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This is an example of how NOT to make a game-play video. If he recorded voice audio as a separate track, he was lucky -- at least when he threw that out the window for all the swearing, he still had all the game beeps to indicate to us that the game didn't like him very much. ;)
Try playing online before downloading. Alt site for this, PC/DOS version: https://archive.org/details/msdos_Reach_for_the_Stars_-_The_Conquest_of_the_Galaxy_1986 Hint: the Minus ("-") key helps cycle between open windows. Hint: the Delete ("./Del") key helps CLOSE the active/highlighted window. Hint: ESC is your Friend, but only to get you to the "menu bar" (bottom of screen) Hint: Arrow keys, but not always... Hint: Destinations are auto-complete, so start typing! Hint: Don't want all 4 scouts going to one place? Type a smaller number. ;)
5
Jeff Mullen03 Jun. 2018
I wish I could find someone who would allow me to port this old-timer to windows. I can remember playing it long ago, and think it would still have some value. I can't clone it because I could never reproduce that AI.
1
Zoot18 Mar. 2017
I played this game on my mom's 286 back in the day. I loved the game, and I've been playing it ever since. Still have the original box, floppy, and manual. It's definitely stood the test of time, no doubt.
My three favorite games of all time were RFTS, VGA Planets, and Stars! Still playing all 3 today, although Stars! players are hard to find any more.
1
aureliussr26 Aug. 2016
@B_P, you can use '-' and '=' keys to cycle through the various contexts and then use the "Esc" key to access the menu bar for the particular context you are in.
1
B_P07 Jun. 2016
Running this for the first time on mac and have no mouse pointer. I'm ok using keys, but does anyone have a list of shortcuts as I have problems switching between the menus
-1
Tananda30 Apr. 2015
RFTS was a great game, AI is poor but this is meant to be played with friends.
0
Dan200011 Apr. 2015
Having played this on shareware with an old friend back in the late 80's, I found this game to be too much fun. I did, however find a flaw, aka cheat for the game. Since I haven't played in decades, all I remember was there was a way to make a purchase, and sell the ship, keeping the money and cloning it...to the point of massive amounts of credits, to buy and build an armada. The one time I used it to it's complete potential, I had 3 armadas of ships, surrounding 3 different planets. The first was smaller, and realistic, maybe about 25 ships...so when it was found, there was no suspect. But then, when my friend found the other 2 with hundreds of ships...he used many four letter words to describe the situation. LOL..IT WAS FUNNY but all in all the cheat was not usedagain, to make the game palyable and fair
0
DanTheTerrible26 Nov. 2014
Reach for the Stars is essentially a computerized version of MetaGaming's boardgame Stellar Conquest (1974). Many of the game's concepts were included in Microprose's Master of Orion 1 (1993). Master of Orion 2 (1996) was more of a departure in that it included elements from the Microprose Civilisation series. Master of Orion 3 was a completely different game, and universally considered poor. Most afficiOnados of turn based galactic conquest games consider Master of Orion 2 to be the best of its time, and it still holds up today (18 years after publication).
1
No comment nor review for this game at the moment.
English 
Comments and reviews
Found the second edition game manual here: https://archive.org/details/adoc_reach_for_the_stars/mode/2up
Not sure what the differences are versus the first edition (could not find first edition manual)
Watch this video by SquakeNet - he must've been SOOOOO frustrated, because he didn't figure out the keys before he started playing. Silly boy. :P
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXu51pO7djw
This is an example of how NOT to make a game-play video.
If he recorded voice audio as a separate track, he was lucky -- at least when he threw that out the window for all the swearing, he still had all the game beeps to indicate to us that the game didn't like him very much. ;)
Try playing online before downloading. Alt site for this, PC/DOS version:
https://archive.org/details/msdos_Reach_for_the_Stars_-_The_Conquest_of_the_Galaxy_1986
Hint: the Minus ("-") key helps cycle between open windows.
Hint: the Delete ("./Del") key helps CLOSE the active/highlighted window.
Hint: ESC is your Friend, but only to get you to the "menu bar" (bottom of screen)
Hint: Arrow keys, but not always...
Hint: Destinations are auto-complete, so start typing!
Hint: Don't want all 4 scouts going to one place? Type a smaller number. ;)
I wish I could find someone who would allow me to port this old-timer to windows. I can remember playing it long ago, and think it would still have some value. I can't clone it because I could never reproduce that AI.
I played this game on my mom's 286 back in the day. I loved the game, and I've been playing it ever since. Still have the original box, floppy, and manual. It's definitely stood the test of time, no doubt.
My three favorite games of all time were RFTS, VGA Planets, and Stars! Still playing all 3 today, although Stars! players are hard to find any more.
@B_P, you can use '-' and '=' keys to cycle through the various contexts and then use the "Esc" key to access the menu bar for the particular context you are in.
Running this for the first time on mac and have no mouse pointer. I'm ok using keys, but does anyone have a list of shortcuts as I have problems switching between the menus
RFTS was a great game, AI is poor but this is meant to be played with friends.
Having played this on shareware with an old friend back in the late 80's, I found this game to be too much fun. I did, however find a flaw, aka cheat for the game. Since I haven't played in decades, all I remember was there was a way to make a purchase, and sell the ship, keeping the money and cloning it...to the point of massive amounts of credits, to buy and build an armada. The one time I used it to it's complete potential, I had 3 armadas of ships, surrounding 3 different planets. The first was smaller, and realistic, maybe about 25 ships...so when it was found, there was no suspect. But then, when my friend found the other 2 with hundreds of ships...he used many four letter words to describe the situation. LOL..IT WAS FUNNY but all in all the cheat was not usedagain, to make the game palyable and fair
Reach for the Stars is essentially a computerized version of MetaGaming's boardgame Stellar Conquest (1974). Many of the game's concepts were included in Microprose's Master of Orion 1 (1993). Master of Orion 2 (1996) was more of a departure in that it included elements from the Microprose Civilisation series. Master of Orion 3 was a completely different game, and universally considered poor. Most afficiOnados of turn based galactic conquest games consider Master of Orion 2 to be the best of its time, and it still holds up today (18 years after publication).
No comment nor review for this game at the moment.