In order to run Solstalker in modern computers, first you will need to install DOSBox. If you are using Linux, as I did, use your package manager to install it. Once DOSBox is installed, download and decompress Solstalker from this post.

Now you can start DOSBox with the command:

dosbox -c mount <path to solstalker> c

This should start DOSBox with Solstalker files mounted in “C:”. Now, just start solstalk.exe. The game will be very slow with the default configuration. Press CTRL+F12 until the speed is good enough to let the game be playable.

Here goes the basic commands of the game:

• Arrows or Mouse: Control ship’s movements;
• CONTROL or Right Mouse Button: Fire and lanch missile if available;
• ALT or Left Mouse Button: Shield Blast ( destroy everything on the screen at the cost of 30% of the Shield );
• Pause or P: Pauses the Game;

The game also have a few hidden cheat codes originally used to make the game testing easier. They are somewhere in the game… Have fun!

Water planet… Transparency effects using pallete manupulation.

For Macross fans, we also have our “Itano Circus” moments.