Star Goose
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Developer: Logotron
Platforms: MS-DOS, Atari ST and Amiga
Release Date: Oct. 1988
Why this game mattered: Compared to other popular games of its age, Star Goose actually ranks relatively low. Critics of the time panned the game for being repetitive and not fun once you figured out the gimmick. But what made this game special for its time were the visuals. Your character switched from a vertical scroll to a 3D tunnel with spectacular effect, and it was one of the first games to implement this well.
Fun fact: This game was originally a first-person racing game, but the developer was unsatisfied with the initial concept and pivoted to the shooter we have now.
Future games influenced by this title: Significantly more successful flight games like Starfox and Flight Simulator used the whole switching perspective mechanic to spectacular effect. The way you switch vehicles in Starfox alone feels incredibly familiar, and it works very well.
Where you can play it today: Unfortunately, since it's not the most well-loved game, Star Goose is really tough to find. So, you may have to hit eBay in search of a floppy disk or CD-ROM for this one.
