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                              Star Luster FAQ
                            For the NES/Famicom
                      Version 1.0 (Created 5/11/2009)
                              By Devin Morgan

      This file is Copyright (c)2009 Devin Morgan. All rights reserved.

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Table of Contents

1. What's New
2. Introduction
3. Controls
4. Overview
5. Secrets/Tips and Tricks
6. Credits
7. Copyright Notice

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-=  1. What's New -=
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Version 1.0 (5/11/09): The first version.

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-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
-=  2. Introduction -=
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Star Luster is an interesting mix between a strategy game and a typical
first-person shooter. Basically, you are given a map on a grid, where you can
see enemy positions, as well as locations of your bases and other objects
(planets and asteroid fields). Upon selecting a location on the map, you will
go into a first-person view where you can travel around that section of space
and eliminate any enemies in that area, or repair/replenish your ship at a
base. It is a relatively short game with three game modes, each mode building
upon the previous one. However, it can get pretty tough, especially if you
want to see the true ending. It requires a bit of planning and quick
thinking, but it is quite fun to try out, so I would certainly recommend it!

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-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
-=  3. Controls -=
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Control Pad: Move your ship in battle mode, move cursor in map mode

Start: Start/pause game

Select: Switch game modes on title screen

A: Make selection on map screen, accelerate (hold button) in battle mode

B: Fire weapon in battle mode, fire photon torpedoes at target in map mode

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-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
-=  4. Overview -=
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

================
General Gameplay
================

In Star Luster, you pilot a ship in the first-person view as you wander
around space. This "space" consists of a 8x8 grid as seen on the map screen.
On the map screen, you will see this grid with various markings on it (E =
Enemy, B = Base, * = Planet, // = Asteroid Field). You start any game mode on
the map screen. You can move the cursor on the map to select your
destination, confirming it with the A button. Once you arrive at a location,
you enter battle mode. You can go back to the map mode by pressing Select.

While on the map, you can also fire photon torpedoes at enemies from a
distance by pointing at them on the map grid and pressing B. You have eight
torpedoes (the eight small boxes to the left of the central panel shows how
many you have). The number of torpedoes it will take to clear a group of
enemies in this manner depends on their level of strength (blue/gray/purple).
If you run out of torpedoes, they can be replenished by visiting certain
bases (the one that doesn't give you any other upgrades).

In battle mode, this is where the main action takes place. You go into the
first-person view, and crosshairs appear outside. You can move your ship in
any direction, utilizing the radar to find enemies and other landmarks. The
triangular section on the radar is your line of sight, and it seems that
enemies will only attack you head-on, so keep that in mind throughout the
game. In enemy-infested areas, you will have to fight a wave of ten enemies
before the area is cleared and you go back to the map screen (there are four
types of enemies, and three difficulty levels; more on that below).

If you are in any other landmark area (base/planet/asteroid), simply
accelerate towards the object to reach it. Bases can replenish your fuel and
upgrade your weaponry, so it will be in your best interest to take advantage
of them! In order to dock with a base or planet, you need to approach it
straight ahead and get it into your crosshairs. Once you get the "lock on"
message, hold that position for a few seconds and a shuttle will appear to
repair your ship (at a base) or give you a key (at an Adventure mode planet).

During the course of the game, enemies will move around the map as time
lapses. If an enemy group approaches a base or planet, they can attack and
eventually destroy it. As such, your goal is to protect the bases (and even
moreso the planets), or you will lose points in the end. Therefore, it is
recommended to go for enemies nearing the bases/planets so as to prevent such
hostile takeovers.

Asteroid fields can also be destroyed, but being that you gain nothing from
protecting them, it is best to ignore them. They do however serve to slow
down an enemy's path in moving across them map since enemies have to detour
around these fields in order to proceed. If an enemy approaches a base or
planet, you will receive a warning on your screen, so be ready to quickly
change your course of action in order to protect those locations. Enemies
tend to move every 50 seconds (or dates, as named in the game), so keep that
in mind when you go back to the map screen to check the current date.

The main objective of the game is to destroy all of the enemy groups on the
map grid. Once you do that, the game is complete and you will receive your
final score/ranking (more on that below). In the Adventure mode, there is an
optional quest you can take on in order to more fully complete the game. That
quest consists of collecting keys from the seven planets in order to access a
hidden final planet where you will fight some tough enemies. Of course you
don't have to do all this to beat the game, but it adds to what you can do
during the course of the game. If you are in Adventure mode and want to
collect the keys to reach the hidden planet, you will want to leave at least
one enemy group intact; if you destroy them all, the game ends immediately.

=========================
Your Ship's Control Panel
=========================

On the left side of your screen, you will see an Energy meter and a Shield
meter. Energy is gradually spent as you attack and move to different
locations. If you run out of energy, the game is over. Your shield meter
absorbs direct enemy attacks. It is replenished as long as your Reactor is in
working order. If the shield meter empties and you get attacked, you will die
and the game will end.

On the right side, there are three settings: RAD, COM, and ENG. Initially
each of these will have the designation of OK next to them. If you get
attacked strongly, these statuses will change to DA (damaged) or NG (no
good/non-working). Your ship can be repaired by visiting a base, however. In
Adventure mode, above these three readings, you will be able to see what keys
you collected thus far (designated by letters which spell out ROYGBIV if you
have all seven). Here is a description of what each of the three status
meters means:

RAD: This is your radar capability. It allows you to track any changes on the
     map screen in real time, and enemy movements on your radar in battle. If
     it gets damaged, the radar will still work, but with a slight delay on
     the main map. In battle, enemy positions will blink every few seconds,
     making it tougher to track them accurately. If the radar stops working,
     your map will never update, and you won't be able to use the radar at
     all in battle.

COM: This is your crosshairs, which you see when in battle mode. Normally, if
     you turn to the sides, the crosshairs will move along with the screen,
     enabling you to attack enemies from the side as well as straight ahead.
     If it gets damaged, the crosshairs will no longer move from the center
     of the screen, preventing you from attacking enemies outside of that
     exact space. If it is destroyed, the crosshairs disappear completely,
     forcing you to rely entirely on your own ability to aim in order to
     attack successfully.

ENG: This is the reactor, which replenishes your shield meter when in battle.
     If it gets damaged, you are in big trouble, since the shield meter will
     NOT replenish any longer (until it gets repaired at a base). That means,
     if your shield runs out from enemy fire, you're on your own. If this
     feature stops working entirely, you will be unable to accelerate while
     moving, which severely limits the speed at which you cam move.

===========
Enemy Types
===========

In this game, there are four different enemy types, each with three color-
coded difficulty levels. The three colors are blue, gray, and purple, with
blue being the weakest and purple being the strongest. In terms of strength,
it not only means the enemies will take more hits to destroy, but their
attacks will do more damage to your ship. The four enemy types are listed
below.

Ragra: This X-shaped enemy flies around at a high speed, shooting at you when
       they get within range. This is the only enemy you can destroy with one
       hit, regardless of difficulty level. It can be annoying to accurately
       aim for these enemies, so you need to quickly shoot once it is in your
       crosshairs, that way you don't waste too much time on them.

Allef: These enemies have a distinctive H-shape and fly around at an average
       speed. As you encounter the higher-colored versions of this enemy, it
       will take an extra hit to destroy them. Be careful though, as their
       attacks can take a good chunk from your shield and leave you quite
       vulnerable.

Rate: This enemy with the long I-shape can be a difficult one to dispatch,
      mainly due to its high movement speed. However, these enemies are not
      seen nearly as often as Ragras and Allefs, so you are spared from
      chasing them around most of the time. Their attacks can be brutal, so
      keep moving and destroy them quickly to survive the battle.

Disruptor: At the end of any enemy wave, you will meet these large, round
           enemies. They are slow-moving and don't attack too often, but when
           they do, it is rough! They take numerous hits to destroy, so you
           will want to quickly aim and tap the attack button quickly to
           dispatch it. When dealing with the stronger gray and purple ones,
           you will want to hit it a few times and move around to throw off
           its aim, sparing yourself from a devastating attack.

==========
Game Modes
==========

Training
--------

In Training mode, there will be four enemy groups and two bases on the map
grid. As the name implies, this setup is meant to serve as training in order
to get you accustomed to the controls and the gameplay itself. As for the
enemies themselves, they are relatively simple (two blue groups and two gray
groups), so you shouldn't have too much difficulty here. It is useful to
practice in this mode so you learn how to quickly dispatch the enemies and
protect the bases!

Command
-------

This is a somewhat more difficult version of Training mode, in that you will
have many more enemies to defeat. You will also be introduced to asteroid
fields and planets in this area in addition to the usual bases. There will be
three sets of blue enemies, four gray enemies, and a tough purple group to
deal with. An added feature in Command mode is that you can upgrade your ship
at the bases. There are three upgrades: Beam (stronger weapon), Shield
(stronger shield), and Reactor (spend less energy).

Adventure
---------

As you would guess, Adventure mode is the main feature of Star Luster. If you
played through the Training and Command modes, you already know what to
expect in the Adventure mode. This time around, there are 10 groups of
enemies (three each of blue and gray, and four purple groups), which means
you will have a wide area to keep an eye on. There are four bases which can
upgrade/repair your systems and four asteroid fields to hinder the enemy
movements. There are also eight planets (seven of which hold keys, and the
last one is Earth).

The most difficult part about this mode is that with all of the different
planets/bases to protect, there will be seemingly too many enemies to fend
off. That said, you will need to quickly plan your course of attack. It is
extremely helpful to use photon torpedoes to clear up crowded areas early in
the game, so that you have a little bit less to deal with. Concentrate on
enemies that are directly next to bases and planets, and if you get a warning
that another such location is under attack, quickly switch back to your map
mode and defend that position.

If any of the planets get destroyed before you get its key, it will be lost
forever and you won't be able to reach the hidden planet. In order to obtain
a key, you need to destroy a group of enemies, then go to a planet (meaning
you must kill at least seven enemy groups to get the seven keys). Once you
have received all seven keys (you'll know since each key will make a letter
appear on the right side of your control panel, reading ROYGBIV when
complete), you will be able to access the hidden planet. Watch the map and a
specific location will blink; travel to that location and you will reach the
hidden planet (you will know you're there when the background is dark blue
instead of black). It is recommended that you visit all of the surviving
bases before heading to the hidden planet, so that you enter the battle with
full energy and as many upgrades as possible.

When you reach the hidden planet, you will be up against a wave of Battura
enemies. They are all black in color and are quite powerful, including a
number of Disruptors. Employ the same battle tactics you've used to get to
this point, and defeat them all to clear the game. You will be congratulated,
then your final score will be shown. That said, you have completed the main
adventure mode of Star Luster!

===============
Scoring/Ranking
===============

Scoring
-------

Upon completion of any of the game modes, your final score will be broken
down based on a number of factors. Those factors include the amount of energy
spent/wasted, how many bases/planets are still safe, the date (time units in
this game), and a base score for completing that game mode. The score
breakdown is as follows:

((Base Score) * 5) + ((Bases) * 50) + ((Planets) * 100) - (Date value) -
((Energy spent) / 128) = Final Score

In addition to receiving your final score, you will be given a rank depending
on that score. Those rankings will be broken down below.

Ranking
-------

Score          Rank
-----          ----
< 0            Cadet Wang
0-59           Cadet Mitochondria
60-119         Cadet Microbe
120-179        Cadet Amoeba
180-239        Cadet Plankton
240-299        Pilot Officer Mosquito
300-359        Pilot Officer Alpha Fly
360-419        Pilot Officer Dragon Fly
420-479        Pilot Officer Aero Bee
480-539        Pilot Officer Hornet
540-599        Flying Officer Sparrow
600-659        Flying Officer Lark
660-719        Flying Officer Humming Bird
720-779        Flying Officer Blue Jay
780-839        Lieutenant Tom Cat
840-899        Lieutenant Bull Dog
900-959        Lieutenant Fox
960-1019       Lieutenant Wolf
1020-1079      Squadron Leader Dandruff
1080-1139      Squadron Leader Falcon
1140-1199      Squadron Leader Hawk
1200-1259      Squadron Leader Eagle
1260-1319      Wing Commander Leopard
1320-1379      Wing Commander Panther
1380-1439      Wing Commander Tiger
1440-1499      Captain Tornado
1500-1559      Captain Hurricane
1560-1619      Captain Thunderbolt
1620-1679      Commodore Macco
1680-1739      Commodore Pegasus
1740-1799      Commodore Phoenix
1800-1859      Vice Marshal Radiant
1860-1919      Vice Marshal Gilgamesh
1920-1979      Vice Marshal Mongaw
1980-2039      Marshal Impulse
2040-2099      Marshal Susanoo
2100-2159      Marshal Kuannon
2160-2219      Chief Marshal Prominence
2220-2279      Chief Marshal Photon
> 2280         Marshal of Force Paragon

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-=  5. Secrets/Tips and Tricks  -=
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==================
Hidden Ship Repair
==================

There is a way to repair your ship without docking at a base. If you are very
low on energy, and any of your systems are on "NG" status, hold A + B on the
second player's controller, and use the microphone. If done correctly, a
shuttle will appear and repair your ship as usual. This only works once per
game.

=========================
Restoring Damaged Planets
=========================

In Adventure mode, if a planet or base gets damaged, it will turn black on
the map grid. If you go into an asteroid field and destroy 32 asteroids, you
will receive an Item Barrier, which will restore planets to their full
strength. Unfortunately, this does not work on bases; once they are damaged
or destroyed, that's it.

======================
Slower Enemy Movements
======================

If you are in an asteroid field, shoot your weapon at the same asteroid eight
times in a row. If you do this correctly, the enemy movements on the map will
be slowed for a limited time. You won't know if it works except through sheer
observation, however.

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-=  6. Credits  -=
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StrategyWiki.org: For the list of ranks broken down by scoring ranges, as
well as the secrets listed in this FAQ.

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-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
-=  7. Copyright Notice -=
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This file is Copyright (c)2009 Devin Morgan. All rights reserved. Please view
the following URL to see the list of sites that are allowed to post my work:

http://www.freewebs.com/dbmfaqs/allowlist.html

This list is comprised of sites I know and trust well. If your site is not on
the aforementioned list, you are currently not allowed to post any of my
files on your site. Please respect my work and do not steal it or post it
without my permission. I only want my most recent work to be available and I
do not feel that can be achieved if others take from me without my knowledge
or permission.

If you are writing a FAQ for this game as well, and would like to use some
information, credit me for what you use. Please do not rip me off, as that is
blatant plagiarism and such will not be tolerated.

If you wish to contact me, do so at dbmfaqs(at)gmail(dot)com. Please only
contact me if there are corrections to be made to information that's
currently included. Thanks!

http://www.gamefaqs.com/features/recognition/3579.html

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