-bit-year (so far) mission: to explore strange gaming subjects; to seek out new games and interesting news; to boldly go where no gaming blog has gone before.
Oh, and to be as funny as we can while we do it. Enjoy!
- USG Ishimura (Dead Space) – The huge mining ship provided an “Alien-esque” setting for one of the scariest, most atmospheric games in recent memory. I know the first few levels where you had to dick about fixing bits of it was mildly irritating but all in all it was a fantastic setting
- SSV Normandy (Mass Effect) – This is the envy of the fleet. A prototype ship that’s fast and sleek. The case was also helped by the fact that it was wrapped around the best space-based RPG I can think of and is bound to feature in the sequel. Which I’m very much looking forward to…
- Millenium Falcon (loads of Star Wars games) – This is the ship that made the Kessell run in less than twelve parsecs. It features in my favourite film series of all time and it’s piloted by Han Solo, who is the coolest guy in space and Chewbacca who is basically a cross between Mr T and the Honey Monster. What’s not to like?
- Cobra MKIII (Elite) – Elite was one of the best games of all time and this is the iconic little ship you started out in. It was doing “open world” while Grand Theft Auto was still playing with Hot Wheels under the kitchen table. Not only that but it was more than just open world, it was open universe.
- VIC Viper (Gradius) – Gradius is one of the most popular examples of a genre which has contributed many of the iconic spaceships in gaming history. The side-scrolling shoot-em-up is about speed and firepower which the VIC Viper had in abundance.
- Dark Athena (Chronicles of Riddick) – This Mercenary ship is so cool that they named the game after it. Not to mention the fact that it sounds like the ill-fated early nineties chain of poster shops gone bad. Also, Riddick is hard as nails and he told me if I didn’t mention his name somewhere he’d come and knife me in the spleen. I like my spleen.
- Geometry Wars ship – I don’t know if this spaceship even has a name but it’s bleeding mental. The original Geometry Wars was a funny little mini-game in one of the Project Gotham Racing games. Then it grew up and got an XBLA release and a sequel which is really rather special. It’s a very simple little white angular horse-shoe shape but it supplies us with some of the most manic visuals of space battle we’ve ever seen.
- Söldner-X: Himmelsstürmer ship – Yes, it is only in the list because it has such a great name. I don’t know anything else about it other than it was a devilishly hard side scroller. Funny name though. Actually, due to my impressive work ethic I’ve researched it in depth (by spending fifteen seconds on Wikipedia) and discovered that it translates to “Mercenary X: Romantic Idealist”. Which is amusing and bizarre in equal measure. Smashing.
- Hunter Class Gunship (Metroid series) – I’ve thrown this on the list simply for the fact that it was piloted by Samus Aran who was a kick-ass warrior with no fear and plenty of balls. Except Samus had no balls, the closing credits showed Samus shedding the power suit and revealing a rather curvey little pixelated lady. Which was ace!
- Star Fox’s Ship (Star Wing/ Star Fox) – This was a pivotal moment in my childhood which shook my belief structure to the core. It was the moment when it first occurred to me that the Sega Meg Drive might not be as good as the Super Nintendo. It may not look like much now but back in 1993 the graphics and motion of this ship were, for a few months, what everyone was raving about. Luckily the Mega Drive was confirmed as being the best just a few seconds ago when I confirmed it. Confirmed!
P.S. Can we please have a remake of Elite with pretty HD visuals? Thanks.
Comments
Please note that all comments are the opinion of the individual author and not TheSixthAxis.
Raen | 27/11/2009 12:59
Team TSA: Writer
3449 TSA Points | Member since: Mar 2009
I like the ship for Ikaruga, but I don’t know why. Also that game is hard.
FRUIT0FDOOM | 27/11/2009 13:19
Member
490 TSA Points | Member since: Aug 2009
Where is The Pillar of Autumn!!?? That one ship wipeout so many Flood and Covenant in its quest to protect Earth and all her colonies. Boo!
Great list though. Ship from Geometry Wars is ace, fast little bugger too….
Raen | 27/11/2009 13:34
Team TSA: Writer
3449 TSA Points | Member since: Mar 2009
Very true, the Pillar of Autumn was impressive. And the Iroquis, although that wasn’t technically in a video game. But still it took out a destroyer and two frigates by itself!
colossalblue | 27/11/2009 13:42
Team TSA: Editor
1146 TSA Points | Member since: Forever
Halo sucks, learn to live with it
*ducks*
Raen | 27/11/2009 13:44
Team TSA: Writer
3449 TSA Points | Member since: Mar 2009
Don’t anger me. I’ll buy a ticket to Northern Ireland. And then I’ll say Hi and hug you. And then when you’re not looking BAM! Master Chief figurine to the back of the head.
djhsecondnature | 27/11/2009 13:46
Team TSA: Media
815 TSA Points | Member since: Forever
The fact that I don’t remember the name of a ship from Halo says it all really
Nice list, would WipEout ships class as space ships?
colossalblue | 27/11/2009 13:48
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I also couldn’t remember the name of a ship in Halo and I even tried googling it. The Covenant destroyer from Halo 2 was nice but it was kinda like a half-melted Star Destroyer from Star Wars…
double-o-dave | 27/11/2009 13:51
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821 TSA Points | Member since: Nov 2008
Aren’t WipEout ships more kinda hovercraft ships? Otherwise I’d just fly straight to the finish line.
djhsecondnature | 27/11/2009 13:55
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But surely their flying in space? Or are they? I don’t know. lol
Raen | 27/11/2009 14:25
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I think there was a level on the moon? Maybe.
double-o-dave | 27/11/2009 15:45
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It was Area 52
cc_star | 27/11/2009 13:06
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5869 TSA Points | Member since: Forever
R-9a from R-Type or that sucker from Hellfire or Thunderforce IV, 3 of the greatest games of all time, they were awesome spaceships
Amphlett | 27/11/2009 13:09
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1003 TSA Points | Member since: Jul 2009
Agreed. Very strange that R-Type doesn’t feature.
Also, what’s with missing out Tie-Fighters?
double-o-dave | 27/11/2009 13:11
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821 TSA Points | Member since: Nov 2008
this guys got a point! not a TSA point, he’s got 560 of them, i mean… you know what i mean!
Tuffcub | 27/11/2009 13:28
Team TSA: Writer
3448 TSA Points | Member since: Dec 2008
I agree as well, Where the hell is R-Type? A Pioneer in spacehsip design with its extra controllable satellite ships. I demand the R9a is included in the list else I shall do… something. Yes, Something. But whatever that something is you wont like it. Get rid of Söldner-X: Himmelsstürmer that’s just a poor mans R-Type clone.
colossalblue | 27/11/2009 13:41
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I limited myself to one old side scrolling ship and Gradius got the nod. Also, I hated R-Type with a passion. There, I said it. I just couldn’t enjoy it.
I also limited my Star Wars entries because otherwise it would have just been a list of Star Wars ships.
double-o-dave | 27/11/2009 13:48
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821 TSA Points | Member since: Nov 2008
Salamander, if you powered that up to the max you were indestructable! The screen was just completely full of missiles and lasers!
Tuffcub | 27/11/2009 15:52
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3448 TSA Points | Member since: Dec 2008
Im not talking to you anymore, how could you hate R-type!!
nofi | 27/11/2009 13:12
Wants a custom tag.
3870 TSA Points | Member since: Forever
Author’s Chair, Author’s House. The best spaceship in any game ever, and 100 TSA Points to the first person that replies with the game it was in.
lewis815 | 27/11/2009 13:15
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686 TSA Points | Member since: Mar 2009
Damocles: Mercenary II ?
nofi | 27/11/2009 13:17
Wants a custom tag.
3870 TSA Points | Member since: Forever
Yup.
lewis815 | 27/11/2009 13:18
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686 TSA Points | Member since: Mar 2009
Woop
hazelam | 27/11/2009 18:38
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2986 TSA Points | Member since: Feb 2009
wikipedia right?
djdustb | 27/11/2009 13:13
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1207 TSA Points | Member since: Nov 2008
The ship from Xenon II was pretty cool especially once you bought all the additions.
brillerment | 27/11/2009 13:14
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115 TSA Points | Member since: Sep 2009
Homeworld’s Dreadnaughts.
pvwradtke | 27/11/2009 13:14
Member
206 TSA Points | Member since: Aug 2008
R-Type’s R9 should be in this list. And I disagree, the Megadrive was not as inch close to the SNES and Super Aleste
. Anyway, Aleste should be in this list as well.
Doofer_Nasenmann | 27/11/2009 13:17
Member
133 TSA Points | Member since: Mar 2009
“P.S. Can we please have a remake of Elite with pretty HD visuals? Thanks.”
There is a (not really HD) elite clone called oolite. Oh, or you wait until Elite 4:
http://www.thesixthaxis.com/2009/06/16/elite-iv-confirmed-for-ps3/
sideshow | 27/11/2009 14:56
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111 TSA Points | Member since: Jun 2009
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X_(game_series)#X3-Gold
Demibeard | 27/11/2009 16:03
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332 TSA Points | Member since: Aug 2008
Thanks Doofer_Nasenmann for the oolite prompt that looks so good, I can’t wait to have a play with that.
Damigos | 27/11/2009 13:47
* Banned *
-828 TSA Points | Member since: Nov 2009
Death Star
double-o-dave | 27/11/2009 13:53
Member
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I think you’ll find its a Space Station
djhsecondnature | 27/11/2009 13:56
Team TSA: Media
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Zing!
TRiLoGY | 27/11/2009 13:56
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306 TSA Points | Member since: Apr 2009
Great list!
I loved Elite and Frontier Elite 2 is one of my favourite games of all time. So Mentioning the Cobra MkIII made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside lol. I hope the outsider comes out soon so that they can get stuck into Elite IV
hol | 29/11/2009 18:09
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174 TSA Points | Member since: Oct 2009
I’d have voted for the Thargoid ships
simplebob | 27/11/2009 14:09
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165 TSA Points | Member since: Mar 2009
May be showing my age a little, but Star Wars aside, the Gunstar from The Last Starfighter. Kickass spaceship that destroyed an entire empire and looked pretty good in its day too.
sideshow | 27/11/2009 14:57
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111 TSA Points | Member since: Jun 2009
Spaceship from movie with video game != Spaceship from video game!
rht992 | 27/11/2009 14:11
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Good call on the USG and star fox but i’d have to add a few more star wars ships just because its star wars really. i mean the only good game they’ve been in was battle fronts 2 and the old fighter game for the N64
colossalblue | 27/11/2009 14:19
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X-Wing Vs Tie Fighter was probably the best space combat game ever. I could have filled the whole list from Star Wars but then people would get annoyed. Good to see none of those nerds are banging on about their saucer ships from Trek though…
rht992 | 27/11/2009 14:23
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I know that would be nerdy. Lets talk about the ships in star wars instead. There much cooler
Vandix | 27/11/2009 14:24
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I’d like to add one…
TCS Tiger’s Claw from the original Wing Commander.
TRiLoGY | 27/11/2009 14:31
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306 TSA Points | Member since: Apr 2009
Good Call!!!!
cc_star | 27/11/2009 14:28
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Damn, forgot about Jetpac… the ship you had to build and fuel yourself.
double-o-dave | 27/11/2009 15:47
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821 TSA Points | Member since: Nov 2008
Or the one in Jet Set Willy. I can barely remember using it to go on the moon level
minerwilly | 27/11/2009 21:21
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556 TSA Points | Member since: Feb 2009
Yes I did have a Spaceship in my Mansion before Maria told me it had to go .
minerwilly | 27/11/2009 21:20
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Damn you , thats what I came to post about – the one from Jetpac that you had to build . Legend of a game . Jetpac 2 on the other hand that was in the same kind of hardcore as Ghosts & Goblins way way too tough .
Manorhowze | 27/11/2009 14:29
Driving God
1890 TSA Points | Member since: Dec 2008
Wasnt Arkanoid a spaceship? If so it gets my vote.
sideshow | 27/11/2009 14:59
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111 TSA Points | Member since: Jun 2009
The Von Braun, dammit.
TRiLoGY | 27/11/2009 16:01
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306 TSA Points | Member since: Apr 2009
Gah, System Shock 2… I keep forgetting about these great games