Tau Ceti: The Lost Star Colony
Description official descriptions
A space simulation with elements from a number of other genres mixed in. Your mission is to destroy a robot army that has taken over a planet. Gameplay includes arcade sequences, where you fly your ship around and shoot the enemy robots; strategy elements, as you attempt to navigate and locate parts to repair the defense system; and even text-adventure elements, in the form of giving commands to your ship's computer.
Spellings
- Tau-Ceti: The Lost Star Colony - Alternate spelling
Groups +
Screenshots
Promos
Credits (ZX Spectrum version)
| By |
Reviews
Critics
Average score: 84% (based on 20 ratings)
Players
Average score: 3.5 out of 5 (based on 23 ratings with 0 reviews)
Be the first to review this game!
Trivia
Sequel
John Twiddy, the Commodore 64 programmer saw the potential of a sequel using techniques from Encounter to make the game better than the original Tau Ceti. The game was going to be called 'Attack on Centralis' but CRL turned it down due to an official sequel from Pete Cooke called Academy being programmed.
Spectrum packaging
The Spectrum version comes in unusually shaped and slightly unwieldy packaging, which makes complete copies in good condition quite rare. They have been known to sell for over £30 on eBay.
Awards
- Commodore Format
- July 1991 (Issue 10) - listed in the A to Z of Classic Games article (Great)
- Computer Gamer
- February 1986 (issue #17) - Included in the list Spectrum Collection (the best Spectrum ZX games since 1985 by editorial staff choice)
- Happy Computer
- 1986 - Runner-up as Action Game of the Year
- Issue 04/1987 - #18 Best Game in 1986 (Readers' Vote)
Analytics
Related Games
Released 2014 on Android, iPad, iPhone
Released 1981 on TRS-80, DOS, Atari 8-bit
Released 2021 on Nintendo Switch, Windows
Released 2021 on Nintendo Switch, Windows
Released 2022 on Nintendo Switch, Windows
Released 1998 on Windows
Released 2000 on PlayStation
Released 2003 on Windows, 2004 on Macintosh
Released 1981 on TRS-80
Related Sites +
-
Icemark Tau Ceti Page
Contains the full instructions plus controls. For the Spectrum version, but it should be much the same for other versions.
Identifiers +
Contribute
Are you familiar with this game? Help document and preserve this entry in video game history! If your contribution is approved, you will earn points and be credited as a contributor.
Contributors to this Entry
Game added by Ye Olde Infocomme Shoppe.
Amstrad PCW added by Kabushi. Atari ST, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC added by Martin Smith.
Additional contributors: MAT, Martin Smith, formercontrib, Patrick Bregger, Jo ST, FatherJack.
Game added September 3rd, 2001. Last modified December 27th, 2023.